Zakat al-Fitr (fitrana) amount is $7 per person
Before the Eid al-Fitr prayer at the end of Ramadan, every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of their needs must pay zakat al-Fitr (fitrana). The head of household can also pay zakat al-Fitr for their dependants such as children, servants and any dependent relatives.
Zakat al-Fitr can be paid during Ramadan, before Eid al-Fitr prayers at the latest, so that the poor can enjoy the day of Eid.
The minimum amount due is the equivalent of about 2 kg of wheat flour, rice or other staple foodstuff, per member of the household, including dependants, even if they do not live in the same house. Approximately £5/US$7 per head is a safe estimated amount.
Recipients of zakat al-Fitr are the poor and those in need – the same people entitled to receive general zakat. Islamic Relief acts as your charitable agent, using your zakat al-fitr to buy and distribute food on your behalf.
Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar said that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered the people to pay Zakat al Fitr before going to the Eid prayer. (Hadith, Bukhari)
Related Questions
- Do I have to pay zakat?
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Zakat is obligatory on someone who is:
1.A free man or woman. A slave does not have to pay zakat.
2.A Muslim. Zakat is a religious obligation upon Muslims, like the five daily prayers.
3.Sane: The person on whom zakat becomes obligatory must be of sound mind according to Imam Abu Hanifa. Imam Malik holds that an insane person is still liable for zakat.
4.An adult: Children do not have to pay zakat, even if they own enough wealth to make zakat obligatory. However, both Imam Shafi’i and Imam Malik say that the guardians of the children should pay the zakat on their behalf.
5.In complete ownership and control of their wealth: The person must own and be in possession of the wealth, and also be free to spend or dispose of the wealth in any manner they like. If a person has made a loan of their wealth then they are not in a position to spend it until it is repaid.
6.In possession of wealth above the nisab threshold: The person should possess wealth above a defined amount required to satisfy the essential needs of themselves and their dependents (nisab).
7.Free from debt: Someone in debt may deduct his debts from his assets, if what remains is still above the nisab threshold, zakat is due, otherwise not.
8.In possession of the wealth for one complete lunar (Hijrah) year: If one owns zakatable wealth for a lunar year, zakat will become obligatory, provided the total amount of wealth exceeds the nisab at the beginning of the year and the end, irrespective of any fluctuations in the months between.
- I gave a lot of money to charity over the year, doesn’t that count as zakat?
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For a donation to qualify as zakat, there must be a clear intention present, either when you separate the zakatmoney from the rest of your wealth, or when you make the zakat payment.
- What part of my wealth is ‘zakatable’?
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Gold and silver: Any gold or silver you possess is zakatable, including jewellery according to Hanafi school, because these two metals have intrinsic monetary value.
Other precious metals and stones are not zakatable unless they were acquired for the purpose of trade.
Cash or its equivalent: Cash at home, in bank accounts, savings, money lent to others,saving certificates, bonds, shares, investment certificates and so on, are all taken into account when calculating zakat.
Stock purchased for trade: Any goods you have bought with the intention of selling are included in your zakatable wealth.
- What part of my wealth is not ‘zakatable’?
- Any goods, other than gold or silver, that you have not bought for resale are non-zakatable. No zakat is payable on your personal belongings, such us a house or a car.
- Can I pay zakat in advance?
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Yes, zakat can be paid in advance before the year has ended, but you should make sure you have wealth equal to or above the nisab.
