Is it permissible to give money instead of food for the fidyah (expiatory payment) for a sick man who is unable to fast?
We must understand that what Allah Almighty has mentioned with the wording "feeding" (إطعام) or "food" (طعام) must be actual food, and money is not a substitute for it. This applies whether it is for the ransom of fasting, the expiation of an oath, or al-Fitr. So, an elderly person who is unable to fast must feed one poor person for each day. There are two ways for him to feed: either he distributes a quarter of a saa' of rice and its accompaniments to each poor person in their home, or he prepares a meal and invites the number of poor people he is required to feed. This is because "whoever performs an action that is not in accordance with our matter will have it rejected."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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