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A small obligatory charity, due before the Eid al-Fitr prayer.
Zakat al-Fitr (Sadaqat al-Fitr) is a distinct, smaller charity from wealth-based zakat, obligatory on every Muslim — young or old, male or female, free or dependent — paid on their behalf by the head of the household. Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet ﷺ enjoined one sa' (roughly 2–3 kg) of dates or barley on every Muslim, to be paid before people go out to the Eid prayer (Bukhari 1503).
Its purpose is explicitly stated in the Sunnah: 'purification for the fasting person from idle and obscene talk, and food for the poor' (Sunan Abi Dawud 1609). Paying it before the Eid prayer counts as this specific zakat; paying it after the prayer still counts as general charity, but misses the distinct reward tied to timing.
Most communities today calculate the value in local currency rather than distributing dates or barley directly, following the guidance of local scholars and zakat authorities on current staple-food values — a practical accommodation, not a change to the underlying obligation.
Hadith
Sahih al-Bukhari · 1503
Sahih
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ enjoined the payment of one Sa' of dates or one Sa' of barley as Zakat-ul-Fitr on every Muslim, slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he ordered that it be paid before the people went out to offer the Id prayer.”
Sunan Abi Dawud · 1609
Sahih
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prescribed Zakat al-Fitr as a purification for the fasting person from idle and obscene talk, and as food for the poor. Whoever pays it before the prayer, it is an accepted zakat; whoever pays it after the prayer, it is (ordinary) charity.”
Practical steps
1
Calculate and set aside Zakat al-Fitr for yourself and your dependents.
2
Pay it before leaving for the Eid al-Fitr prayer if possible.
Continue in Munib
Educational overview — not a fatwa. Where schools differ (such as the extra-takbir count), both positions are presented; follow your imam or a qualified local scholar.