ISLAMABAD -: The minimum amount of Fitrana, an obligatory charitabledonation by affluent Muslims to poor and needy before Eid-ul-Fitr, has beenfixed at Rs 170 per person in 2022, said former Central Ruet-e-HilalCommittee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman.
Under the Islamic Shariah, every adult Muslim who was mature (baligh),sane, conscious, financially able and possesses food in excess of needs onthe eve of Eid al-Fitr must pay Fitra.
The head of household can also pay zakat al-Fitr for their dependants suchas children, servants and any dependent relatives .The rate for Fitrana perperson can be based on one of the prices of a basket of items, includingflour, dates, raisin, cheese, or barley.
According to a chart shared by Mufti Muneeb, the minimum amount that shouldbe given in charity was Rs170 with respect to wheat (around 2 kg), inaccordance with Barley (4kg) it was Rs 480 or 540, with respect to price ofdates and Raisins it was Rs 1,600 and 2,800 respectively. Fitra withrespect to second class Raisin was Rs 2,200 per head, he said.
The Fidya amount needed to be paid for the 30 days with respect to wheatprice was Rs 10,200; with respect to barley Rs28,800; with respect to datesRs 9,6000; and with respect to raisins Rs168,000.Sadaqatul-Fitr, also known as Zakatul-Fitr, was a small amount of food tobe given in charity before Eid-ul-Fitr prayers. It was not advisable to payafter Eid prayer. However, if a person has failed to pay Fitrana at propertime, then he/she should pay it as soon as possible.
This amount was separate from the annual payment of Zakat, which was one ofthe pillars of Islam.Unlike Zakat, which was calculated annually as a percentage of extrawealth, the Sadaqat-ul-Fitr was to be paid equally by every Muslim man,woman and child.
According to the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) each person should giveaway in charity an amount equivalent to one ‘sa’a (an ancient measure ofvolume, approximately between 2.6 Kg to 3 Kg of grain’). A sa’a was a unitof measurement equal to 4 handfuls of an average man. As such, the exactweight differs based on the foodstuff in question.
Read Top Stories
Each individual Muslim, who has financial power to give away this amount —man or woman, adult or child, sick or healthy, old or young.
These were the minimum Fitrana and Sadaqah rates.Those who have been givenabundance in sustenance by Allah, considering their financial status, canpay fitrana accordingly.
Islam obligates its followers to pay the required amount to the mostdeserving people including relatives or neighbours before offering the Eidprayers to ensure that monies donated were able to be distributed amongstthose most in need in order for them to join in with Eid celebrations.
“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) ordained Zakat ul Fitr[Fitrana] to purify the fasting person from indecent words or actions, andto provide food for the needy. It was accepted as Zakat for the person whogives it before the Eid prayer; but it was a mere Sadaqah for the one whogives it after the prayer.” [Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah].
