Zakat al-Fitr (Fitrana): Amount, Who Pays & When to Give It
Zakat al-Fitr — also called Fitrana or Sadaqat al-Fitr — is a small charity every Muslim gives at the end of Ramadan, before the Eid prayer. This guide explains how much it is per person, who must pay, whether you can give cash, when it is due, and who receives it.
What is Zakat al-Fitr?
Zakat al-Fitr is an obligatory charity linked to the end of the fasting month. It has two purposes that are often quoted together: to purify the fasting person from any idle or improper speech during Ramadan, and to feed the poor so that they, too, can share in the joy of Eid rather than spend the day in need. Because it is tied to breaking the fast (fitr), it is due specifically around Eid al-Fitr and is separate from the annual zakat on wealth.
Who has to pay Fitrana?
Fitrana is due from every Muslim who has food surplus to their own needs for the day and night of Eid — not only the wealthy. It is paid per person, and in practice the head of a household pays on behalf of everyone in their care:
- Yourself and your spouse.
- Your children, including young ones who do not fast.
- Dependents you are financially responsible for.
Many scholars also recommend paying it for a baby born before the Eid prayer. If someone has genuinely nothing surplus to give, the obligation lifts from them.
How much is it per person?
The measure set in the Sunnah is one sa' of a staple food per person. A sa' is an old volume measure, so the weight depends on the food — for common staples such as wheat flour, rice, barley, dates or raisins it works out at roughly 2.5 to 3 kilograms. Because a sa' is a volume rather than a fixed weight, most mosques and Islamic authorities simplify this by announcing a set cash amount each year, calculated from the local price of a staple food. If your mosque or a trusted charity has announced a figure for the year, that is the easiest amount to follow.
Paying in food or in cash
There is a well-known difference of opinion here, and it is worth knowing so you can follow your own tradition:
- Hanafi school: it is permitted to give the cash value of the food, which is why so many communities collect Fitrana as a fixed sum.
- Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools: the classical position is to give actual food, though many contemporary scholars and mosques accept cash for practicality, especially where handing out sacks of grain is difficult.
Both approaches are widely practised. The safest course is simply to follow the ruling of your local scholar or mosque, since they will also know what best serves the poor in your area.
When must it be paid?
The core timing is straightforward: Fitrana should reach the poor before the Eid al-Fitr prayer. To make that possible, it is commonly given in the last few days of Ramadan so charities and mosques have time to distribute it. If it is paid after the Eid prayer without a valid excuse, scholars say it no longer counts as Zakat al-Fitr in the ideal sense but is still owed and should be given as ordinary charity without delay.
Who can receive Zakat al-Fitr?
Zakat al-Fitr is directed to the poor and needy so that they can enjoy Eid without worrying about food. You may give it directly to eligible people you know, or channel it through a trusted mosque or charity that guarantees distribution before the Eid prayer. As with all zakat, it should not be given to one's own dependents whom one is already obliged to support.
Zakat al-Fitr vs Zakat al-Mal
It is easy to mix up the two forms of zakat, but they answer different questions. Fitrana is a small per-person charity tied to Eid; Zakat al-Mal is the yearly 2.5% on accumulated wealth.
| Zakat al-Fitr (Fitrana) | Zakat al-Mal (wealth zakat) | |
|---|---|---|
| When | End of Ramadan, before the Eid prayer | Once a lunar year on wealth held above the nisab |
| Who owes it | Every Muslim with surplus food, paid per person (including children) | Anyone whose zakatable wealth stays above the nisab for a full year |
| Amount | About 2.5–3 kg of staple food per person, or its cash value | 2.5% of qualifying wealth |
| Basis | Per head | Based on the amount of wealth |
| Purpose | Purify the fast and feed the poor for Eid | Purify wealth and redistribute to those in need |
Working out your family's total
The maths is simple: take the per-person amount (in food or the announced cash value) and multiply by the number of people in your household. For a family of five, that is five shares of Fitrana. If your local mosque announced, say, a fixed amount per head, you would pay that amount five times. Paying a few days early is better than leaving it to the morning of Eid, when charities are busiest.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Zakat al-Fitr per person?
One sa' of staple food — roughly 2.5–3 kg of wheat flour, rice, dates or barley. Many mosques announce a fixed cash amount each year instead.
Who has to pay Fitrana?
Every Muslim with food surplus to their Eid needs. The head of the household usually pays for all dependents, including children.
Can I pay Zakat al-Fitr in cash?
The Hanafi school allows the cash value; the other schools traditionally prefer actual food, though many mosques now accept cash. Follow your local scholar.
When should Zakat al-Fitr be paid?
Before the Eid al-Fitr prayer — often in the last days of Ramadan so it reaches the poor in time.
Who can receive Zakat al-Fitr?
The poor and needy, so they can enjoy Eid. It can be given directly or through a trusted mosque or charity.
Is Fitrana the same as regular zakat?
No. Fitrana is a small per-person charity at the end of Ramadan; Zakat al-Mal is 2.5% of wealth held above the nisab for a year.