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Pay your Zakat AlFitr in 2026 with ChildRelief
Complete Guide: Amount, Who Pays, Deadline & Distribution
Zakat al-Fitr is the obligatory charity that purifies your Ramadan fast and ensures the poor can celebrate Eid. For 2026, understand exactly how much to pay, who must pay, and when your payment is due to fulfil this essential Islamic obligation.
£5 per person minimum. Pay for yourself and all dependents including children, elderly parents, and anyone under your care.
BEFORE Eid prayer on Friday, 20th March 2026. Pay late and it becomes sadaqah, not the obligatory Zakat al-Fitr.
Purifies the fasting person from shortcomings during Ramadan and provides food so the poor can celebrate Eid with dignity.
Zakat al-Fitr (also known as Fitrana, Fitra, Fitrah, or Sadaqat al-Fitr) is a special form of obligatory charity in Islam that must be paid before Eid al-Fitr prayer. It is distinct from Zakat al-Maal (the annual wealth tax) and is obligatory on every Muslim regardless of their financial status, as long as they have food exceeding their needs for Eid day.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory, as reported by Ibn Umar (RA): "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory as a sa' of dates or a sa' of barley upon the slave and the free, male and female, young and old among the Muslims. And he ordered that it be paid before the people go out for the [Eid] prayer." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Ibn Abbas (RA) explained the dual purpose of Zakat al-Fitr: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ enjoined Zakat al-Fitr as a purification for the fasting person from idle talk and obscenity, and to feed the poor." (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah)
No matter how carefully we observe Ramadan, human imperfection means we inevitably make mistakes—perhaps a harsh word, an impatient moment, or idle speech. Zakat al-Fitr acts as a spiritual cleanser, purifying our fast from these minor shortcomings and ensuring our Ramadan worship is accepted in its best form.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Enrich them [the poor] on this day." (Bayhaqi) Zakat al-Fitr ensures that even the poorest members of the Muslim community have food on Eid day. No one should go hungry while others celebrate—this communal responsibility is at the heart of Zakat al-Fitr.
The amount of Zakat al-Fitr is traditionally one sa' of staple food—approximately 2.5 to 3 kilograms of wheat, barley, dates, raisins, or the local staple food. In monetary terms:
Recommended Amount for 2026: £5 per person (minimum)
Some scholars and organisations recommend £7 or higher, based on the cost of quality staple foods. The key is that the amount should adequately feed a person.
| Household Size | At £5/person | At £7/person |
|---|---|---|
| Single person | £5 | £7 |
| Couple (2) | £10 | £14 |
| Family of 3 | £15 | £21 |
| Family of 4 | £20 | £28 |
| Family of 5 | £25 | £35 |
| Family of 6 | £30 | £42 |
Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory on every Muslim who has food exceeding their needs and their dependents' needs for the day and night of Eid. This low threshold means it applies to almost all Muslims.
The timing of Zakat al-Fitr is crucial. It must reach the poor in time for them to benefit on Eid day.
Zakat al-Fitr MUST be paid before the Eid prayer on Friday, 20th March 2026.
If paid after the Eid prayer, the payment is considered regular sadaqah (charity)—meritorious, but it does not fulfil the specific obligation of Zakat al-Fitr.
Paying early is actually preferable because it gives charities time to purchase and distribute food to recipients before Eid. When you pay through ChildRelief, we ensure your Zakat al-Fitr reaches families in time.
| Aspect | Zakat al-Fitr | Zakat al-Maal |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays? | Every Muslim with food beyond Eid needs | Only those whose wealth exceeds Nisab |
| Amount | Fixed: £5-£7 per person | 2.5% of Zakatable wealth |
| When due? | Before Eid al-Fitr prayer only | Annually, after one lunar year |
| Purpose | Purify fast; feed poor on Eid | Purify wealth; support eight categories |
| Paid per | Per person (including dependents) | Per individual's wealth |
The primary recipients of Zakat al-Fitr are the poor and needy (fuqara and masakin). The Prophet ﷺ specifically mentioned that it is "food for the poor." While Zakat al-Maal can be distributed among eight categories of recipients, scholars generally agree that Zakat al-Fitr should prioritise feeding those who would otherwise go hungry on Eid.
Yes, the original form was actually food. However, paying in money allows charities to efficiently purchase and distribute appropriate food to recipients. Most scholars permit monetary payment, especially when it serves the recipients better.
Pay it immediately. While it will count as sadaqah rather than the obligatory Zakat al-Fitr, you should still fulfil this duty. The sin of negligence is less if you pay late than if you don't pay at all.
Scholars differ. Most say if the child is born BEFORE sunset on the last day of Ramadan, Zakat al-Fitr is due. If born after sunset (i.e., after Shawwal has begun), it is not obligatory but recommended.
When you pay your Zakat al-Fitr through ChildRelief, your payment provides essential food to families in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Rohingya communities. We ensure:
Zakat al-Fitr for 2026 is £5 per person minimum, with some scholars recommending £7. You must pay for yourself and all dependents. A family of four would pay £20-£28.
Zakat al-Fitr must be paid BEFORE the Eid prayer on Friday, 20th March 2026. If paid after, it counts only as regular charity, not the obligatory Zakat al-Fitr.
Every Muslim who has food beyond their basic Eid day needs must pay. The head of household pays for all dependents including spouse, children, and dependent parents. Even those who didn't fast must pay.
Yes, Zakat al-Fitr, Fitrana, Fitra, Fitrah, and Sadaqat al-Fitr all refer to the same obligatory charity paid before Eid al-Fitr prayer.
Yes, parents must pay Zakat al-Fitr for all their children, including newborn babies. If a child is born before sunset on the last day of Ramadan, Zakat al-Fitr is due for them.
If paid after Eid prayer, it becomes regular sadaqah (charity) rather than the obligatory Zakat al-Fitr. You should still pay it, but try to pay before Eid prayer to fulfil the obligation properly.
Purify your Ramadan fast and ensure families in need celebrate Eid with food on their table. 100% of your donation goes to programmatic costs to supercharge helping those in need. We're ALL in. 100%.
