Zakat-al-Fitr Rulings Obligation The payment of Zakat-al-Fitr before offering the Eid
prayer is obligatory upon every Muslim, who is self-
supporting. Ibn Umar (rta) said: “The Messenger of
Allah (saw) enjoined Zakat-al-Fitr, a Saa of dates or a
Saa of barley, upon all the Muslims, slave and free,
male and female, young and old, and he commanded that it be paid before the people went out to
pray.” (Bukhari) A Muslim should give Zakat-al-Fitr on his own behalf
and on behalf of those, on whom he spends, e.g.,
wife, children, parents, if they cannot give it on their
own behalf. If they are able to, then it is better for
them to give it themselves. Imam Shafi said: “Who I say is obliged to give Zakat-
al-Fitr, if a child is born to him, or he takes possession
of a slave, or someone becomes one of his
dependents at any time during the last day of
Ramadan, then the sun sets on the night of the
crescent of Shawwal, he has to give Zakat-al-Fitr on that person’s behalf.” (Al-Umm, Baab Zakat-al-Fitr al
Thaani) Hikmah (wisdom) The wisdom behind Zakat-al-Fitr is that it makes up
for any errors unintentionally made during Ramadan,
and it also serves as a means to feed the poor on Eid. Ibn Abbas (rta) has narrated: “Allah’s Messenger
(saw) prescribed Zakat-al-Fitr as a purification of the
fasting person from senseless and obscene talk, and
as food for the poor. Whoever fulfills it before the
(Eid) prayer, it will be an acceptable Zakat, and
whoever fulfills it after the prayer, it will be counted as a Sadaqah (voluntary alms).” (Abu Dawood) Wakeel ibn al Jarrah said: “Zakat-al-Fitr for the month
of Ramadan is like two Sujood-As-Sahu for the
prayer. It makes up for any shortcomings in the fast,
just as the prostrations make up for any
shortcomings in the prayer.” (Al-Nawawi, Al-Majmoo,
part 6) Amount The amount to be given as Zakat-al-Fitr is a Saa of any
kind of staple food. What is meant by a Saa here is the
Saa of the Messenger of Allah (saw), which is four
times the amount that may be held in the two hands
of a man of average built. Hence, one Saa is equal to
four Mudd, where one Mudd is equivalent to two hands cupped together. Saa is actually a measure of volume. In modern
weights this is equivalent to approximately three
kilograms. This is corroborated by Sheikh bin Baaz
on Islam-QA.com In what form In Al-Saheehayn, it is narrated that Abu Saeed al-
Khudri (rta) said: “At the time of the Messenger of
Allah (saw) we used to give it at a rate of one Saa of
food, or one Saa of dates, or one Saa of barley, or one
Saa of cheese, or one Saa of raisins…” A number of scholars interpreted the word Taaam
(food) in this Hadeeth as referring to wheat, and
others explained it as referring to the staple food of
the local people, no matter what it is, whether it is
wheat, corn or something else. Therefore, it may be
in the form of raisins, barley, dates, wheat, lentils, dried curd, rye, etc. Scholars disagree, as to whether money can be paid
in lieu of food. The majority of scholars hold the view
that Zakat-al-Fitr cannot be paid in cash. It must be
given in the form of food, as the Prophet (saw) and
his companions did. This view is the one adopted by
the Maliki, Shafi and Hanbali schools of law. The Hanafi school of law follows Imam Abu Hanifah's
opinion that it is permissible to pay Zakat-al-Fitr in
cash. Timing Zakat-al-Fitr is a kind of charity that is obligatory at
the time when the sun sets on the last day of
Ramadan. It is reported on the authority of Abdullah bin Omar
(rtam) that he said: “The Messenger of Allah (saw)
ordered that Zakat-al-Fitr be paid before people go
out to the (Eid) prayer.” (Bukhari) It is reported that Omar ibn Abdul Aziz and Abu al
Aliya said: “He (the Prophet (saw)) paid Zakat-al-Fitr,
when he went out for the prayer, i.e., Salat-ul-Eid.” (Al
Jassaas, Ahkaam Al Quran, part 3, Surah Aalaa) There is a time when it is Mustahab (preferable) to
give it, and there is a time when it is permissible to
give it. It is Mustahab to give on the Eid day. The time
when it is permissible to give Zakat-al-Fitr is one or
two days before the Eid. In Sahih Al Bukhari it is reported that An-Naafi said:
“Ibn Omar used to give on behalf of the young and
old. He would give it to those who took it (those who
were appointed by the Imam for its collection), and it
would be given a day or two before (Eid- al-Fitr).” It is not permissible to delay it until after the prayer,
because of the report narrated by Ibn Abbas (rta),
according to which the Prophet (saw) said: “Whoever
gives it before the prayer, it is accepted as Zakah, and
whoever gives it after the prayer, it is a kind of
charity.” (Abu Dawood) Hence, Zakat-al-Fitr may be paid a day or two in
advance but not after the Eid prayer. Eligibility Zakat-al-Fitr should be given to the poor and needy
Muslims in the land or city, where it is given, because
of the report narrated by Abu Dawood from Ibn
Abbas (rtam), who said: “The Messenger of Allah
(saw) enjoined Zakat-al-Fitr to be paid in Ramadan to
feed the poor.” Imam Al Shafi said: “Zakat-al-Fitr should be divided
among those, to whom Zakat-al-Maal is divided, and
it should not be spent anywhere else… It should be
shared out among the poor and needy, slaves who
have made a contract to purchase their freedom from
their masters, debtors, those who are fighting in the way of Allah, and wayfarers.” (Kitaab Al Umm: Baab
Dayah Zakat-al-Fitr qabla Qasmihaa)

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