Practical information on the cost of Kaffarah for the year 2026 and steps to fulfill this religious obligation securely online.
Ramadan is the most spiritual time of the year, a month dedicated entirely to purification and devotion. The fast is one of the five essential pillars of Islam, making its completion mandatory for every capable Muslim. When a fast is broken, particularly by choice and without a valid excuse, it is considered a serious transgression, requiring a major act of atonement known as Kaffarah.
If you are facing the obligation to pay Kaffarah 2026, you likely have critical questions about the cost, the required steps, and how to fulfil this duty correctly. While the primary method of atonement is demanding, Islamic law provides a merciful alternative for those who are unable to meet the physical requirements.
This in-depth guide will clarify the spiritual and financial aspects of paying Kaffarah 2026, detail how much is Kaffarah for the coming year, and provide a secure, step-by-step process for donating your required compensation online.
1. The Gravity of Kaffarah: When Is It Due?
Kaffarah, meaning “atonement” or “expiation,” is not required for a simple missed fast. It is a rigorous penalty reserved for specific, deliberate violations that break the sanctity of the fasting day during Ramadan.
The Trigger: Intentional Violation
Kaffarah is only triggered when an individual intentionally, knowingly, and willfully breaks a mandatory fast without a valid Islamic excuse. The two most common triggers are:
- Intentional Ingestion: Deliberately eating or drinking.
- Marital Intimacy: Engaging in sexual relations.
It is crucial to understand that if the fast was missed due to a temporary, valid excuse (like travel, short-term sickness, or menstruation), neither Kaffarah nor Fidya is due; only a simple make-up fast (Qada) is required. Similarly, if a fast was broken by accident (e.g., forgetting you were fasting and drinking water), only Qada is owed.
The severity of Kaffarah applies only to the knowing violation of the fast. To better understand the context, it helps to review the core rules for Fidya and Kaffarah.
The Atonement: Two Rigorous Choices
For each fast that is deliberately broken, the individual has two primary ways to atone:
- The Primary Obligation: Fasting: The violator must fast for 60 consecutive days. If this consecutive chain is broken even once without a valid religious reason, the entire 60 days must be restarted.
- The Alternative Obligation: Feeding: If the individual is physically incapable of completing the 60 consecutive fasts (due to old age, chronic illness, etc.), they must feed 60 poor people for that single broken fast.
For those who are unable to take on the demanding 60-day fast, the charitable alternative—the feeding of the poor—is what establishes the financial cost when you choose to pay Kaffarah 2026.
2. Calculating the Kaffarah 2026 Financial Cost
The central question for those choosing the charitable path is: how much is Kaffarah? The total cost is determined by multiplying the daily feeding rate by 60.
The Basis of Calculation
Kaffarah is calculated based on the cost of providing a complete meal to a single poor person. This rate is usually consistent with the rate used for Fidya (compensation for a single missed fast).
UK charities carefully calculate this rate based on the current wholesale cost of staple foods (like rice, flour, dates, etc.) in the regions where aid is distributed, ensuring the donation meets the exact Shariah requirement of providing substantial sustenance.
3. The Advantage of Paying Kaffarah Online
In previous generations, paying Kaffarah meant sourcing enough staple food (like sacks of rice or wheat) to cover 60 meals, finding 60 specific needy people, and distributing the food directly.
Today, choosing to pay Kaffarah 2026 through a trusted charity and utilizing online platforms offers distinct advantages:
- Efficiency: The online donation process is instant. You can fulfil this major obligation in minutes.
- Compliance: Reputable charities handle the calculation and ensure the money is converted into meals that meet the Shariah standard.
- Targeted Distribution: Charities distribute the funds where they are needed most—often in impoverished international regions where $\pounds300$ can feed 60 people effectively and compassionately.
- Accountability: Online payments provide a clear, digital receipt, documenting the fulfilment of your religious duty.
The security and speed of the online process make paying Kaffarah 2026 the preferred method for Muslims across the UK and the globe.
