Zakat al-Fitr is an obligatory charity paid at the end of Ramadan by every Muslim who has food to spare, on behalf of themselves and their dependants. The amount is one sa' (roughly 2.5 to 3 kg) of a staple food per person, and it must reach the poor before the Eid al-Fitr prayer.
What is Zakat al-Fitr?
Zakat al-Fitr, also called Sadaqat al-Fitr or "the charity of breaking the fast", is a small, fixed charity that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made obligatory at the close of Ramadan. It is separate from the annual Zakat on wealth, which is one of the five pillars described in our guide to the rules of Islam.
The difference is important. Zakat on wealth is only due from people whose savings reach a minimum threshold (the nisab) and have been held for a lunar year. Zakat al-Fitr, by contrast, is due on almost every Muslim household: rich or poor, male or female, adult or child.
The Companion Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory as one sa' of dates or one sa' of barley on every Muslim, free or enslaved, male or female, young or old, and commanded that it be paid before people go out to the Eid prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 1503).
Why do Muslims pay Zakat al-Fitr?
Zakat al-Fitr has two purposes: it purifies the fasting person from the slips of the month, and it makes sure the poor have food on the day of Eid. Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet ﷺ prescribed it as a purification for the one who fasted from idle and indecent speech, and as food for the needy (reported by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah).
In the same narration, the Prophet ﷺ explained that whoever pays it before the Eid prayer has paid an accepted Zakat, while whoever pays it after the prayer has only given an ordinary charity. That is why timing matters so much, as explained below. For the wider rewards of giving, see our article on the benefits of Zakat and Sadaqah.
Zakat al-Fitr at a glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | An obligatory charity at the end of Ramadan |
| Who must pay? | Every Muslim with food beyond the needs of their household for the day and night of Eid |
| For whom? | Yourself and everyone you are responsible for supporting |
| How much? | One sa' of staple food per person, roughly 2.5 to 3 kg |
| Food or money? | Food is the majority view; the Hanafi school permits paying its value in money |
| When is it due? | From sunset on the last day of Ramadan (majority view) until the Eid prayer |
| Can it be paid early? | Yes, a day or two before Eid is widely accepted; some schools allow earlier in Ramadan |
| Who receives it? | The poor and needy, according to most scholars |
How much is Zakat al-Fitr?
Zakat al-Fitr is one sa' of staple food for each person in the household. A sa' is a measure of volume (four double handfuls of an average man), so its weight depends on the food, but it is usually estimated at about 2.5 to 3 kg.
The food should be the main staple of the country where you live. In the time of the Prophet ﷺ that meant dates, barley, raisins and dried cheese. Today, families typically give rice, wheat, flour, dates or whatever grain people in their area mainly eat.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that in the Prophet's lifetime they used to give one sa' of food, dates, barley, dried cheese or raisins. Later, when wheat from Syria became common, Mu'awiyah suggested that half a sa' of that wheat was equal in value to a full sa' of dates, and many people followed this. Abu Sa'id said he would keep giving a full sa' as he had in the Prophet's time (reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim). For this reason the Hanafi school counts half a sa' when the payment is made in wheat, while the other schools require a full sa' of every food.
Can Zakat al-Fitr be paid in money?
Scholars differ on this. The majority of the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools hold that Zakat al-Fitr should be given as food, because the hadiths name specific foods and the Companions gave food. The Hanafi school permits paying the value of the food in money, reasoning that the goal is to meet the needs of the poor.
Many scholars and fatwa councils today accept cash, especially where money is more useful to the recipient or where charities buy and distribute the food on your behalf. Both positions have a sound basis, so follow the view of the school or scholars you rely on. Your local mosque or a trusted charity will normally tell you the current local value if you choose to pay in money.
Who has to pay Zakat al-Fitr?
Zakat al-Fitr is due from every Muslim who, on the night and day of Eid, has food beyond what they and their dependants need. You do not need to reach the nisab for wealth, according to the majority of scholars. The Hanafi school is the exception: it makes Zakat al-Fitr obligatory only on someone who owns the nisab beyond their basic needs.
