PNN: Council of Islamic Ideology Chairperson Allama Dr Muhammad Raghib Hussain Naeemi has announced the nisab and rates for Sadaqatul-Fitr and Fidyah for fasting for the current year.
According to the chairperson, the minimum amount of Sadaqatul-Fitr and Fidyah has been fixed at Rs300 per person. Based on wheat flour, the amount is Rs300, while on barley it is Rs1,100. Based on dates, the amount is Rs1,600; on raisins Rs3,800; and on munqa Rs5,400. Using government-subsidised flour, Sadaqatul-Fitr and Fidyah will be Rs200 per person.
He said that Sadaqatul-Fitr is obligatory on every Muslim — male or female, young or old, free or enslaved. He advised people with financial means to pay Sadaqatul-Fitr according to their economic status instead of limiting themselves to the minimum wheat-based amount, so that maximum support could be extended to deserving people.
The chairman further said that residents of provinces other than Punjab should pay Sadaqatul-Fitr and Fidyah according to the prices of food commodities prevailing in their respective areas.
Providing further details, Dr Naeemi said that the Fidyah for 30 fasts based on wheat is Rs9,000; barley Rs33,000; dates Rs48,000; raisins Rs114,000; and munqa Rs162,000, while the Fidyah for 30 fasts based on government flour amounts to Rs6,000.
He added that the expiation (Kaffarah) for deliberately breaking a fast is either to observe 60 consecutive fasts or to feed 60 needy persons two meals each. He said the prescribed weight for wheat is half sa‘a (approximately two kilograms as a precaution), while for barley, dates and munqa, the nisab is one sa‘a (approximately four kilograms).