Zakat fitri is a form of ritual worship (ibadah mahdhah) that carries deep social meaning. It is obligatory for every Muslim who has sufficient means. The principle governing who must pay rests on the Qur’an, specifically Surah al-Thalaq, verse 7:
لِيُنْفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِنْ سَعَتِهِ
“Let one who has abundance spend from his abundance.” (QS. al-Thalaq: 7)
This verse makes clear that financial obligations in Islam, including zakat fitri, apply to those granted material sufficiency. In practical terms, anyone who, on the night of Idulfitri, possesses surplus beyond the basic needs of themselves and their dependents bear this responsibility. Those living in hardship, therefore, are not burdened by it.
That principle leads to a crucial follow up question: what kind of wealth must be given, and in what amount?
The Prophetic Standard: Food and Measure
The Prophet Muhammad provided explicit guidance. In an authenticated hadith narrated by Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri and recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim, he described the practice of the early Muslim community:
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ كُنَّا نُخْرِجُ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ صَاعًا مِنْ طَعَامٍ أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ أَقِطٍ أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ زَبِيبٍ
“We used to give zakat fitri as one sha‘ of food, or one sha‘ of barley, or one sha‘ of dates, or one sha‘ of dried cheese, or one sha‘ of raisins.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim).
This hadith forms the foundation for determining both the type and quantity of zakat fitri. The phrase ṣā‘an min ṭa‘ām—one sha‘ of food—signals that zakat fitri should be paid in the form of a staple food commonly consumed in a given society.
From Classical Measure to Modern Practice
A sha‘ is a unit of volume used in the Prophet’s time. When converted into modern measurements, one sha‘ of wheat weighs about 2,167 grams. Because food density varies, scholars adopt a precautionary approach and round the amount to approximately 2.5 kilograms.
In Indonesia, this staple is typically rice. On that basis, the Majelis Tarjih dan Tajdid PP Muhammadiyah permits zakat fitri to be paid either in food or in cash equal to the value of 2.5 kilograms of rice. If rice costs Rp11,500 per kilogram, the obligation equals Rp28,750 per person (might vary in different regions).
To ensure proper distribution, many Muslims channel their zakat through Lazismu, a trusted institution known for transparency and social empowerment.
Paying zakat fitri in the correct amount, through the right channels, preserves both its legal validity and its ethical purpose.
Reference:
Muhammadiyah Central Board, Fikih Zakat Kontemporer, 2025.
