The month of blessings is ending, making Eid al-Fitr near. This is a gift to all of us for fasting throughout Ramadan. This is when you need to fulfill your duty, to give the Zakat Al-Fitr. It’s a charity you give to the needy so they can celebrate Eid without worrying about food.
The Prophet PBUH said, “The fasting of the month of fasting will be hanging between earth and heavens, and it will not be raised up to the Divine Presence without paying the Eid Zakat.”
Zakat-al-Fitr, which has many names such as the charity for breaking fast, Sadaqat-al-Fitr, Fitra and also the Fitrana, is an obligation for every Muslim who has food on the table. Unlike Zakat, where only those people who have a certain amount of gold or silver pay, this Zakat is the responsibility of every Muslim with excessive food or resources.
Not everybody is as blessed as you are, who can buy any clothes, food, or things to make your Eid beautiful. There are people in Canada and other parts of the world struggling even to meet their end needs, and preparing for Eid is beyond their financial capacity. Zakat-al-Fitr is just to help such people celebrate Eid as beautifully as they can.
Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) enjoined the payment of Eid-al-Fitr Zakat as a purification for the fasting person from idle talk and misbehavior, and as food for the needy. If anyone pays it before the Eid prayer, it will be accepted as Zakat. If anyone pays it after the prayer, it will be counted as ordinary charity.” (Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah)
The Sadaqat al-Fitr is important as it:
Fitrana is obligatory for anybody who has more food on the table than they need. People with more wealth who can give away for help are also obliged to pay this Sadaqah for fasting.
If you’re financially independent, whether male or female, elderly or young, you can pay for it yourself. However, for the family members who aren’t self-sufficient, it’s the responsibility of the leader, like a father, to give this Zakat for Eid on behalf of every family member.
When to pay Zakat Al-Fitr is told by the Prophet himself. Umar ibn al-Khattab said that the Prophet (PBUH) ordered to give the Fitrana before going to the Eid prayer. But it doesn’t mean leaving it at the last minute. You should give it before Eid so that the needy people can prepare for the Eid celebration.
Hazrat Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri( R.A) said, “At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), we used to give it in the form of a sale of food”(Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1412).
Saa means 3 kilograms of any staple food, such as flour, rice, or even dates. Every family member has to pay at least 1 saa of the food or the equivalent amount of money.
Based on the current value of the staple foods, the fitra amount in Canada 2025 is around $10 for every member of the family.
You can give out the following things as the Zakat, other than the money equivalent of 3 kilograms of staple foods.
Donate your Zakat Al Fitr to Human Concern, a trusted organization that distributes Fitra in Canada. We help needy families in Canada celebrate Eid. We’re connected with people who need shelter, food, and clothes and also those needing the medical assistance we give with your Sadakah.
We follow a policy of directly sending your Fitrana to the distributors and the beneficiaries without taking any stake. So, donate today and make a difference as the prophet said, “Save them from begging on this day”.
Zakat al-Mal (commonly called “Zakat“) is due when a person’s wealth reaches the nisab amount and can be paid anytime during the year. Most people pay it during Ramadan. Zakat al-Fitr is paid by the head of the household for each member of the family, before Eid al-Fitr prayer.
The heads of the houshold pay Zakat-al Fitr for their dependents. Otherwise, if there are no dependents, one pays for oneself.
It is compulsory for every member of a household, including children and babies to pay Zakat ul Fitr.
However, it is the parents or guardians who pay on behalf of their dependents.
Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar said that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered the people to pay Zakat al Fitr before going to the Eid prayer. (Bukhari)
Yes.
Both the Hanafi and the Shafi’i madhab allows for one to pay the Zakat al-Fitr before the 27th night of Ramadan.
The recipients of our Zakat al Fitr donations are the poor. The $15 we donate assists the poor and those in need with supplies of food and meals.
As agents, we take your donation to buy and distribute food on your behalf. In the past, Muslims would donate raw food supplies rather than money.
Now, with your money donation, we can fulfill your obligations and meet the needs of the poor.
Human Concern International is the oldest Muslim relief organization in Canada, fighting poverty for over 45 years.
We are a registered charity with the CRA. Charitable Registration No. 107497125 RR 0001