Answer
Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
The amount of food that is given as fidyah (ransom) for a missed fast due to old age is estimated as equivalent to half a sa` (1 sa` = 2.03 liters). In Canada, it is estimated as seven dollars in cash.
Responding to the question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
The amount of food (volume or weight) to be given is traditionally estimated as equivalent to half a sa` (1 sa` = 2.03 liters), but for our consideration it is sufficient to estimate it as the equivalent of one full meal.
In the Canadian situation, it can be estimated as seven dollars in cash. But this varies according to time and place.
If the person is in old age and he is looked after by his son, then if his son pays it on his behalf that would be sufficient; if he refuses to pay, then the person is excused if he has nothing to pay.
Allah Almighty knows best.
Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.