What Is Fitrah (Sadaqat al-Fitr)? When and to Whom

Fitrah, also known as sadaqat al-fitr, is a financial act of worship given at the end of Ramadan. It serves as an atonement for the shortcomings of the fasting person and helps the poor enter the festival with joy. In Islam it is regarded as a required (wajib) duty.

The ruling and importance of fitrah

According to the majority of scholars, fitrah is wajib. The Prophet is known to have enjoined it to purify the fasting person from idle and improper speech and to feed the needy. In this way fitrah is both a personal purification and a means of social solidarity.

Who pays fitrah?

Fitrah is due upon every Muslim who enters the morning of Eid al-Fitr owning wealth above the nisab beyond basic needs. A person pays it for themselves and for those they are responsible for, such as a spouse and children. Unlike zakat, it is not required that a full year pass over the wealth.

The amount of fitrah

The amount of fitrah is set to cover one person's food needs for a day. Staple foods such as wheat, barley, dates, and raisins are taken as the basis, and today it is mostly paid as their cash value. Since this value is announced each year by competent authorities (for example Diyanet), it is important to follow the current figure.

When and to whom is it given?

Fitrah may be given during Ramadan; the most virtuous time is before the Eid prayer, so the poor can also meet the festival with ease. Like zakat, fitrah is given to the poor and needy Muslims listed in Surah At-Tawbah 9:60. One person's fitrah may be given to a single poor person or shared among several.