The minimum amount of Sadqa-e-Fitr, an obligatory charitable donation that Muslims are required to pay during the holy month of Ramadan, has been fixed at Rs320 for the current year, according to renowned religious scholar and former Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee chairman Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman. This rate is based on the prices of staple food such as flour, dates, raisins, cheese or barley, as per the Islamic Shariah.
The purpose of Sadqa-e-Fitr is to help the poor and needy people in society, especially during the festive occasion of Eidul Fitr. By giving to those less fortunate, Muslims can earn blessings from Allah Almighty and contribute to the well-being of their community.
Mufti Muneeb explained that the market price of 2.25 kilogrammes of flour is used to calculate the Fitrana amount, which is set at Rs320 per head. Those who wish to pay Fitrana equal to the price of barley or dates must pay a minimum of Rs480 and Rs2,800 per head, respectively. Similarly, those who want to pay Fitrana at the rate of raisins must pay Rs6,400 per head for first-class dates and Rs4,800 per person for second-class raisins.
Muslims who possess excess food must pay Sadqa-e-Fitr before the Eid prayers. Breadwinners must also pay Sadqa-e-Fitr for their dependents, such as their wife, children, dependent relatives, or servants. Mufti Muneeb advised people to pay the amount to the poor before Eid-ul-Fitr so that they too could celebrate the festival. The most deserving people for Sadqa-e-Fitr are close relatives, followed by neighbors and the poor.
The real spirit of Fitr and Fidya, according to Mufti Muneeb, is a two-time meal of a destitute person, so it is better to pay the meal cost of a hotel. However, those who are wealthier should try to pay more to extend assistance to the poor in this time of skyrocketing inflation.
If anyone has been unable to fast for the whole month of Ramadan, they should pay the whole month Friday as compensation worth Rs9,600 in proportion to the flour price, Rs14,400 for barley, Rs84,000 for dates, Rs192,000 for first-class raisins, and Rs144,000 for second-class raisins.
Similarly, Kufara (compensation) for leaving 30 fasts in wheat would be Rs19,200, for wheat Rs28,800, for barley Rs168,000, for dates Rs384,000, for first-class raisins Rs2,88,000, and for second-class raisins Rs384,000.
The amount of Kufara in wheat would be Rs3,200, barley Rs4,800, dates Rs28,000, raisins Rs64,000 for first-class and Rs48,000 for second-class.
In summary, the minimum amount of Sadqa-e-Fitr this year is Rs320 per person, and it is calculated based on the prices of staple food items. Paying Sadqa-e-Fitr is an essential religious obligation for Muslims, and it serves the purpose of helping the poor and needy during the festive occasion of Eidul Fitr. By paying Sadqa-e-Fitr, Muslims can earn blessings from Allah Almighty and contribute to the well-being of their community.
