The world is full of opposites and contrasts. For example, night has a day, and good has a bad. Samelike the major one to see is rich and poor. We can’t deny this order as it’s natural, set by Allah (God).
But when it comes to poor community, we’re explicitly told about how to treat them. For example, if they’re hungry, feed them, if they’re in trouble, help them.
There are different ways we can aid the deserving or poor individuals. The most common way is to donate Fitrana, also known as Zakat al Fitr. It’s a charitable donation that Muslims give to the less fortunes before the end of the month of the Ramadan.
This article will let you know everything about Fitrana so you can help poor individuals and gain the love of Allah.
What is Fitrana?
So, let’s delve into the basics of Fitrana first of all.
Fitrana is an Urdu word that originates from the Arabic term “Al-Fitr”, which means fast-breaking. That’s why it is known as Zakat al Fitr, or special Zakat, for “Breaking the Fast” during Ramadan.
Remember, it is specifically associated with Ramadan month and is separate from the annual Zakat (obligatory charity).
Simply put, Fitrana is an obligatory payment that Muslims who can afford, donate to people who genuinely have no means to eat. Regardless of age and genders, everyone donate Fitrana once a year in Ramadan before Eid al-Fitr to purify their fasts.
This ensures that everyone in the community can enjoy the festival. As well as, this practice is done for the love of Allah.
Plus, this tradition goes back to the time of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him), who made it a must-do for Muslims during Ramadan.
Other names of Fitrana
Fitrana has other names, too, such as:
- Sadaqat al-Fitr
- Zakat al-Fitrah
- “The Charity of Breaking the Fast” of Ramadan
- Zakat al-Fitr
- The Alms of Human Nature
What is the eligibility for Fitrana donation?
There is a specific criterion for Muslims to give Fitrana.
Those who have food in excess than their needs are obligated to give Fitrana. It is due on every member of the family from old to kids.
Fitrana is calculated based on the cost of flour, rice, or other staple food. Government officially announces the average prices of these items every year in Ramadan.
People choose to pay according to the price of one of these items. It depends on how wealthy you are or how much you can afford to pay. Then, the average price of the selected item is multiplied by your family members. The total cost that comes out is your Fitrana to donate.
Abu Hurayrah narrates:
Fitrana is due on “every Muslim, free or bondsmen, young or old, male or female, poor or rich” – (Bukhari Shareef)
The key thing to note is that only those are exempt, who genuinely don’t have enough resources to donate.
What are the channels to donate Fitrana?
The best way of giving Zakat al-Fitrah is to approach the deserving people directly. This is what Islam prefers. So, you should check if there is any needy person in your family, friends, or town. But if you don’t have around you, there are many other ways you can consider to give your Sadaqat al-Fitr:
- Islamic centers
The first one is you can go to local mosques and Islamic centers of your town or city. They have a list of the needy people and help your Zakat al-Fitr reach them.
- Charitable organizations
These organizations also play an important role. They go to different cities and collect money. You can donate them, too. But you should also verify authenticity of the organization.
- Online platforms
The time is evolving, and so are the things and needs. If you want to help the individuals living across the sea, there is an option, too. Many charity centers are working online to help you donate Fitrana out of the country. Their teams go to different countries such as Yemen, Egypt, Kashmir, and Bangladesh to help the poor people with your Fitrana.
What are the benefits of giving Sadaqat al-Fitr?
Donating Sadaqat al-Fitr gives numerous benefits, in the context of both spiritually and socially:
- Spiritual rewards
Firstly, it’s a way to earn spiritual rewards.
By giving Zakat al-Fitrah, our soul gets free from this world’s appetite. When we help our brothers or sisters, Allah purifies our hearts and that’s where hidayah comes in. Also, it is way of cleansing our wealth.
In a nutshell, the donors feel “Taqwa,” which means “God-fearing.” With this blessing, the donors stop doing wrong activities and just think about how to help others – realizes Huqooq-ul-Ibaad.
On top of that, their life becomes full of calmness and gratitude for whatever the quality of their life is.
Moreover, in doing so, Muslims fulfill their religious duty, which results in more love from Allah. And when HE starts loving, you feel the real beauty of the world. Your life starts running smoothly.
- Helping the Needy
Besides its religious significance, when you donate Fitrana, you really help the ones in need. This way, they enjoy the EID occasion, and their families also get to gather to eat meals like the rich ones.
Furthermore, this act builds a sense of empathy and solidarity within the community. Everyone starts caring for each other, and that becomes the foundation of a beautiful society.
When your money reaches to the needed, their prayers turn into blessings upon you. This soothes your mind in true meaning and you don’t face any kind of depression.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, if you donate Fitrana, you can help people enjoy EID occasions like you do. This is an obligatory payment that Muslims give to the lower class with no sufficient food – at the end of Ramadan before EID. It’s all about purifying your fasts. Also, Zakat al-Fitrah is due on everyone regardless of gender and age. The government announces the average price of flour, rice, or other staple food so that you can donate Zakat al-Fitr as per the price of any one of these food items. But that would depend on how much you can afford. Additionally, by paying Fitrana, you get spiritual rewards and help needy people.
