Muhammad Al-Misbahi Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Zakat Al-Fitr (charity given to the poor at the end of Ramadan) is a must for each and every Muslim, adult or minor, male or female. In the times of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), companions used to pay Zakat Al-Fitr in the form of dates or any food donated to the poor. But the question many ask today is whether it can be paid in the form of money. Saud Al-Fenaisan, former dean of Shariah School at Imam Muhammad Bin Saud University, says scholars have two opinions regarding this issue. Some say it is not permissible to pay Zakat Al-Fitr in cash. The schools of Imam Malik, Imam Al-Shafie and Imam Ahmed support this viewpoint. They based their opinion on the Prophet's saying that calls for paying it in the form of dates or flour. The three imams said if this was permissible, the Prophet would have clearly mentioned it. Another saying they quoted advised Muslims to be generous with the poor on the day of Eid Al-Fitr and to offer them food so that the poor do not go around begging for it on this joyful day. On the other hand, some scholars say it is permissible to pay Zakat Al-Fitr in the form of money. Imam Abu Hanifa, Caliph Omar Bin Abdul Aziz, Hassan Al-Basri and some other early scholars supported this viewpoint. Hassan Al-Basri, a great scholar who was born in 642, said it is permissible to give the poor money for Zakat Al-Fitr. “It is evident that early Muslim scholars have differed on this issue,” Al-Fenaisan said. “But if paying Zakat Al-Fitr in cash is more beneficial to the poor than paying it in kind, this method should be followed. But if paying it in kind is more beneficial, then it should be not paid in cash.” Al-Fenasian believes that it is better to pay Zakat Al-Fitr in form of cash as many poor Muslims today need money to buy clothes and other necessary things to get ready for the Eid Al-Fitr holidays. Sheikh Sulaiman Al-Alwan said most scholars agreed that it is not permissible to pay Zakat Al-Fitr in cash. However, paying money should not harm the person who receives it, Sheikh Al-Alwan said, adding that there is no evidence to say that it is not permissible to pay Fitr Al-Zakat in cash. After all, its purpose is to help the poor either by giving them food or money. Besides, many poor people tend to sell the food they get as Zakat for less money to get cash. Fahd Al-Mishal, associate professor of Shariah school at Imam Muhammad Bin Saud University, says Zakat Al-Fitr purifies the Muslim and the sins he committed in Ramadan. It also spreads love and solidarity in society. Zakat Al-Fitr aims to make the poor happy and save them the trouble of asking for money on the joyful event of Eid Al-Fitr. It shows the poor that society did not forget them. Muslim scholars agree that the time of Zakat Al-Fitr starts at the sunset on the last day of Ramadan. In other words, it starts on the first night of Shawwal, not after the Eid Al-Fitr prayer as many people believe. In fact, its time ends after the Eid prayer. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ordered Muslims to pay the Zakat before the Eid prayer. It is also permissible to pay Zakat Al-Fitr two days before the Eid. Any Muslim who delays paying in on time will have committed a sin for which he/she should repent.
