Possessing the same meaning as Iftar, Fitr refers to the breaking of one’s fast. Zakat-al-Fitr therefore refers to the charity given at the end of Ramadan’s last fast. It is compulsory for every Muslim to give Zakat-al Fitr before Eid Salah (Festival prayers). Charity is usually given in the form of food, but Islamic scholars have agreed that a cash equivalent is also permissible.
For Muslims, Zakat-al-Fitr brings two major benefits: it helps the poor who may not have been able to engage in the Eid celebrations and also provides the one who has fasted with an opportunity to purify any errors made during the month of Ramadan.
Zakat al-Fitr (Fitranah) is calculated at £5 per person