Zakat al-Fitr

Zakat al Fitr

Zakat al-Fitr: A sadaqah (alms) prescribed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ upon concluding the fast of the month of Ramadan; It is called Zakat al-Fitr because it becomes mandatory when Ramadan comes to an end, it is wajib (required) from every Muslim, whether male or female, minor or adult as long as he/she has the means to do so.
The main purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is to provide the poor with a means with which they can celebrate the festival of breaking the fast (`Eid al-Fitr) along with the rest of the Muslims.
Measure of Zakah Al-Fitr
A Sa’[ One saa: 2.40kg barley] is to be paid for every individual, and it has to be from man’s food e.g. rice, dates, wheat, in accordance with the hadith of Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: “We used to pay on the day of Fitr during the time of the Messenger of Allah a Sa’ of food” and he (Abu Sa’eed) said: “And our foods were barley, raisins, (cottage) cheese[ Aqit: dried, curled milk (cottage cheese) used in cooking] and dates.” [ Source: Al Bukhari]

Sa’(saa) is estimated by Hanafis as = 3.25 kgs, and for the majority of scholars as = 2.040 kgs

It is also estimated as four handfuls of an average sized man.