Islamic tools
Zakat al-Fitr Calculator
Work out the zakat al-fitr due for every member of your household in kilograms, and its value at local food prices, with the sa' weight for each staple shown.
It is due for every Muslim in the home, male and female, young and old. The head of the household pays for those in their care.
It is given before the Eid prayer, ideally before leaving for it, and may be paid a day or two early. Given after the prayer it counts as ordinary charity, not zakat al-fitr.
The majority of scholars require it to be given as food rather than money, while the Hanafi school permits giving the cash value. The value field is for estimation and for those following that view.
Zakat al-Fitr: the amount, the timing and who it covers
The Prophet, peace be upon him, made zakat al-fitr obligatory as one sa' of food, a purification for the fasting person and food for the needy, as reported from Ibn Abbas in Abu Dawud. Al-Bukhari and Muslim record from Ibn Umar that it was a sa' of dates or a sa' of barley, due from every Muslim, free or bonded, male or female, young or old.
The amount is a volume, not a weight
A sa' is a measure of volume, four mudd, a mudd being a double handful of an average adult. Because it is volume, its weight changes with the density of the staple: about 2.04 kg of wheat, about 2.5 kg of rice, about 2 kg of dates. That is why this calculator shows the sa' weight for each staple separately instead of one flat figure, and why published fatwas quote different numbers.
Who it is paid for
It is due from every Muslim who owns their day's food and more. The head of the household pays for himself and those in his care: spouse, children and parents he supports. It is not obligatory for an unborn child, though Uthman used to give it for the unborn as a commendable extra.
Timing
- It falls due at sunset on the last day of Ramadan.
- The preferred time is the morning of Eid before leaving for the prayer.
- Paying one or two days early is allowed, and the Shafi'i and Hanafi schools permit paying from early Ramadan to ease distribution.
- Given after the Eid prayer it counts as ordinary charity, and the obligation must still be made up.
Food or cash
The Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali majority require food, because the text specifies a sa' of food. The Hanafi school permits the cash value, which many charities follow today for practical distribution. The value field here is an estimate for those following that view or wanting to know the cost of the food.
For more on Ramadan rulings see the Ramadan page, and for annual wealth zakat use the money zakat calculator.
Frequently asked questions