Zakat fitri is an obligation for every Muslim as a completion of the fasting observance during Ramadan. In practice, it may be fulfilled with staple food such as rice, amounting to about 2.5 kilograms per person. In addition, zakat fitri may also be paid in cash equivalent to the price of the staple food.
This obligation has a strong basis in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. One of the key references appears in a hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar:
عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ، عَلَى الْعَبْDدِ وَالْحُرِّ، وَالذَّكَرِ وَالْأُنْثَى، وَالصَّغِيرِ وَالْكَبِيرِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَأَمَرَ بِهَا أَنْ تُؤَدَّى قَبْلَ خُرُوجِ النَّاسِ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ
“From Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), he said: The Messenger of Allah made zakat fitri obligatory—one ṣāʿ of dates or one ṣāʿ of barley—upon every Muslim, whether slave or free, male or female, young or old. He instructed that it be given before people go out to perform the Eid prayer.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari)
Another hadith also confirms this ruling:
عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ عَلَى النَّاسِ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ عَلَى كُلِّ حُرٍّ أَوْ عَبْدٍ، ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ.
“Ibn Umar said: The Messenger of Allah made zakat fitri in Ramadan obligatory upon people—one ṣāʿ of dates or one ṣāʿ of barley—upon every free person or slave, male or female among the Muslims.” (Narrated by Muslim)
The Measurement of Zakat Fitri
These hadiths show that the required amount of zakat fitri is one ṣāʿ of staple food. During the time of the Prophet, various types of staple foods were used. This diversity is mentioned in a narration from Abu Sa’id al Khudri:
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كُنَّا نُخْرِجُ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ صَاعًا مِنْ طَعَامٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ أَقِطٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ زَبِيبٍ
“From Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, he said: we used to give zakat fitri as one ṣāʿ of food, or one ṣāʿof barley, or one ṣāʿ of dates, or one ṣāʿ of dried cheese, or one ṣāʿ of raisins.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
This narration indicates that zakat fitri essentially consists of staple food commonly consumed by the community. Therefore, scholars understand that the staple food of each region may be used for zakat fitri. In Indonesia, the most common staple food is rice.
In modern measurements, one ṣāʿ is estimated to be about 2.167 kilograms. However, because of food types variations and for the sake of precaution, scholars often round the amount to 2.5 kilograms. For that reason, Muslims in Indonesia commonly pay zakat fitri with 2.5 kilograms of rice per person.
In addition to staple food, zakat fitri may also be paid in cash equal to the value of the food. This approach considers the welfare of the recipients (mustahik). In certain circumstances, money can be more useful for meeting their daily needs.
Reference:
Central Board of Muhammadiyah, “Fikih Zakat Kontemporer”, in Official News of Muhammadiyah No. 05/2022-2027/Zulkaidah 1446 H/May 2025 M, Yogyakarta: Gramasurya, 2025.