4. Secure Steps to Pay Kaffarah 2026 Online
Here is a simple, secure process to fulfil your Kaffarah obligation through a charity like Children of Adam:
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility and Count
Before anything else, confirm your eligibility for the monetary payment (i.e., you are genuinely unable to fast 60 consecutive days). Then, accurately count the total number of fasts you broke intentionally.
Step 2: Calculate the Exact Financial Obligation
Determine which feeding rate the charity is using for 2026 (e.g., £5 or £7) and multiply that rate by 60, then multiply by the number of fasts broken.
Example: If you broke 2 fasts and the rate is $\pounds5$, the calculation is $2 \times 60 \times \text{£5} = \text{£600}$.
Step 3: Use the Online Kaffarah Form
Navigate directly to the Kaffarah donation page on the charity’s website. These pages often feature a dedicated Kaffarah calculator where you input the number of fasts, and the system instantly shows you the total due.
Step 4: Secure Payment Processing
Use the website’s secure payment gateway (look for the small lock icon in your browser address bar) to process your payment using a debit card, credit card, or digital service. The funds are instantly secured and transferred to the charity’s Kaffarah fund.
By following these secure steps, you ensure your atonement is completed correctly and promptly, allowing the charity to immediately turn your payment into food aid for the needy.
Children of Adam: Fulfilling Your Kaffarah Obligation
Children of Adam is a UK-based charity dedicated to easing suffering, uplifting vulnerable communities, and creating long-term, sustainable solutions for those facing hardship. We blend compassion with practical action to ensure that everyone, especially the most vulnerable, can face the future with dignity.
We ensure that every contribution you make to pay Kaffarah 2026 is treated with the seriousness it deserves. Our teams consult with scholars to determine the correct monetary rate for Kaffarah, guaranteeing your donation fully satisfies the requirement of feeding 60 poor individuals for each fast broken.
We prioritize transparency, showing you exactly how much is Kaffarah and where your money is going. Your payment is immediately allocated to food programs, providing nourishment and stability to families living in extreme poverty.
Ready to Fulfill Your Duty?
Now that you know the exact cost and the simplicity of paying Kaffarah 2026 online, complete your obligation. If you are ready to make your payment or need further information on our appeals, you can Contact Children of Adam and speak to our team through our official channels.
Visit the Children of Adam website today to fulfil your Kaffarah and turn a moment of violation into a lasting act of charity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Do I still need to make up the fasts (Qada) after paying Kaffarah 2026?
Yes. The Kaffarah payment (feeding 60 people) is the atonement for the violation of the fast’s sanctity. You are still required to make up the original fast day (Qada) later in the year. Kaffarah does not replace the missed fast itself.
Q2. Is there a deadline for paying Kaffarah?
Unlike Fitrana, which has a very strict deadline (before the Eid prayer), Kaffarah does not have a strict deadline. It should be paid as soon as possible after the intentional fast-breaking occurs, as it is a debt owed to Allah (SWT) and is necessary for genuine repentance.
Q3. Why is the cost different between charities when calculating how much is Kaffarah?
The slight difference in cost is usually due to the chosen quality of the meal or the location of distribution. Some charities calculate based on the highest quality staple food (a higher rate), while others use a general average. All reputable charities ensure the final distribution meets the required standard of feeding 60 people.
Q4. Can I pay my Kaffarah in installments throughout the year?
Since Kaffarah is a debt owed for a specific transgression, many scholars advise paying it in full as soon as you are able. However, if the total cost is extremely high (due to multiple broken fasts), most charities allow donors to pay the Kaffarah amount in installments until the full obligation is covered.
Q5. Can Kaffarah be paid for breaking fasts outside of Ramadan?
No. Kaffarah is a specific atonement reserved only for the deliberate violation of a mandatory Ramadan fast. If a person breaks a voluntary fast or a make-up fast (Qada) that they had started, only a Qada fast is required; Kaffarah is not applicable.
