Sadqa-e-Fitr fixed at Rs320 per head

Islamabad: Former Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman has announced the minimum amount for Sadqa-e-Fitr at Rs320 per person, which is an obligatory charitable donation that Muslims are required to pay during Ramazan.

The rate is based on the prices of staple food such as flour, dates, raisins, cheese, or barley, as per the Islamic Shariah. The importance of Sadqa-e-Fitr lies in helping the poor and needy people in society, especially during the festive occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. This act helps the poor and needy during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr and is a way for Muslims to give back to their community and earn blessings from Allah Almighty.

According to Mufti Muneeb, the market price of 2.25 kilograms of flour, the amount for Fitrana is calculated as Rs320 per head. The faithful who want to pay Fitrana equal to the price of barley, and dates should pay a minimum Rs480 and Rs 2,800 per head respectively. Similarly, the faithful wanted to pay Fitrana at the rate of raisin should pay Rs 6,400 per head for first class dates and Rs 4,800 per person for second-class raisin.

A Muslim, who possesses food in excess of his needs, must pay Sadqa-e-Fitr before the Eid prayers. If the person is a breadwinner, he should also pay Sadqa-e-Fitr for his dependents, such as wife, children, dependent relatives or servants. Mufti Muneeb also advised the people to pay the amount to the poor before Eid-ul-Fitr so that they could also celebrate the festival.

The most deserving people for Sadqa-e-Fitr are close relatives followed by neighbours and the poor. Mufti Munibur Rehman said the real spirit of Fitr and Fidya 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 had been unable to keep fast for the whole month of Ramazan, he or she should pay the whole month as compensation worth Rs9,60­0 in proportionate to flour price, Rs14,400 for barley, Rs84,000 for the date, Rs192,000 for raisin first class and Rs144,000 for second class raisin.