Zakat Fitr

Zakat al-Fitr (or Fitrah) is a special charity paid by all Muslims at the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan. It is an obligation on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, as long as they have the means to do so.

The Obligation and Purpose

Based on the hadith narrated by Ibn ‘Umar, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) enjoined the payment of one Sa’ of dates or one Sa’ of barley as Zakat al-Fitr on every Muslim. Its primary purpose is twofold: to purify the fasting person from any indecent act or speech and to help the poor and needy, ensuring they can also celebrate Eid al-Fitr joyfully.

International Scholarly Consensus

There is a consensus (ijma) among all four major Sunni schools of thought (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali) and other prominent scholars that Zakat al-Fitr is a confirmed obligation (wajib). While there are minor differences in the specifics:

• Amount: The majority of scholars state the amount is one Sa’, a volumetric measure that equates to approximately 2.5 kg to 3.0 kg, depending on the specific food item.
• Type: Traditionally, it is paid as a staple food of the local community (e.g., rice, wheat, dates, barley).
• Paying in Cash: Many contemporary scholars and fatwa councils, including the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) and authorities in many Muslim-majority countries, permit paying the monetary equivalent of the staple food. This is often seen as more practical and beneficial for the recipient in modern contexts, allowing them to purchase what they need most for Eid.
• Timing: It must be paid before the Eid prayer. It is permissible, and even encouraged, to pay it a few days before Eid to allow charities time to distribute it effectively.