MUIS removes compounded Fidyah requirement and announces Zakat Fitrah rates for Ramadan 2026/1447H

1. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has implemented significant reforms to fidyah and kafarah payment guidelines, eliminating the default compounded payment requirement and updating rates to better reflect the true cost of providing adequate meals to those in need. MUIS has also announced Zakat Fitrah rates for Ramadan 2026/1447H, with rates maintained to ensure continued accessibility. 

Relief for community through simplified requirements  

2. Under the guidance of the Fatwa Committee, MUIS has clarified that Muslims are no longer required by default to pay compounded fidyah for delayed repayment of fasting in Ramadan. This follows a comprehensive review of Islamic references and principles. The decision upholds the Islamic Syariah’s fundamental principles of facilitation and removal of hardship.  

3. The ruling particularly benefits those who delay the repayment of fasting due to valid reasons. These include continued illness, travel, pregnancy and breastfeeding, or circumstances beyond their control. The Fatwa Committee emphasised that this ruling provides relief whilst maintaining the voluntary option for those who wish to make additional contributions. This approach ensures that religious obligations remain accessible to all Muslims regardless of their circumstances.  

Updated rates reflect current meal costs  

4. Following the decision made by the Fatwa Committee, MUIS has also updated its calculation methodology for fidyah and kafarah payments. The new approach moves away from the weight of rice-based system. It now reflects the true cost of providing adequate meals to those in need. 

5. Based on the new calculation methodology, the new fidyah rate is S$4.00 per day. This is based on research¹ reflecting the average cost of a moderate meal in Singapore today. The revision of the fidyah rate is meant to reflect current prevailing conditions since the previous fidyah rate of S$1.40 was established in 2014.  

6. The kafarah rate has also been streamlined to align with fidyah at S$4.00 per person. This creates a simple and more consistent system for the community. This change not only ensures that recipients receive proper nourishment but maintains the charitable purpose of these religious contributions.  

7. MUIS will conduct periodic reviews of the fidyah and kafarah rates to ensure they continue to accurately reflect the true cost of an average meal in Singapore. These reviews will take into account factors such as inflation and changes in food prices. 

8. For more details, refer to the Fatwa on the MUIS website at https://www.muis.gov.sg/resources/khutbah-and-religious-advice/fatwa/. 

One-month transition arrangement to ease adoption of new fidyah rate 

9. To facilitate a smooth transition to the new fidyah rate, a transitional arrangement will be implemented during Ramadan 1447H. Members of the public who have prepared to pay fidyah at the previous rate of S$1.40 may do so during the transition period.  

10. This transitional arrangement will remain in effect for one month throughout Ramadan, after which the new rate of S$4.00 will be fully implemented from 1 Syawal 1447H onwards on MUIS and mosque platforms.  

Zakat Fitrah rates maintained for accessibility  

11. For Ramadan 2026, Zakat Fitrah rates remain accessible. The normal rate is maintained at $5.00 per person. While the higher rate is set at $8.00 per person - a $0.10 increase from last year. These rates are based on the median price of normal and higher-grade rice as the community’s staple food. 

12. The rates reflect MUIS’s commitment to keeping religious obligations affordable. They also provide meaningful support to beneficiaries. The two-tier system continues to allow Muslims flexibility in choosing rates based on their circumstances. This ensures all Muslims can fulfil their obligations. Those who are able may contribute more generously to support the less fortunate.  

Payment methods and advisory 

13. The Muslim public can start fulfilling their Zakat Fitrah from 1 Ramadan onwards and is advised to fulfil these obligations early. Zakat Fitrah must be fulfilled during the month of Ramadan and before the start of Hari Raya Aidilfitri prayers. Fidyah and kafarah can be paid throughout the year as obligations arise.

14. Members of the public are encouraged to make their payments through official and authorised channels designated by MUIS, including: 

    1. Zakat Singapore website  

       • pay.zakat.sg for Zakat 

       • go.gov.sg/pay-fidyah for fidyah 

       • go.gov.sg/pay-kafarah for kafarah 

    2. Authorised collection centres (Refer to Annex A) 

    3. Self-service kiosks at 51 participating mosques (Refer to Annex B) 

    4. Various digital payment platforms as listed on the Zakat Singapore website (www.zakat.sg) 

15. These verified channels ensure transaction security and proper allocation of contributions to all eight asnaf (categories of recipients for Zakat) and recipients (for fidyah and kafarah). 

Digital solution expansion 

16. Following feedback from the community, MUIS has upgraded all self-service kiosks at participating mosques with larger 10-inch touchscreen displays — double the previous size — and improved navigation for better accessibility. The enhanced kiosks now also accept contactless mobile payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, facilitating convenient contributions for Zakat, fidyah, kafarah, and mosque donations for the Muslim community. 

Security advisory 

17. MUIS strongly urges all donors to exercise vigilance when fulfilling their religious financial obligations. Users are also advised to utilise only official MUIS channels and to refer to the security advisory on Zakat.sg to identify legitimate platforms and avoid unauthorised solicitations and phishing scams. 

Further information 

18. For enquiries on Zakat, fidyah, and kafarah, the public is encouraged to refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) available on https://ask.gov.sg/muis. Alternatively, the public may contact MUIS at 6359-1199 (Hotline) or email info@muis.gov.sg. 

Annex A - List of Mosques appointed as Zakat Collection Centre (Amil) [PDF, 115 KB]

Annex B - List of Mosques with Self-Service Kiosks [PDF, 109 KB]

Annex C - Factsheet on Fidyah and Kafarah [PDF, 112 KB]