KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 -- As Ramadan draws to a close in over a week, Muslims are reminded of an important obligation before celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri: paying zakat fitrah.

This annual tithe, a religious donation, is intended to help those in need partake in the festive season while also serving as a means of purifying one's fast.

However, this year, some states have increased their zakat fitrah rates more than others.

What is 'zakat fitrah'?

One of the six pillars of faith in Islam is to contribute zakat. One form is zakat is the zakat fitrah, which is a mandatory donation that every Muslim must pay before the Aidilfitri prayers begin.

The amount is determined by the price of staple food most commonly consumed in a particular...