May 14, 2019

 Egypt’s Grand Mufti, Dr. Shawki Allam determined the rate of zakat ul-fitr for 2019 is a minimum of LE13 per person. Dr. Allam said that the rate of zakat ul-fitr is equivalent to 2.5 k of grain per person. The Islamic research Assembly determined the rate of zakat based on the cheapest kind of grain which is wheat. The Grand Mufti added that Dar Al-Ifta` adopted the opinion of imam Abu Hanifa with regard to the permissibility of paying the cash equivalent of zakat ul-fitr to alleviate the hardships of the poor and allow them to meet their needs.

The Grand Mufti stressed the necessity of giving out zakat before the time of ‘Eid prayers to gain its reward and allow the needy to benefit from it. He said that paying zakat ul-fitr after the ‘Eid prayer is tantamount to giving out voluntary charity and does not fulfill the obligation of zakat ul-fitr. He further added that it is necessary to pay zakat ul-fitr to the deserving recipients determined by God in the Quran, especially to the indigent and the poor.