Mufti Muneeb announces Zakat al-Fitr, Fidya rates for Ramazan

Renowned religious scholar Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman announced the minimum amounts for Zakat al-Fitr (almsgiving), Fidya (compensation for missed fasting) and Kaffara (penalty) for fasting on Saturday. According to his statement, the minimum amount for Zakat al-Fitr and Fidya has been set at Rs300 per person, while those with financial means have been encouraged to pay according to their capacity. He said the minimum rates for Zakat al-Fitr and Fidya vary depending on the food item. For two kilogrammes of stone-ground wheat flour, the amount is Rs300; for 4kg of barley, it is Rs1,160; for 4kg of dates, Rs2,800; and for 4kg of premium raisins, Rs7,200. Read: Poverty rate hits 29%, highest in over a decade Regarding Kaffara, which is the expiation for deliberately breaking a fast, he explained that it requires feeding 60 needy people two meals each. The minimum cost for this ranges from Rs18,000 for wheat flour, Rs69,600 for barley and Rs168,000 for dates, while the amount for raisins varies depending on market prices and quality. He emphasised that these amounts represent minimum thresholds and were provided to guide those with greater financial means to give according to their capacity, citing the Quranic injunction: “And whoever voluntarily gives more — it is better for him.” He further clarified that Fidya is intended for chronic patients or extremely elderly individuals who are unable to fast and show no signs of recovery, while temporary patients or travellers who miss fasting due to illness or travel must make up their fasts later, as Fidya does not replace these missed fasts. He also said that if a person breaks a fast without a valid reason, Kaffara applies, which entails fasting for 60 consecutive days in addition to making up the missed fast, or paying financial Kaffara if fasting is not possible. He noted that market prices for the listed items fluctuate and quality variations may affect the exact amounts. What is Fidya? Fidya is a form of charity for Muslims who are unable to fast due to reasons such as illness, old age, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or any other condition that permanently prevents them from fasting. Instead of making up for missed fasts, these individuals can pay Fidya to feed a poor person for each missed fast. The concept of Fidya is outlined in the Holy Quran. When to Pay Fidya Fidya can be paid in the form of food or money, depending on personal circumstances and available resources. It can be paid before or during Ramadan, but is preferably given before Eidul Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month. Fidya can be paid online through various Islamic charitable websites or offline via local mosques or Islamic organisations. Who Should Pay Fitrana? Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory for all Muslims, whether or not they are required to pay regular zakat. If a person is liable for zakat or possesses wealth in excess of essential needs (such as home, clothing, and household goods) that equals or exceeds the Nisab threshold, they must pay Zakat al-Fitr. This applies regardless of whether the wealth is from trade goods or personal assets, and regardless of whether a full year has passed. Those who meet these criteria are required to fulfil this duty. When to Pay Fitrana Zakat al-Fitr is specifically tied to the morning of Eidul Fitr, starting at dawn, when Fajr prayer time begins. Ideally, Fitrana should be paid before the Eid prayer on the morning of Eid.

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