Fitrana 2026: How Much Per Person, When to Pay, Who Receives It

Fitrana (Zakat al-Fitr or "Sadaqat al-Fitr") is an obligatory charity owed by every Muslim — adult and child — at the end of Ramadan. It must be paid before the Eid al-Fitr prayer. Its purpose is to purify the fasting person and to ensure the poor have provisions for celebrating Eid.

2026 Fitrana amount per person

Per the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) 2026 standard:

• Standard rate: $10 USD per person
• For a family of 4: $40 USD total
• For a family of 6: $60 USD total

This rate is calculated to cover the cost of one sa'a (approximately 2.5 kg / 5.5 lb) of staple food locally — the classical fiqh measurement that the Prophet ﷺ specified.

Who must pay?

Every Muslim — adult or child, male or female — who has food beyond their basic needs on the last day of Ramadan owes Fitrana. The head of household typically pays on behalf of dependents (spouse, children, elderly parents under their care).

Hanafi vs Shafi'i differences

Hanafi school: permits payment in cash equivalent (which is what most modern donors do — including Bakara 195 by default).

Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali schools: require payment in the form of staple food (rice, wheat, dates) — not cash. If you follow these schools strictly, you can either purchase and distribute food yourself or instruct an agent to do so on your behalf.

Bakara 195 provides both options: cash-equivalent donation (default) or food-distribution designation.

When to pay

Fitrana can be paid:

• During Ramadan (most common — gives time for distribution before Eid)
• On the last day of Ramadan
• Before the Eid prayer on Eid al-Fitr morning

It must reach the recipient before Eid prayer. If it arrives after, it counts as regular Sadaqah, not Fitrana — and you have a religious deficit to make up.

Who receives it?

Fitrana goes to the same eight recipient categories as Zakat (Quran 9:60), with priority to the poor and needy. Bakara 195 distributes Fitrana through verified local networks in regions of greatest need — Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, and locally where field partners operate.

Fitrana for a baby in the womb?

The Hanafi position is that Fitrana is not required for an unborn child. Other schools differ. Some scholars recommend paying for the unborn child as a precautionary measure if convenient.

Pay your 2026 Fitrana →