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Fitrana (Zakat al-Fitr)
Fitrana - Zakat al-Fitr is a small amount of charity given before the eid prayer. It can be given either directly before the prayer or a few days in advance but it must be given.
The amount of Fitrana that is obligatory is £3 per person (applicable to children as well as adults). Zakat al-Fitr is often referred to as Sadaqah al-Fitr. The word Fitr means the same as "Iftar", breaking a fast and it comes from the same root word as Futoor which means breakfast. Thus, Islamically, Zakat al-Fitr is the name given to charity which is distributed at the end of the fast of Ramadan. Sadaqah al-Fitr is a duty which is Wajib (obligatory) on every Muslim, whether male or female, minor or adult as long as he/she has the means to do so.
The proof that this form of charity is compulsory can be found in the Sunnah (tradition of the Prophet, peace be upon him) whereby Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) made Zakah al-Fitr compulsory on every slave, freeman, male, female, young and old among the Muslims; one Saa` (a traditional Arabic measure of weight) of dried dates or one Saa` of barley. Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 339, Number 579
The main purpose of Zakah al-Fitr is to provide those who fasted with the means of making up for their errors during the month of fasting. Zakah al-Fitr also provides the poor with a means with which they can celebrate the festival of breaking the fast (`Eid al-Fitr) along with the rest of the Muslims.
Islamic scholars are in agreement that the cash equivalent of this measure of foodstuff may be paid instead. Although many people wait until the morning of ‘Eid al-Fitr (the celebration of the breaking of fast) to make this payment, it may be made well in advance so that it may be distributed to the poor and needy who are entitled in time for them to partake in the celebrations. This is especially true when entrusting a charitable organisation to distribute the payment on one's behalf.
