How it is calculated
- Zakat al-fitr is due from every Muslim who has food for the day and night of Eid, for themselves and those they support (spouse, children, dependent parents…).
- The amount is one sa’ of the local staple (wheat, rice, dates, barley…). A sa’ is a volume measure, estimated today at roughly 2.04–3 kg depending on the food; about 2.5 kg of rice or wheat is common in fatwas.
- Paying in cash is permitted by the Hanafi school and many official bodies, which announce a value per person each year.
- Timing: it becomes due at sunset on the last day of Ramadan, is best paid before the Eid prayer, and may be paid a day or two early.
Worked example
A family of 5 paying in rice at 2.5 kg each: total = 5 × 2.5 = 12.5 kg. At 14 per kg, the cash value is 175.
Frequently asked questions
Is it paid for an unborn child?
Not obligatory according to the majority; the Hanbali school considers it recommended.
What is this year’s cash amount?
Your country’s religious authority announces a per-person value before Eid. Enter it under “cash value per person”.
Can I give it to relatives?
Yes, to needy relatives you are not obliged to support, such as a poor brother or uncle.
Do guests or employees count?
No — they pay for themselves, unless you pay on their behalf with their permission.