Who Must Pay Fitrah?
Understanding Your Obligation
Fitrah is for Everyone
Unlike Zakat Al-Mal, which requires meeting the Nisab threshold, Fitrah is obligatory on every Muslim who possesses food beyond their own needs on the day and night of Eid. You do not need to be wealthy. You simply need to have more than you need for that day.
Who Is Responsible for Paying?
When Must It Be Paid?
Fitrah must reach the recipient before the Eid prayer is performed. It is permitted to pay it one or two days before Eid. Paying it after the Eid prayer means it counts only as voluntary Sadaqah — the Fitrah obligation is not fulfilled.
What Form Does Fitrah Take?
Fitrah was originally prescribed as a Sa' — approximately 2.5 to 3 kg — of a staple food such as wheat, dates, barley, or rice. The majority of contemporary scholars in the West, including the Fiqh Council of North America and ISNA, permit paying the cash equivalent. Both are valid positions.
