Zakat-ul-Fitr
ZAKAT AL FITR
Zakat al Fitr is
an obligatory charity on every Muslim at the end of the month of
Ramadan. Ibn `Umar said: "The Prophet
, enjoined the payment of one Sa'a of dates or one Sa'a of
barley as Zakat al-Fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and
female, free and slave."
(Related by
al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The purpose of
Zakat al-Fitr is to purify the one who has fasted from any type of
indecent act or speech he might have committed while fasting. It
also helps the poor and the needy. Ibn Abbas said: "The Messenger of
Allah, enjoined Zakat al-Fitr on the
one who fasts to shield him from any indecent act or speech and for
the purpose of providing food for the needy."
(Related by Abu Dawud
and Ibn Majah.)
The Amount of Zakat al-Fitr
As the first
Hadith indicated, the amount of Zakat al-Fitr is one Sa'a. Sa'a is a
volume measure corresponding approximately to the volume of 5 pounds of
good wheat. The material of the Zakat can be either dates, barley,
wheat, rice, corn or similar items considered as basic foods. Abu Saeed said: "We used to give for Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of every
child, aged person, free man or slave during the lifetime of the
Messenger of Allah,, one Sa'a of food,
or one Sa'a of dried yogurt, or one Sa'a of barley, or one Sa'a of
dates, or one Sa'a of raisins."
(Related by
al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
The Time for Zakat al-Fitr
Zakat al-Fitr
has to be paid by the end of Ramadan. There are two times to pay
Zakat al-Fitr. Either one or two days before Eid as 'Umar used to
do, or the day of Eid before the Eid prayer. Ibn `Umar reported that
the Prophet, ordered them to pay
Zakat al-Fitr before they go out to perform the Eid prayer. If Zakat
al-Fitr is paid after the Eid prayer, it will only be considered as
regular charity. The Prophet, said:
"If one pays Zakat al-Fitr before the Salat, it is considered an
accepted Zakat, if he pays it after the Salat, it is considered an
ordinary charity."
(Related by Abu Dawud.)
Zakat al-Fitr is
to be given to the same eight categories or people as in the other
types of Zakat. Some scholars say that the poor and the needy are
the most deserving ones since the Prophet, said that it had "...the purpose of providing food for the
needy."
IMPORTANT: Sadaqat al-fitr which is also know as Zakat-ul-fitr MUST be paid BEFORE the Eid prayers. It can be paid anytime during the month of Ramadan. If one fails to pay it, their fasts are not accepted.