بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Learn the rulings of zakat ul fitr interactively
Learn and retain rulings of zakat ul fitr
Zakat al-Fitr is a kind of charity (sadaqah) that is obligatory at the time of breaking the fast of Ramadan.
The word zakah is connected to fitr (breaking fast) because the occasion of breaking the fast is the reason why this zakah becomes obligatory.
Yes — it is Fard (obligatory).
Ibn 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory."
— Consensus of the scholars (ijmaa') confirms it is fard. (Al-Mughni)
Unlike Zakat on wealth, Zakat al-Fitr has no minimum wealth threshold (nisab) and does not require a full year to pass. It is connected to people, not money — you pay per person, not based on wealth.
Click each card to reveal the wisdom behind Zakat al-Fitr
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Zakat al-Fitr purifies the fasting person from idle talk and foul language that may have occurred during Ramadan.
— Hadith of Ibn 'Abbaas (Abu Dawood, 1371)Tap to reveal
It provides food for the needy so they don't have to ask on the day of Eid — ensuring joy for the entire community.
— Hadith of Ibn 'Abbaas (Abu Dawood)Tap to reveal
"Zakat al-Fitr for Ramadan is like the two prostrations of sahw (forgetfulness) for prayer — it makes up for any shortcomings in the fast."
— Wakee' ibn al-Jarraah (Al-Nawawi, al-Majmoo')Tap to reveal
"But those will prosper who purify themselves, and glorify the name of their Guardian-Lord, and lift their hearts in Prayer."
— Surah al-A'laa [87:14-15]Answer the questions below to find out who is obligated to pay Zakat al-Fitr:
Zakat al-Fitr is only obligatory upon Muslims.
The obligation depends on whether you can afford it.
You pay on behalf of yourself AND those you are obliged to support.
Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory only on Muslims. Purification through zakah is specific to believers.
The one who is in financial difficulty is not obliged to give Zakat al-Fitr. If you only have enough for yourself and your dependents, you are exempt. May Allah make things easy for you.
You must give Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of yourself and all your dependents (wife, children, parents if poor). Start with the closest relatives first: yourself → wife → children → parents → others.
You must give Zakat al-Fitr on your own behalf. One saa' of the staple food of your area.
If a child is born, or you get married, or someone becomes Muslim before sunset on the last day of Ramadan, you must give on their behalf. If it happens after sunset, you don't have to.
It is not obligatory to give on behalf of an unborn child, but if you do so voluntarily, there is nothing wrong with it.
If someone dies after sunset on the last night of Shawwaal (night of Eid), Zakat al-Fitr must still be given on their behalf from their estate.
The employer does not have to give on behalf of a hired worker, because they are not a dependent.
The guardian should give Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of orphans whose wealth is under their control, even if they are minors.
Click each point on the timeline to learn about the key moments:
It is permissible to give Zakat al-Fitr one or two days before Eid.
"Ibn 'Umar used to give it a day or two before Eid al-Fitr."— Saheeh al-Bukhaari
Zakat al-Fitr becomes obligatory when the sun sets on the last day of Ramadan (night of Eid).
Anyone who gets married, has a child, or becomes Muslim before this sunset must give it.
The most preferable time is on the morning of Eid, before Salaat al-Eid.
"The Prophet ﷺ commanded that it should be given before the people went out to pray."— Al-Bukhaari, 1407
This is why it is Sunnah to delay Eid al-Fitr prayer — to give people time to pay.
Delaying it until after the Eid prayer is makrooh (disliked), and some scholars say it is haraam.
"Whoever pays it before the prayer, it is an accepted zakah; whoever pays it after the prayer, it is just a kind of charity."— Abu Dawood, 1371
Delaying it past the day of Eid without a valid excuse is haraam by consensus. It must still be made up (qadaa').
"This defeats the purpose — saving the poor from having to ask on the day of joy."
The amount is one saa' of food per person, according to the saa' used during the time of the Prophet ﷺ.
"At the time of the Prophet ﷺ we used to give it in the form of a saa' of food…"
— Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (Al-Bukhaari, 1412)
A saa' is a measure of volume. Its weight varies by food type. For rice, it is approximately 3 kg.
Select a food type and enter the number of people to calculate your total:
Include yourself + all dependents
Drag each food item to the correct category — is it valid or invalid for Zakat al-Fitr?
Zakat al-Fitr must be given as staple food — grains, dates, and similar items eaten by people. Cash, meat, fish, eggs, fruits (like figs) and clothing are not valid.
It should be given in the form of the local staple food of your area — whether that is rice, wheat, dates, corn, pearl millet, or similar grains.
Pasta made from wheat is permissible, but the weight must equal one saa' of wheat.
"But isn't money more useful for the poor?"
Other needs of the poor (shelter, clothing, tuition) are covered by Zakat al-Maal and general charity. Zakat al-Fitr has a specific purpose: food for the day of Eid.
Those who don't have enough for their basic needs
Those who have contracted to buy their freedom
Those burdened with overwhelming debt
Those striving in the cause of Allah
Travelers who are stranded and in need
Those appointed to collect and distribute
Zakat al-Fitr should be given where you are on the night of Eid — not necessarily where your wealth is. However, it is permissible to transfer it to your homeland if the people there are in greater need, especially to poor relatives.
Self-distribution is preferred — share it out yourself rather than through a collector
You may appoint a trustworthy person to distribute on your behalf
One saa' may be split among multiple poor people, or many saa's may be given to one person
It is not permissible to give to a non-Muslim, or to buy it back from the recipient