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Pay Fitrana in 2026 with ChildRelief
Zakat al-Fitr Guide: Amount, Rules & Payment Deadline
Fitrana (Zakat al-Fitr) is the obligatory charity every Muslim must pay before Eid al-Fitr prayer. For Ramadan 2026, ensure you understand the amount, rules, and deadline to complete this essential pillar of your Ramadan worship.
£5 per person minimum. Pay for yourself and every dependent in your household, including children and elderly relatives.
Must be paid BEFORE Eid prayer on Friday, 20th March 2026. Pay 1-2 days early to ensure timely distribution to recipients.
Every Muslim with food/wealth beyond their basic Eid day needs. Head of household pays for all dependents.
Fitrana, also known as Zakat al-Fitr, Fitra, Fitrah, or Sadaqat al-Fitr, is an obligatory form of charity that every Muslim must pay before the Eid al-Fitr prayer. Unlike Zakat al-Maal (the annual wealth tax), Fitrana is payable by every Muslim regardless of their wealth status, as long as they have food beyond their basic needs for Eid day.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made Fitrana obligatory, as narrated by Ibn Umar (RA): "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ enjoined Zakat al-Fitr, a sa' of dates or a sa' of barley, on the Muslim slave and free, male and female, young and old, and he commanded that it be paid before the people went out to pray." (Bukhari & Muslim)
Fitrana serves two essential purposes that demonstrate the beautiful social consciousness built into Islamic worship:
Ibn Abbas (RA) reported: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordained Zakat al-Fitr as a purification for the fasting person from idle talk and obscenities, and as food for the poor." (Abu Dawud)
No matter how carefully we observe Ramadan, we inevitably fall into minor shortcomings—perhaps idle speech, a moment of impatience, or a wandering thought during prayer. Fitrana acts as a spiritual purifier, cleansing our fast from these imperfections and ensuring our Ramadan worship is accepted in its best form.
The second purpose is profoundly social: ensuring that every member of the Muslim community can celebrate Eid with dignity. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Enrich them (the poor) on this day." By paying Fitrana before Eid prayer, we ensure that food reaches those in need in time for them to prepare their Eid meals and join the celebration.
The amount of Fitrana is traditionally measured as one sa' of staple food—approximately 2.5 to 3 kilograms of wheat, barley, dates, raisins, or rice. In monetary terms, for 2026:
Recommended Amount: £5 per person (minimum)
Some scholars recommend paying £7 or more per person, based on the cost of higher-quality staple foods or to provide greater benefit to recipients. Both amounts are valid—the key is ensuring the payment adequately feeds a person.
| Household Size | Fitrana at £5 | Fitrana at £7 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | £5 | £7 |
| 2 people (couple) | £10 | £14 |
| 3 people | £15 | £21 |
| 4 people | £20 | £28 |
| 5 people | £25 | £35 |
| 6 people | £30 | £42 |
| 7 people | £35 | £49 |
Fitrana is obligatory on every Muslim who possesses food beyond their needs and their dependents' needs for the day and night of Eid. This includes:
Important: Even if a person did not fast during Ramadan (due to illness, travel, menstruation, etc.), they must still pay Fitrana. The obligation is connected to Eid, not to the number of fasts observed.
The timing of Fitrana payment is crucial—it must reach the recipients in time for them to benefit on Eid day.
Fitrana MUST be paid before the Eid prayer on Friday, 20th March 2026.
If Fitrana is paid after the Eid prayer, it no longer counts as the obligatory Zakat al-Fitr—instead, it becomes regular sadaqah (voluntary charity). While sadaqah is meritorious, it does not fulfil the specific obligation of Fitrana.
Paying early is actually better because it gives charities time to distribute the food or funds to recipients before Eid. When you pay through ChildRelief, we ensure your Fitrana reaches families in need in time for their Eid celebration.
| Aspect | Fitrana (Zakat al-Fitr) | Zakat (Zakat al-Maal) |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays? | Every Muslim with food beyond Eid day needs | Muslims whose wealth exceeds Nisab for one lunar year |
| Amount | Fixed: £5-£7 per person | 2.5% of total Zakatable wealth |
| When due? | Before Eid al-Fitr prayer only | Annually, on your Zakat anniversary |
| Purpose | Purify fast; feed poor on Eid | Purify wealth; support eligible recipients |
Fitrana is distributed to the poor and needy (fuqara and masakin). At ChildRelief, your Fitrana provides food packages to families who would otherwise have nothing to eat on Eid day. We work in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and with Rohingya communities to ensure the most vulnerable families receive support.
When you pay your Fitrana through ChildRelief:
Fitrana for 2026 is £5 per person minimum, though £7 is recommended by some scholars. You must pay for every member of your household, including children. A family of four would pay £20-£28.
Fitrana must be paid BEFORE the Eid prayer on Friday, 20th March 2026. It's best to pay 1-2 days before Eid to ensure timely distribution. Payment after Eid prayer counts only as regular charity, not Fitrana.
Yes, parents or guardians must pay Fitrana for all children under their care. This includes newborn babies. The head of household is responsible for paying for all dependents.
No. Fitrana (Zakat al-Fitr) is a small, fixed amount paid per person before Eid. Zakat (Zakat al-Maal) is 2.5% of your wealth paid annually if you meet the Nisab threshold. Both are obligatory but serve different purposes.
Yes, Fitrana is obligatory regardless of whether you fasted. Even those exempt from fasting (elderly, chronically ill, menstruating women) must pay Fitrana if they have means.
Yes, most scholars permit paying Fitrana any time during Ramadan. Paying early is actually recommended as it gives charities time to distribute to recipients before Eid.
Don't let Eid pass without fulfilling this obligation. Your Fitrana brings Eid joy to children who would otherwise have nothing. 100% of your donation goes to programmatic costs to supercharge helping those in need. We're ALL in. 100%.
