The 365 · Sunnah · Day 357 · Special Days
Zakāt al-Fiṭr (Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr)
The hadith
«فرض النبيّ ﷺ زكاة الفطر صاعاً من تمر أو صاعاً من شعير على العبد والحرّ والذّكر والأنثى والصغير والكبير من المسلمين».
Ibn ʿUmar said: 'The Prophet ﷺ obligated zakāt al-fiṭr of one ṣāʿ of dates or barley upon every Muslim: slave or free, male or female, young or old.' (Bukhari 1503)
Svenska: Ibn ʿUmar sade: 'Profeten ﷺ föreskrev zakāt al-fiṭr av en ṣāʿ dadlar eller korn på varje muslim.' (Bukhari 1503)
Bukhari 1503; Abu Dawud 1611
The story
The Sahaba would prepare zakāt al-fiṭr from their own provisions, walking it to the doors of the poor. The day's joy was structured: the rich gave; the poor received; everyone celebrated.
Why it's here
Zakāt al-Fiṭr is the obligatory charity for every Muslim before ʿEid al-Fiṭr. It purifies the fast from heedlessness and indecency, and feeds the poor on the day of celebration so they too join the joy.
Try it today
Pay zakāt al-fiṭr for yourself and every family member (including infants) before ʿEid prayer. Modern equivalent: approximately 2.5-3 kg of staple food per person, or its monetary value. Pay it locally so the poor receive on the day of Eid itself.
In your day
Trusted Islamic organizations facilitate this. Pay early in Ramadan to ensure the poor receive in time. The Sunnah requires the food to reach them before the Eid prayer.
A reflection to carry
Zakāt al-Fiṭr is the Sunnah's pre-Eid social justice. Pay it, ensure it reaches.
Read the longer reflection
Zakāt al-Fiṭr is the Sunnah's annual reset: every Muslim pays, regardless of wealth; the poor receive in time for Eid. The community's joy is shared. May Allah accept our Fiṭrs and may none of His servants celebrate Eid hungry.
Sources: Sahih Bukhari, Abu Dawud. The Qur'an and its translation are verified; the scholarship is retold faithfully in our own words and credited to its sources, never reproduced verbatim.
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