Fitrana — also called Zakat al-Fitr or Sadaqat al-Fitr — is an obligatory charity that every Muslim with food beyond their basic needs must pay at the end of Ramadan, before the Eid al-Fitr prayer. Unlike annual Zakat, it is a small fixed amount per person, not a percentage of wealth, and the head of the household pays it on behalf of everyone in the family, including children. Its purpose is to purify the fast and to make sure the poor can also celebrate Eid.
Many people focus on their annual Zakat and forget Fitrana until the last night of Ramadan. Here is everything you need, well ahead of time.
Fitrana is a compulsory act of charity given at the close of Ramadan. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made it obligatory as a means to purify the fasting person from any idle or indecent speech during the month, and to feed the needy so they, too, can enjoy Eid. “Fitrana,” “Zakat al-Fitr,” and “Sadaqat al-Fitr” all refer to the same payment — “Zakat al-Fitr” is the formal Arabic term, while “Fitrana” is the common name across Pakistan and South Asia.
They are separate obligations that often get merged in people’s minds. If you have already read what Zakat is in Islam, this table shows how Fitrana differs:
| Fitrana (Zakat al-Fitr) | Zakat (annual) |
Amount | Fixed, small, per person | 2.5% of qualifying wealth |
Trigger | Having food beyond basic needs at the end of Ramadan | Wealth above nisab held for a lunar year |
Who is included | Every household member, including children | The individual wealth-holder |
Deadline | Before the Eid al-Fitr prayer | Any time on your annual Zakat date |
A Muslim who owns wealth above the nisab and fasts Ramadan owes both in the same year — one does not replace the other.
Fitrana is benchmarked to roughly one sa’ of staple food — about 2.5 kg of wheat, flour, barley, dates, or raisins — per person, or its cash value. Because it is tied to food prices, the exact figure is set locally and refreshed every year.
In Pakistan, scholars announce minimum rates each Ramadan based on different staples. For 2026, for example, the minimum was set around Rs. 300 per person for wheat flour, with higher rates for barley, dates, and raisins, and those who can afford it encouraged to pay based on the more generous staples. Use the current year’s announced rate, and remember it is per family member — a family of five pays five shares.
Fitrana must reach the poor before the Eid al-Fitr prayer — that is the whole point, so recipients can prepare for Eid. You may pay it in the last days of Ramadan, and many pay earlier in the month so charities can distribute it in time. If you pay after the Eid prayer, it still counts as general charity (Sadaqah) but no longer fulfils the specific obligation of Zakat al-Fitr — so give early.
Fitrana goes to the poor (fuqara) and the needy (masakeen) — the same categories eligible for Zakat, which you can read about in our guide to who is eligible for Zakat. If you cannot easily find eligible recipients yourself, a trusted charity can act as your agent and distribute it as food or its cash value on your behalf, in time for Eid.
Fitrana is meant to put food on the table before Eid — so timing and trust both matter. Amanatdaar collects and distributes Fitrana as real food to verified families across Pakistan through Food Rations Distribution and daily meals via Amanatdaar Dastarkhuwan, so no one is left out of the celebration.
As a registered charity in Pakistan (Charity No. 217), certified by the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy and a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Amanatdaar handles every rupee as an amanah. Giving your annual Zakat too? Fulfil it through our Zakat Program in the same visit.
Is Fitrana the same as Zakat al-Fitr? Yes. Fitrana, Zakat al-Fitr, and Sadaqat al-Fitr are three names for the same end-of-Ramadan charity.
Do I pay Fitrana for my children? Yes. The head of the household pays Fitrana for every dependant, including infants and children.
How much Fitrana should I pay? The value of roughly 2.5 kg of a staple food per person, using your area’s current announced rate. Pay one share per family member.
Do I still pay Fitrana if I couldn’t fast? Yes, if you have food beyond your basic needs. Fitrana is linked to Eid, not to whether you completed the fasts.
What happens if I pay Fitrana after Eid prayer? It becomes ordinary voluntary charity and does not fulfil the Zakat al-Fitr obligation. Always pay before the Eid prayer.
Do not leave it to the last night — pay early so your Fitrana reaches a family in time to celebrate Eid with dignity. Give your Fitrana for every member of your household through Amanatdaar’s Instant Donation Box today.
Fitrana rates and staple benchmarks vary by region and school of thought. Use your local scholarly rate, and consult a scholar if unsure.
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