Fitr in a nutshell Q- What is the rate of Zakat Al-Fitr? Is it permissible to give it after the Eid prayer? Is it permissible to give Zakat Al-Fitr in cash? A – It was narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) enjoined Zakat Al-Fitr upon the Muslims at a rate of one Saa' of dates or one Saa' of barley, and he commanded that it should be given before the people went out to pray – i.e., the Eid prayers. In Al-Saheehayn (Bukhari and Muslim) it is narrated that Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “At the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 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 Ta'aam (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. This is the correct view, because the Zakah is a kind of help given by the rich to the poor, and the Muslim should not offer help with anything other than the staple food of his country. What must be given is a Saa' of all kinds of food, which is four times the amount scooped up with two hands, which is approximately three kilograms. If the Muslim gives a Saa' of rice or some other staple food of his country, that is fine. It first becomes due on the night of the twenty-eighth of Ramadan, because the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to give it one or two days before Eid, and the month lasts twenty-nine or thirty days. The latest it may be given is at the Eid prayer, but it is not permissible to delay it until after the prayer, because of the report narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever gives it before the prayer, it is accepted Zakah, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it is a kind of charity.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood) It is not permissible to pay the value in money, according to the majority of scholars, and the evidence for this view is more sound. Rather it should be given in the form of food, as was done by the Prophet (peace be upon him), his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and the majority of the Ummah. We ask Allah to help us and all the Muslims to understand His religion and adhere steadfastly to it. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. – Sheikh Bin Baz (may Allah have mercy on him). Majallat Al-Buhooth Al-Islamiyyah, issue no. 17, pp. 79-80. Who deserves it Q- To whom should Zakat Al-Fitr be given? Can we donate it to charitable funds for building a mosque, for example? A – Zakat Al-Fitr should be given to the poor Muslims in the land or city where it is given, because of the report narrated by Abu Dawood from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) enjoined Zakat Al-Fitr, to be paid in Ramadan to feed the poor…” It is permissible to send it to the poor of another land whose people are in greater need. It is not permissible to spend it on building a mosque or other charitable projects. – The Permanent Committee Beggars Q- Men are asking for Zakat Al-Fitr in the marketplace and we do not know whether they are religiously committed or not. Is it permissible to give them Zakat Al-Fitr?. A – Zakat Al-Fitr should be given to poor Muslims even if they are sinners so long as their sin is not something that puts them beyond the pale of Islam. What is meant by poor is those who appear to be poor, even if they are in fact rich. The one who is paying the Zakah should seek out good poor people as much as possible. If he finds out later that the one who took it was actually rich, that does not affect the one who gave it, rather he has discharged his duty, praise be to Allah. – The Permanent Committee Foetus Q- Should Zakat Al-Fitr be paid on behalf of a child who is still in his mother's womb or not? A –It is Mustahab to pay it because of what ‘Uthmaan (may Allah be pleased with him) did, but it is not obligatory because there is no evidence to that effect. – The Permanent Committee, 9/366 Zakat Al-Fitr in my country Q- I dispatched the Zakat Al-Fitr, specifically pertaining to myself, to my family so that they can discharge it in my country. Is this action correct? A – (This is) not a problem, (and) you shall be rewarded Insha-Allah. Discharging it in your area is better, so that you discharge it to the needy in the area in whch you reside, and this is better. However, if you dispatched it to your family to discharge it to the needy in your country then that is not a problem. – Sheikh Bin Baz, Fatawa Ramadan - Volume 2, Fatwa No. 929 Forgot! Q- What is the ruling regarding the one who had not discharged the Zakat Al-Fitr until during the (Eid) khutbah (sermon) after the Eid prayer, and that is because he had forgotten? A – Discharging the Zakat Al-Fitr before the (Eid) prayer is obligatory, and whoever forgets then there is nothing upon him except to discharge it after that. This is because it is an obligation so it is upon him to discharge it when he remembers, and it is not permissible for anyone to intentionally delay it until after the Eid prayer according to the most correct of the two opinions. This is because the Messenger (peace be upon him) commanded the Muslims to discharge it before the Eid prayer. – Sheikh Bin Baz, Fatawa Ramadan - Volume 2, Fatwa No. 914, Courtesy Fatwa
