What mandatory charity is given before the Eid al-Fitr prayer?

The mandatory charity given before the Eid al-Fitr prayer is Zakat al-Fitr.

Also called Sadaqat al-Fitr or simply Fitrana in some communities, Zakat al-Fitr is an obligatory charitable contribution connected specifically with the end of Ramadan. Its traditional purpose is to help purify a fasting person's shortcomings and ensure that people in need can share in the Eid celebration.

The payment is generally made before the Eid prayer, although many communities allow or require it to be given earlier so that it can reach eligible recipients in time. Classical descriptions commonly specify staple food, while modern administrations and mosques often set an equivalent monetary amount based on local food prices.

Zakat al-Fitr is distinct from ordinary voluntary sadaqah, which can be given at any time. It is also not khums, a separate one-fifth levy recognized especially in Shi'a Islamic legal tradition, nor ushr, historically associated with agricultural produce. Rules about amount, eligible recipients, and exact timing vary among legal schools.