Zakat-al-Fitr Rulings

Alia Adil summarizes the rulings regarding the payment of Zakat-al-Fitr

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)

And Allah (swt) knows best.