Ramadan brings peace to our hearts. It is a time for prayer. It is a time for family. It is also the most important time for charity.

You want to do the right thing. You want to help the poor. But you might feel confused. You look at your bank account. You ask yourself, how much to donate for Ramadan?

The rules can seem challenging. You hear words like Zakat, Fitrana, Fidya, and Kaffarah. You would rather not make a mistake. You want to pay exactly what you owe. You want your money to help the right people.

Do not worry. This guide is for you.

We will make it simple. We will explain every type of donation. We will tell you the costs. We will show you how to calculate your total. By the end of this page, you will know exactly what to do.

Understand Your Duties First

Before we talk about numbers, you must know the types of giving. In Islam, charity falls into two buckets.

1. Mandatory Charity: You must pay this. It is a debt to Allah. If you do not pay, it is a sin. (Examples: Zakat, Fitrana).
2. Voluntary Charity: You choose to pay this. It is a gift for your soul. It earns extra rewards. (Examples: Sadaqah, Waqf).

Let’s break down the costs for this year.

1. Zakat al-Fitr (Fitrana)

This is the “Charity of Breaking the Fast.” Every Muslim must pay this.

What is it?

It is a small donation. You give it before the Eid al-Fitr prayer. It cleanses your fast from any small mistakes or bad words you said. It also buys food for the poor so they can celebrate Eid.

Who pays?

The head of the family pays. You pay for yourself. You pay for your spouse. You pay for your children. If a baby is born before the Eid prayer, you pay for them too.

How much is it?

The cost equals one meal.

• The Cost: It is usually $5 to $10 per person.
• The Math: You have a wife and three kids. That is 5 people. If the rate is $7, you pay $35.

Deadline: You must pay this before the Eid prayer starts. If you pay late, it is just normal charity. It does not count as Fitrana.

2. Zakat al-Mal (The Wealth Tax)

This is the third pillar of Islam. It is the biggest obligation.

What is it?

You give 2.5% of your total wealth to the poor.

Who pays?

You pay if you have wealth above the Nisab limit. Nisab is the minimum amount of money you must own. You must hold this money for one full lunar year.

How much should I donate for Ramadan in Zakat?

• The Rate: 2.5% of your wealth.
• What counts: Cash, bank savings, gold, silver, stocks, and business inventory.
• The Math: Imagine you have $10,000 in savings and gold. You multiply 10,000 by 0.025. You owe $250.

At the SPAR Project, we have a specific Zakat fund. We take this responsibility seriously. We give 100% of eligible Zakat directly to orphans and the extreme poor in Bangladesh.

3. Fidya (For Missed Fasts)

Islam is a religion of mercy. Some people cannot fast.

Who pays?

• Elderly people who are too weak.
• People with permanent illnesses (like severe diabetes).
• Pregnant women who cannot make up the fast later (depending on the scholarly view).

How much is it?

You must feed one poor person for every day you miss.

• The Cost: About $5 to $10 per day.
• The Math: If you cannot fast for the whole month (30 days), you pay 30 x $5. The total is $150.

This money buys rice, lentils, and oil. We deliver these food packs to families who have empty kitchens.

4. Kaffarah (The Penalty)

This is different from Fidya. This is for a serious mistake.

Who pays?

You pay this if you break a fast intentionally without a valid excuse. This includes eating, drinking, or intimacy during the fasting day.

How much is it?

The penalty is strict. You must fast for 60 days straight. If you cannot do that, you must feed 60 poor people for one broken fast.

• The Cost: 60 meals x $5.
• The Total: $300 for just one day.

This high cost reminds us to respect the holy month.

5. Sadaqah (Voluntary Charity)

This is the open door. There are no limits here.

What is it?

Sadaqah is anything you give to please Allah. It can be money. It can be a smile. It can mean sharing food.

How much should you give?

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was incredibly generous in Ramadan. He gave generously without hesitation.

• Suggestion: Give a little every day.
• Goal: Fund a specific project.
  • $30: Buys a winter blanket.
  • $100: Buys a family food pack for the whole month.
  • $300: Helps build a tube well for clean water.

How to Calculate Your Total

You might feel overwhelmed. Let’s make a list. Grab a pen and paper. Follow these steps to find out how much to donate for Ramadan.

Step 1: Check Your Zakat

Add up your cash and gold. Subtract your immediate debts. Calculate 2.5%. Write that number down.

Step 2: Count Your Family

How many people are in your house? Multiply that number by the Fitrana rate (e.g., $7). Write that number down.

Step 3: Check for Missed Fasts

Did your elderly mother miss fasts? Calculate her Fidya ($5 x days). Write that number down.

Step 4: Pick Your Sadaqah

How much extra do you want to give? Do you want to sponsor an orphan? Do you want to build a well? Pick an amount.

Step 5: Add It All Up

Sum these four numbers. This is your total Ramadan donation.

Where Does Your Money Go?

You work hard for your money. You want to know it helps real people. At the SPAR Project, we work on the ground in Bangladesh. Here is the impact of your donation.

You Feed the Hungry

Your Fitrana and Fidya buy food. We buy local staples like rice and oil. We give these to widows and daily laborers. They do not have to worry about where their next meal comes from.

You Provide Clean Water

Your Sadaqah builds wells. In many villages, the water is dirty. It makes children sick. Your donation builds a deep tube well. Fresh, clean water pumps out. The whole village prays for you every time they drink.

You Protect Orphans

Your Zakat saves children. Many orphans in Bangladesh have no support. We provide them with books, uniforms, and medicine. We give them a chance to go to school.

When Should You Donate?

Timing is everything in Ramadan. Good deeds multiply. One dollar can equal 70 dollars or more in rewards.

The Last Ten Nights

There is a special night called Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power). It happens in the last ten nights. The Qur’an says it is better than 1,000 months.

• If you donate on this night, it is like donating for 83 years.
• Many people save their biggest donations for these nights.

The Early Bird

Do not wait until the last second for Zakat al-Fitr. Pay it early in the month or a few days before Eid. This gives our team time to buy the food and deliver it. We want the poor to have the food before Eid morning.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When people ask how much to donate for Ramadan, they often make these errors.

1. Guessing the Zakat: Do not guess. You must calculate 2.5% exactly. It is a precise command from Allah.
2. Delaying Fitrana: Some people pay after Eid prayer. This is wrong. It does not count as Fitrana. It counts only as general charity. You miss the special reward.
3. Mixing Intentions: You cannot give Zakat to your own parents or children. You are already responsible for them. You give Zakat to the poor outside your immediate dependents.

Why SPAR Project?

We are small, but we are effective. We do not have high administrative costs. Your money goes directly to the project.

We believe in transparency. We show you the result. When you build a well, we send you a report. When you feed a family, you know you saved them from hunger.

Final Thoughts: Open Your Heart

Ramadan comes only once a year. It is a gift.

Do not stress about the math. Use the guide above. Please calculate the minimum amounts you owe. But then, look at your heart.

Give what you can. Give to please Allah. Give to help a child smile. The money you keep stays in this world. The money you donate waits for you in Paradise.

Now you know how much to donate for Ramadan. You have the knowledge. The next step is action.

[Click Here to Calculate and Donate Now]