Fitrana (Zakat al-Fitr) Rates 2026

What is Fitrana (Zakat al-Fitr)?

“The Prophet (PBUH) made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory as a purification of the fasting person from idle talk and obscenities, and as food for the poor. Whoever pays it before the prayer, it is an accepted Zakat, and whoever pays it after the prayer, it is a sadaqah among the sadaqat.”

Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah (Hasan)

Fitrana was established in the second year of Hijra, the same year that fasting in Ramadan was made obligatory. The narration of Ibn Umar (RA) in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim establishes that the Prophet (PBUH) made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory on every Muslim: male and female, free and enslaved, young and old.

Unlike zakat al-Mal (the annual wealth tax), fitrana has no nisab threshold. It is due on every Muslim regardless of their level of wealth. Even a person whose wealth is below the zakat nisab must pay fitrana, provided they have enough food for themselves and their family on the day of Eid beyond their own basic needs.

Fitrana is distinct from the voluntary charity known as sadaqah. For a full comparison of these charitable obligations, see our Sadaqah vs Zakat guide. To calculate your full zakat al-Mal separately, use our Zakat Calculator.

Who Must Pay Fitrana?

Fitrana is obligatory on every Muslim who possesses more than their own and their family's basic daily food needs on the day of Eid. The key principle is: if you have enough surplus food or money for one day beyond your basic needs, you must pay fitrana for yourself and every Muslim dependent in your care.

Note that the obligation of fitrana is independent of whether the person actually fasted. A Muslim who was unable to fast due to illness, travel, or other valid excuse must still pay fitrana. Fitrana is tied to the month of Ramadan, not to fasting specifically.

When to Pay Fitrana

Because of the timing requirement, major Islamic charities typically set their Ramadan fitrana deadline at the 27th or 28th of Ramadan to ensure the funds can be processed and distributed to recipients by Eid morning. When paying through an organization, check their specific deadline.

How Fitrana is Calculated

The Prophetic instruction establishes fitrana as "one sa'" of a specified staple food. The sa' is a classical Arab volumetric measure. Contemporary scholars have standardized this at approximately 2.5 to 3 kilograms by weight, depending on the density of the particular food.

The significant difference between the raw calculation and the published organizational rates arises because different organizations use different staple foods as their standard. Wheat flour is the cheapest; dried dates are considerably more expensive. Use our Zakat al-Fitr Calculator to compute the amount for your family, or follow the published rate of your local Islamic authority or trusted organization.

Fitrana Rates by Country 2026

The table below provides estimated fitrana rates for Ramadan 2026 per person in local currency. These are based on staple food prices available at publication time. Always verify with your local Islamic authority or trusted organization as rates can change based on annual food price updates.

Hanafi vs Other Madhab Positions

The most significant practical difference between madhabs on fitrana concerns whether cash is acceptable and which foods determine the rate.

In practice, nearly all Islamic charities in Western countries accept and process cash fitrana regardless of madhab. The scholarly consensus among contemporary Western Muslim scholars leans toward accepting cash as more beneficial to the poor. For more detailed madhab comparisons, see our Madhab guide.

The Five Staple Foods for Fitrana

The hadith of Ibn Umar (RA) in Sahih Bukhari names five commodities that the Prophet (PBUH) specified for Zakat al-Fitr: dates, raisins, barley, wheat (in some narrations), and cottage cheese/dried curd (aqit). Contemporary scholars have extended this principle to include the primary staple food of a given region or country.

Paying Fitrana in Cash

The overwhelming majority of Muslims in Western countries pay fitrana in cash through Islamic charities or their local mosque. This is practically simpler and often more beneficial to recipients in developing countries where the charity distributes food.

When paying in cash through an Islamic charity, confirm that the organization specifically segregates fitrana funds from other donations and distributes them as food or its equivalent to eligible recipients before Eid. Some charities convert cash fitrana into food packages and distribute them in countries experiencing food insecurity, which is an excellent use of the payment.

For a list of trusted organizations where you can pay fitrana online, see our Zakat Payment Options guide. To compare fitrana with your zakat al-Mal obligations, visit our complete Ramadan Zakat Guide.

Calculating Fitrana for Your Family

Family fitrana calculation is straightforward. The head of household pays the per-person amount multiplied by the total number of Muslims in the household.

Use our Zakat al-Fitr Calculator to quickly compute your total household fitrana amount at the current local rate for your country.

Where to Pay Fitrana

Fitrana can be paid directly to a local poor person, through your mosque's fitrana collection, or via a major Islamic charity. For Muslims living in Western countries where direct local distribution to the poor may be logistically complex, paying through a recognized Islamic charity is the most effective approach.

For a comprehensive guide to paying zakat and fitrana through verified organizations, see our Zakat Payment Options guide and the Eid Financial Checklist to ensure all obligations are met before Eid.