Sadqa-e-Fitr, called fitrana in Pakistan, is a small charity paid at the end of Ramadan for every member of a household. It must be paid before the Eid ul Fitr prayer, and the amount is the value of a set quantity of wheat, barley, dates or raisins. Eid ul Fitr is expected on Wednesday, March 10, 2027, 155 days from today, subject to moon sighting.
What fitrana is for
According to a well-known hadith, Sadqa-e-Fitr purifies the fasting person from idle talk and mistakes during Ramadan and provides food for the poor, so that everyone can celebrate Eid. It is separate from zakat: zakat is a yearly percentage of wealth, while fitrana is a fixed amount per person, paid once a year at Eid.
Who must pay
The schools describe this a little differently:
- Hanafi school (followed by most people in Pakistan): fitrana is wajib on every free Muslim who, on the morning of Eid, owns wealth equal to the nisab beyond their basic needs. That wealth does not need to be held for a year, and it can include items beyond basic needs, not only cash.
- Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali schools: it is due on anyone who has food beyond what they and their dependants need for the day and night of Eid.
It is due whether or not the person fasted. Someone who missed fasts because of illness, travel or old age still pays fitrana if they meet the condition.
For which family members
The head of the household pays for himself and for his minor children who don’t have wealth of their own. Babies born before dawn on Eid day are included. In the Hanafi view, a husband does not have to pay for his wife or adult children, but it is common and permissible to pay on their behalf with their consent. Many families simply pay for everyone in the house.
How much: the four staple foods
The amount is not a fixed rupee figure. It is the price of a set measure of a staple food:
- Wheat or wheat flour: half a sa’ in the Hanafi school, roughly 2 kg.
- Barley, dates or raisins: one full sa’, roughly 4 kg.
The sa’ was a measure of volume, so modern weights are approximate and scholars give slightly different figures. Each person can choose which food to base their fitrana on. Paying with wheat gives the minimum; many people who can afford it choose dates or raisins, which gives the poor more.
Quantities for your household
| People in household | Wheat or flour (about 2 kg each) | Dates, raisins or barley (about 4 kg each) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 kg | 4 kg |
| 2 | 4 kg | 8 kg |
| 3 | 6 kg | 12 kg |
| 4 | 8 kg | 16 kg |
| 5 | 10 kg | 20 kg |
| 6 | 12 kg | 24 kg |
| 8 | 16 kg | 32 kg |
To find the rupee amount, multiply these quantities by local prices, or use the rates announced for your city.
Who announces the rate in Pakistan
Food prices change every year, so the rupee amounts are announced afresh each Ramadan. Religious bodies, local scholars and large madrassas in Pakistan publish per-person rates for wheat flour, barley, dates and raisins based on current market prices, and these are widely reported in the news. Rates can differ slightly between cities. Check the announcement for the current year, or calculate it yourself from prices in your local market.
When to pay
The best time is before the Eid prayer, and ideally a few days earlier so the money reaches people in time to buy food and clothes for Eid. In the Hanafi school it may be paid at any time in Ramadan, and even earlier. The Shafi’i school allows it from the start of Ramadan; the Maliki and Hanbali schools allow it a day or two before Eid. Delaying it past the Eid prayer without a reason is wrong; if you do miss it, Hanafi scholars say it is still owed and should be paid as soon as possible.
Who can receive it
Fitrana goes to the same people who are eligible for zakat, mainly the poor and needy. You cannot give it to your own parents, grandparents, children or grandchildren, or (in the Hanafi view) to your spouse. Many Pakistanis give it to a needy neighbour, a domestic worker in need, a local mosque fund or a trusted charity. Hanafis allow paying the cash value, while the other schools generally prefer giving the food itself.
To work out your zakat at the same time, use our zakat calculator, and see how long is left on the Eid ul Fitr countdown. For the full zakat method, read how to calculate zakat.
Frequently asked questions
How much is fitrana this year?
The rupee amount is announced each Ramadan by religious bodies in Pakistan, based on prices of wheat flour, barley, dates and raisins. Check this year’s announcement or multiply about 2 kg of flour by your local price.
Do I pay fitrana for my children?
Yes. The head of the household pays for minor children who don’t have their own wealth, including a baby born before dawn on Eid.
Can I pay fitrana after Eid prayer?
It should be paid before the Eid prayer. If you missed it, Hanafi scholars say it remains owed and should be paid as soon as possible.
Can fitrana be given in cash?
In the Hanafi school, yes, and this is the common practice in Pakistan. The other schools generally prefer giving food.
Is fitrana the same as zakat?
No. Zakat is 2.5% of savings above the nisab, while fitrana is a fixed amount per person paid at Eid ul Fitr. Use our zakat calculator for zakat.