The head of the household pays on behalf of everyone they are responsible for supporting:
- Children: a father pays for his young children who do not have wealth of their own.
- Wife: according to the majority, the husband pays for his wife. In the Hanafi school a wife with her own means pays her own, though her husband may pay it for her with her permission.
- Other dependants: anyone whose living costs you carry, such as elderly parents with no income, is normally covered by you.
- Adults with their own income: a working adult son or daughter pays for themselves, although a parent may pay on their behalf if they agree.
A baby born before sunset on the last day of Ramadan is included. Many scholars also consider it recommended, though not required, to pay for a baby still in the womb.
When should Zakat al-Fitr be paid?
Zakat al-Fitr must be paid before the Eid al-Fitr prayer. According to the majority (the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, with one view in the Maliki school), the obligation begins at sunset on the last day of Ramadan; the Hanafi school says it begins at dawn on the day of Eid.
Can I pay Zakat al-Fitr early?
Yes. Giving it a day or two before Eid is widely accepted, because Ibn Umar and other Companions used to hand it over a day or two early so that it reached the poor in time. The Shafi'i school allows it from the start of Ramadan, and the Hanafi school allows it even earlier. In practice, many families pay through their mosque or a charity during the last days of Ramadan so the food can be distributed before Eid morning.
What if I miss the deadline?
Delaying it past the Eid prayer without a valid excuse is blameworthy, and the hadith of Ibn Abbas says it then counts only as ordinary charity. Even so, most scholars hold that the obligation does not simply disappear: if you forgot or could not pay in time, you should still pay it as soon as possible and seek Allah's forgiveness for any negligence.
Who can receive Zakat al-Fitr?
Most scholars hold that Zakat al-Fitr is for the poor and needy, since the Prophet ﷺ described it as food for the needy. Ideally it is given to poor Muslims in the area where you live, so that they can enjoy Eid along with everyone else.
The Quran names eight categories who may receive Zakat on wealth: the poor, the needy, those who collect it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, freeing captives, debtors, in the cause of Allah, and the stranded traveller (Quran 9:60). Scholars differ on whether Zakat al-Fitr may go to all eight categories, as the Shafi'i school holds, or only to the poor and needy, as many other scholars hold. Whichever view you follow, giving to the poor and needy is valid by agreement.
A few practical points apply under all views:
- You may give the whole amount to one poor family or divide it among several.
- You cannot give it to people you are already obliged to support, such as your own children, parents or wife.
- Giving through a trusted mosque or charity is valid, as long as they distribute it before the Eid prayer.
How does Zakat al-Fitr connect to Eid?
Zakat al-Fitr is the last act of worship of Ramadan and the doorway to Eid. Once it is paid, Muslims gather for the Eid prayer, which you can learn step by step in our guide on how to pray the Eid al-Fitr prayer. Involving children, for example letting them hand over the charity, teaches them that Eid begins by thinking of others.
Can you study the fiqh of Zakat and fasting with a teacher?
Rulings like these differ slightly between the four schools, and many families find it easier to learn them step by step with a qualified teacher. The online Islamic studies course for kids at Murouj Academy covers worship, fasting, Zakat and everyday fiqh in live, private one-to-one classes.
Every teacher is a native Arab, women and girls are taught by female teachers, and you can meet some of our teachers and choose yours through free trial classes before you commit. You can book a free trial class to see if it suits you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zakat al-Fitr the same as Zakat?
No. Zakat on wealth is an annual payment on savings above the nisab, while Zakat al-Fitr is a fixed amount of food per person paid once a year at the end of Ramadan. A Muslim may owe both.
Do I pay Zakat al-Fitr if I did not fast?
Yes. Zakat al-Fitr is due on every Muslim who has food to spare, including children, the elderly and those who could not fast because of illness or travel.
Can I pay Zakat al-Fitr to a non-Muslim?
The majority of scholars say Zakat al-Fitr should go to poor Muslims. Voluntary charity (Sadaqah) can be given to anyone in need, Muslim or not.
Can I send Zakat al-Fitr to another country?
It is preferred to give it where you live, but many scholars allow sending it elsewhere when the need there is greater or there are no eligible poor nearby, as long as it arrives before the Eid prayer.
