Ramadan·3 min read
Zakat al-Fitr 2027: amount, deadline and who to give it to
How much Zakat al-Fitr is in 2027, who must pay it, by when, and who to give it to. The simple rules, and the difference from sadaqah.
Contents
Zakat al-Fitr (or Fitrana, “the charity of breaking the fast”) is the only obligatory charity linked to Ramadan. It is owed by every Muslim, for themselves and their dependants, before the Eid prayer. Here is the essential for 2027.
What is the amount of Zakat al-Fitr 2027?
The Prophet ﷺ set it at one sa' of staple food (dates, barley, wheat), about 2.5 to 3 kg. In Europe, religious bodies convert this volume into money every year: about £5 to £7 in the UK and €9 in France per person in recent years. The 2027 amount is announced at the start of Ramadan; whoever can give more is encouraged to do so.
Who must pay it?
- Every Muslim who owns, on the day of Eid, more than the food for themselves and their family for the day.
- The head of the household pays it for every dependant, including children and infants. For a baby born before sunset on the last day, it is due.
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prescribed Zakat al-Fitr, one sa' of dates or one sa' of barley, on the slave and the free, the male and the female, the young and the old among the Muslims, and he ordered that it be paid before the people go out to the prayer.”
Al-Bukhari (no. 1503), Muslim (no. 984), from Ibn 'Umar.
By what date?
Before the Eid al-Fitr prayer, expected on 9 March 2027. It is permitted to pay it one or two days earlier, and many mosques collect it during the last ten nights to have time to distribute it. Paid after the prayer, it is only an ordinary charity.
Who to give it to?
To the poor and needy, first those in your own town, so that they too can celebrate Eid. The local mosque is the simplest channel. It is permitted to send it abroad if the need is greater there, a view shared by many contemporary scholars, as long as it is distributed before the Eid prayer there.
Zakat al-Fitr, zakat al-mal, sadaqah: what is the difference?
| Zakat al-Fitr | Zakat al-mal | Sadaqah | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Obligatory | Obligatory | Voluntary |
| Amount | About €9 per person | 2.5% of savings above the nisab | Free |
| When | End of Ramadan | Every lunar year | All year round |
| Example | €9 to the mosque | Paid to those entitled | A well or a tree in your name |
Once Zakat al-Fitr is settled, many use the last nights to add a charity that lasts: a €28 fruit tree or a well in the name of a loved one.
And for a charity that lasts all year
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay Zakat al-Fitr for a baby?
Yes, for every child born before sunset on the last day of Ramadan. Some scholars even recommend it for the unborn child.
Can it be paid in money rather than food?
The Hanafi school allows it and it is the most common practice in Europe. Other schools prefer food; mosques that collect money generally buy foodstuffs.
What if I forgot to pay it before the prayer?
It must still be paid, as soon as possible. It remains due, but is then counted as an ordinary charity.
Does Sanabil accept zakat?
No. We carry out sadaqah (wells, trees, Aqiqah) in your name, with a video. For zakat, pay it to your mosque or an authorised organisation.
Ramadan
A Sadaqah Jariyah before the month ends
A tree from €28, a well, an Aqiqah: ordered during Ramadan, carried out in your name, with the video on WhatsApp.
