by Asma bint Shameem
1. What is Zakaatul-Fitr?
Zakaat al-fitr (also known as sadaqatul Fitr or Fitraana) is an act of worship that is obligatory for every Muslim, young or old, man or woman, if he has enough wealth for himself and his family for one day and night, on the day of Eid.
He must pay one saa’ of a local staple food to the poor Muslims on behalf of himself and for EACH of his dependents.
🍃The scholars said:
“Zakaat al-fitr is obligatory for every Muslim, to be paid on his own behalf and on behalf of those on whose maintenance he is obliged to spend, if he has wealth surplus to his and his dependents’ needs for the day and night of Eid: one saa‘.”
(Islamqa Fatwa # 207225)
🍃 Ibn ‘Umar radhi Allaahu anhu said:
“The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ enjoined zakaat al-fitr, a saa’ of dates, or a saa’ of barley, for EVERY MUSLIM, slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he enjoined that it be given before the people go out to the prayer.”
(al-Bukhaari 1503 and Muslim 984)
So if there’s a family of 6, for example, the head of the household must pay Zakaatul-Fitr X 6.
2. Who do we give Zakaatul Fitr to?
We can give it to ANY poor Muslim.
🍃 Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said:
“Oh my fellow brothers, no one has said that it [i.e. zakaatul fitr] isn’t distributed except to the person who doesn’t have what will suffice himself for his night and his day, no one has stated this.
It should be distributed to the poor person and the poor person is the one who can’t find what will suffice himself for his [upcoming] year, meaning he won’t be able to find what will suffice himself for his [upcoming] year.
This is the poor person who should be given from the zakaat of wealth and from the zakaatul fitr.
As for the one who makes it a condition not possessing his day and his night sustenance, then this [condition] applies for the one “distributing” it [i.e. Zakaatul fitr] and it’s NOT [a condition] for the person “being given”.
3. WHY do we give Zakaatul-Fitr?
First of all, Zakaatul-Fitr is given because it’s an ORDER of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam to ALL Muslims.
Secondly, the reason why we give Zakaatul-Fitr is because it’s a purification for any mistakes or shortcomings that we may have had in our fasting.
🍃Ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu said:
“The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ enjoined zakaat al-fitr as a purification for those who fasted from idle or obscene talk, and so as to feed the poor.”
(Abu Dawood 1609; hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood)
4. How much is one saa’?
🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee said:
“What is meant by a saa’ here is the saa’ of the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ, which is four times the amount that may be held in the two hands of a man of average build.”
(The Standing Committee For Academic Research And Issuing Fatwas, 9/364)
This is equivalent to 2.1 kilograms according to Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen and about 3 kilograms according to Shaikh Ibn Baaz.
The difference is because a saa’ is a measure of “VOLUME”, and not “weight”.
And different grains have different weights.
So it’s better to err on the side of caution if one can afford it and give 3 kilograms.
5. Zakaatul-Fitr as food or money?
Zakaat al-Fitr is supposed to be paid in the form of the usual local staple FOOD, according to the majority of the scholars.
That’s the default.
🍃Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri radhi Allaahu anhu said:
“At the time of the Prophet ﷺ we used to give one saa’ of food, or one saa’ of dates, or one saa’ of barley, or one saa’ of raisins.” (al-Bukhaari)
🍃Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:
“It is not permissible to pay the value in money, according to the majority of scholars; this view has the stronger evidence.
Rather it must be given in the form of food, as the Prophet ﷺ and his companions radhi Allaahu anhum did. This is also the view of the majority of the ummah.”
(Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 14/200)
So the basic principle is that Zakaat al-Fitr it to be paid as FOOD.
But you may give it as CASH to an organization or an individual who will then distribute this in the form of “food” to the poor.
🍃 Shaikh Muqbil said about this issue:
“They send it (Zakaatul Fitr), even as money, to a trustworthy man who will buy for everyone a Saa’ of grain or raisin or dates or cottage cheese. [That was ] a good notification.”
6. Timing of Zakaatul-Fitr
Zakaatul-Fitr is due on the first of Shawwaal BEFORE Salaatul Eid.
But it’s permissible to pay it a day or two earlier, especially since a lot of people are giving Zakaat al-Fitr to organizations and it takes time to distribute it.
The recipients should receive this Zakaat al-Fitr before salaatul Eid.
🍃Ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu said:
“The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ enjoined zakaat al-fitr as a purification for the fasting person from idle and obscene speech, and to feed the poor.
Whoever gives it before the prayer, it is zakaat al-fitr, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it is ordinary charity.”
(Abu Dawood -hasan by al-Albaani)
However if you’re giving your zakaatul Fitr to a person or an organization who will give this to poor people then it is permissible to give zakaatul Fitr earlier in the month so that the money reaches the recipients in appropriate time.
🍃 Shaikh ibn Jibreen said:
“It is permissible to give the price (of zakaat al-fitr) at the beginning of the month to an agent who will buy (zakaat al-fitr) and deliver it to deserving people at the time when it should be paid, which is the night before Eid or two days before that.”
(Al-Fataawa Al-Jibreeniyyah Fi’l-A’maal Al-Da’wiyyah Li Fadeelat Al-Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah Ibn Jibreen, P. 33)
7. Local or overseas?
It’s better to give zakaatul Fitr locally.
But it’s allowed to send Zakaat al-Fitr overseas if it’s more needed over there.
🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee said:
“It should be given to the poor Muslims in the land where it is given, but it is permissible to send it to the poor in another land if the need is greater.”
(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 9/369, 370)
🍃 Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“There is nothing wrong with sending zakaat al-fitr to another country on the grounds that there are no poor people in one's own country.
But if that is done even though there are poor people who need it in one's own country, then it is not permissible.”
(Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 18/question no. 102)
8. Can I give zakaatul Fitr to my poor relatives?
Yes as long as the person is a poor Muslim, he or she is eligible to receive zakaatul Fitr.
And you would get more reward because you would be upholding ties of kinship as well.
🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Charity given to a poor person is charity, but charity given to a relative is two things, charity and upholding the ties of kinship.”
(al-Nasaa’i, al-Tirmidhi- saheeh by al-Albaani)
However we’re not supposed to give zakaatul Fitr to those who we are obligated to spend on.
So, for example, the father cannot give zakaatul Fitr to his son or his parents.
🍃Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
“It is permissible to give zakaat al-fitr and the zakaah of one's wealth to poor relatives, and indeed giving it to relatives is better than giving it to strangers, because giving it to relatives is both charity and upholding the ties of kinship.
But that is subject to the condition that by giving it he is not protecting his wealth, which would be the case if the poor person is one on whom he is obliged to spend.
In that case it is not permissible for him to meet the other person’s needs with any of his zakaah, because if he does that then he is saving his wealth with what he gives of zakaah, and that is not permissible or allowed.
But if he is not obliged to spend on him, then he may give his zakaah to him, and in fact giving his zakaah to him is better than giving it to a stranger, because the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Your charity given to a relative is both charity and upholding the ties of kinship.”
(Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen 18/question no. 301).
And Allaah knows best
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