All About RAMADAN

All About Zakat al-Fitr

•What is zakat al-fitr?

Zakat al-Fitr is a kind of charity (sadaqah) that is obligatory at the time of breaking the fast of Ramadan. The word zakah is connected by idaafah (genitive structure in Arabic grammar) to fitr because the occasion of breaking the fast is the reason why this zakah becomes obligatory.

•What is Ruling on Zakat Al-Fitr?

The correct view is that it is fard (obligatory), because Ibn ‘Umar said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory,” and because of the consensus of the scholars (ijmaa’) that it is fard. (Al-Mughni, part 2, Baab Sadaqat al-Fitr)

•When it has to be given?

Zakat al-fitr becomes obligatory when the sun sets on the last day of Ramadan. Anyone who gets married, has a baby born to him or becomes Muslim before the sun sets on that day, has to give Zakat al-Fitr [on behalf of himself and/or his new wife or new baby], but if that happens after sunset, he does not have to give it… Whoever dies after sunset on the night of fitr, sadaqat al-fitr must be given on his behalf. This is what Ahmad stated.” (Al-Mughni, part 2, Fasl Waqt Wujoob Zakat al-Fitr).

•What is the amount of Zakat Al-Fitra?

The amount to be given is one saa’ of food, according to the measure of saa’ used by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), because of the following hadeeth.

Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) we used to give it in the form of a saa’ of food…” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1412).

•Types of things that    
may be given as zakat al-fitr

What should be given is food for human consumption, such as dates, wheat, rice or other kinds of food that humans eat. It is reported in al-Saheehayn from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made Zakat al-Fitr, one saa’ of dates or one saa’ of barley, obligatory on the Muslims, slave and free, male and female,. (At that time, barley was one of the foods they ate). (Al-Bukhaari, 1408)

•The time for giving
  Zakat al-Fitr

It should be given before the Eid prayer, as is stated in the hadeeth that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) “commanded that it should be given before the people went out to pray.” (Al-Bukhaari, 1407).

•To whom it may be given

Zakat al-Fitr may be given to the eight categories of people to whom zakah al-maal may be given. This is the opinion of the majority. According to the Maalikis, one of the opinions of Ahmad and the opinion of Ibn Taymiyyah, it should be given exclusively to the poor and needy.

Al-Shaafa'i said:

“Zakat al-Fitr should be divided among those among whom zakah 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 Allaah, and wayfarers.

(Kitaab al-Umm: Baab Day'ah Zakat al-Fitr qabla Qasmihaa)

•what is the Reason for giving Zakat Al-Fitra?

Ibn Uthaymeen said:To show gratitude for The blessing of Allah upon the servant regarding the breaking of the fast of Ramadan and its completion (Al- fatwaa 18/257)

•can one's children give Zakat on behalf of a person?

Ibn Uthaymeen said: it is permissible for a person to authorise his children to give Zakaat al-Fitr on his behalf at its time even if he is in another country at the time of work.
[Fataawa 18/262]

•Can a poor authorise someone to collect zakat Al-fitra for him?

Ibn Uthaymeen said: it is permissible ( Al-fataawa 18/268)

•Dua to be recited while giving Zakat Al-fitra?
There is no specific Du'aa (supplication) that is said at the time of giving it.
(Al-lajnah ad-Daa'imah 9/387)

•Is it permissible to give Zakat Al-fitra in money?
Ibn Baaz said: It is not permissible to give its worth
(with cash) according to the opinion of many
scholars due to its opposition to the direct statement of the Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions.
(Al-Fataawaa 14/32)

Ibn 'Uthaymin said: Giving it in cash will not suffice, because it has been prescribed to be given in food. (Al-Fataawaa 18/265)

•IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO GIVE
ZAKAAT AL-FITR TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY?
Ibn Baaz said: The Sunnah is to distribute it amongst the poor in the country of the one
giving it and to not give it in cash in a different country so that he can enrich the poor from his country and satisfy their need. (Al-Fataawaa 14/213)

•IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO GIVE
ZAKAAT AL-FITR TO NON MUSLIMS?
Ibn 'Uthaymiin said: It is not permissible to give it to other than the poor from the Muslims. (Al-Fataawaa 18/285)

•RULING ON THE ONE WHO
ACCEPTS ZAKAAT AL-FITR &
SELLS IT?
If the one who took it was deserving of it, it is permissible for him to sell it upon receiving it.
(Al-Lajnah ad-Daa'imah 9/380)

•IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO DELAY
GIVING ZAKAAT AL-FITR
WITHOUT ANY VALID
REASON?
In 'Uthaymiin said: Delaying it until after the Salaah is Haraam (impermissible) and it
will not suffice.
(Al-Fataawaa 18/266)

This year like any other, their Eid should be as ours a time of joy, a time of celebration, a day for feasting and wearing
new clothes, for laughing with their loved ones, and knowing that they belong to a global community that has not forgotten about them. This year and in the future, may we remember that paying our Zakat-ul Fitr is much more than obligation, it is a means to divine mercy, to our peace and
happiness and someone else's, bringing meaning and many benefits not only to others but to ourselves.

السلام و علیکم ورحمتہ اللہْ
May Allah help us all. Remember me and the entire Muslim Ummah in your Duas.