As Ramadan comes to an end, there is one final obligation before we celebrate Eid.
Zakat al-Fitr, also known as Fitrana, is given at the end of Ramadan so people experiencing poverty can share in the food and celebration of Eid.
It is a small but important act of worship, one that completes our fasting and ensures we do not celebrate while others around us go without.
Zakat al-Fitr is an obligatory charity given by Muslims at the end of Ramadan.
Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that the Prophet Muhammad ï·º prescribed Zakat al-Fitr as a purification for the fasting person from idle and indecent speech, and as food for the poor.
Sunan Abu Dawud
Unlike Zakat al-Mal, which is calculated from your wealth, Zakat al-Fitr is a set amount given for each eligible member of your household.
Its purpose is simple: to complete the month of fasting by remembering those who may not have enough for Eid.
Zakat al-Fitr is due from Muslims who have sufficient means beyond their essential needs.
The head of a household will commonly pay on behalf of eligible dependants, including children.
For example, if you are paying for yourself, your spouse and three children, you would give five Zakat al-Fitr payments.
If you are uncertain about who you are responsible for paying on behalf of, seek advice from a trusted Islamic scholar.
Zakat al-Fitr must be given before the Eid prayer.
Paying earlier allows enough time for your contribution to be prepared and distributed to eligible recipients.
For this reason, we encourage donors not to leave their Zakat al-Fitr until the last moment.
At its heart, Zakat al-Fitr is about food.
Your payment helps provide food assistance to people facing poverty and hunger, helping families prepare meals and meet an essential need around Eid.
Depending on the location and program, this may be provided through appropriate staple foods or equivalent assistance in accordance with Islamic requirements.
Eid should not be a day when some families celebrate with a table full of food while others are worried about their next meal.
Zakat al-Fitr connects the end of our fasting with the needs of others.
After a month in which we experienced hunger for part of each day, we give so someone else has food to eat.
It is an act of worship, a purification of our fast and a responsibility towards people in need.
Both are forms of Zakat, but they fulfil different obligations.
Zakat al-Fitr is paid at the end of Ramadan. It is a set amount for each eligible person and must be given before the Eid prayer.
Zakat al-Mal is generally calculated as 2.5% of eligible wealth held above the Nisab threshold for a lunar year.
Paying one does not replace the other.
Work out how many people you need to pay Zakat al-Fitr for.
Pay the current Zakat al-Fitr amount for each eligible person before the Eid prayer.
Penny Appeal works with our partners to organise eligible food assistance for distribution.
Your Zakat al-Fitr is directed to eligible people in need, helping provide food around Eid.
The Zakat al-Fitr amount is set each year based on the value of the prescribed quantity of staple food. Check the current amount shown on this page when making your payment.
A parent or guardian commonly pays Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of eligible dependent children. If you are unsure about your circumstances, consult a trusted Islamic scholar.
Zakat al-Fitr must be given before the Eid prayer. We recommend paying ahead of time to allow for its distribution.
Yes. Zakat al-Fitr may be paid before Eid according to recognised scholarly opinions. Paying early can also help humanitarian organisations arrange distributions before Eid.
Yes. Fitrana is another commonly used name for Zakat al-Fitr.
Zakat al-Fitr and Zakat al-Mal are separate obligations. Zakat al-Fitr is associated specifically with the end of Ramadan, while Zakat al-Mal is calculated on eligible wealth.
Zakat al-Fitr is distributed to eligible people in need in accordance with Islamic requirements.
For many of us, the final days of Ramadan are spent preparing for Eid.
For a family struggling with hunger, the concern may be much simpler: will there be enough food?
Give your Zakat al-Fitr before Eid and help put food on the table for someone in need.
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