Question:
Who is fitrana Fardh upon? (Which individuals does it include in which they should be giving fitrana)
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایة الحق والصواب
ANSWER:
Fitrana (Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr) becomes Wajib (compulsory) upon every free Muslim who owns the Nisab (minimum amount of wealth), in excess of their basic needs (Hajat-e-Asliyya) on the morning of Eid.
For Fitrana, being sane, adult (Baaligh), or possessing Maal-e-Naami (Zakatable goods such as gold, silver etc) is not a condition. Even if a minor or an insane person owns the Nisab, Fitrana becomes Wajib (compulsory) on them.
It is written in Bahar-e-Shariat: “Fitrana becomes Wajib with the rise of Subh al-Sadiq (true dawn i.e. start of Fajr time) on Eid day. Hence, if someone dies before dawn, or was wealthy but became poor before dawn, or a non-Muslim accepted Islam after dawn, or a child was born after dawn, or someone who was poor became wealthy after dawn—Fitrana will not be Wajib upon them.
…Fitrana is Wajib (compulsory) upon every free Muslim who owns the Nisab in excess of their basic needs.”
(Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 5, Vol 1, p. 935, Maktaba-tul-Madina)
Note: Fitrana is Wajib on every Muslim, regardless of whether they fasted during Ramadan or not. Even if someone missed fasting due to travel, illness, old age, or any valid excuse—or even without any excuse—they are still required to pay Fitrana.
Answered by: Qazi Muteeb Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Translation checked by: Muhammad Zunurain Madani
Date: 28th March 2025.
