Here’s a breakdown of what Zakat Al Fitr is all about and how do it the right way.

The What:

Zakat Al Fitr is a small amount of charity given either in the (preferably in the form of food according to most scholars) or money (according to some scholars as well) to the poor and needy at the end of Ramadan as a means of ending on a positive and spiritual note, summing up the concept of the entire month.

The Why:

It is a chance for us to be grateful as a representation of being able to successfully complete fasts in the holy month. It is an opportunity to help the poor, further expiate our sins and gain the blessings of this charity.

The How:

The amount to give equals to one sa’ of food, which equals four times the amount that may be held in the two hands of a man of average build.

It can be given in the form of money or actual food (according to different scholar teachings) and to someone you believe would need it. This includes the poor and those in difficulty.

The When:

It becomes obligatory when the sun sets on the last day of Ramadan, and must be paid before the Eid prayer. It is permissible to pay it two or three days before that, if necessary.