Zakat
ul-Fitr
Zakat
ul-fitr is a type of sadaqah which must be paid by every Muslim, young and old,
male and female, free and slave, at the end of the month of fasting (Ramadan).
Al-Bukhari and Muslim relate from Ibn ‘Umar that he said: “The Prophet, upon
whom be peace, enjoined the payment of one sa’ of dates or one sa’ of barley as
zakat ul-fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave.”
The
Purpose of Zakat ul-Fitr
Zakat
ul-fitr was made obligatory in the month of Sha’ban in the second year of the
hijrah. Its purpose is to purify one who fasts from any indecent act or speech
and to help the poor and needy. This view is based upon the hadith reported by
Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and ad-Daraqutni from Ibn ‘Abbas. The Messenger of Allah,
upon whom be peace, enjoined zakat ul-fitr on the one who fasts to shield one’s
self from any indecent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for
the needy. It is accepted as zakah for the person who pays it before the ‘id
salah, and it is sadaqah for the one who pays it after the salah.
Who Must Pay Zakat ul-Fitr
Zakat
ul-fitr is incumbent on every free Muslim who possesses one sa’ of dates or
barley which is not needed as a basic food for himself or his family for the
duration of one day and night. Every free Muslim must pay zakat ul-fitr for
himself, his wife, children, and servants.
The Amount of Zakat ul-Fitr
The
required amount of zakat ul-fitr is one sa’ of wheat, barley, raisins, dry
cottage cheese (aqit), rice, corn, or similar items considered as basic foods
(qut). Abu Hanifah made it permissible to set aside, as a zakat ul-fitr, an
equivalent value and also said that if the payer pays in wheat, one-half of a
sa’ would be sufficient. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri
reported: “We used to give on behalf of every child, old person,
freeman, and slave during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be
peace, one sa’ of food, or one sa’ of dried cottage cheese, or one sa’ of
barley, or one sa’ of dates, or one sa’ of raisins as zakat ul-fitr. We
continued to do so until Mu’awiyyah came to us to perform pilgrimage (hajj) or
a minor pilgrimage ( ‘umrah). He then addressed the people from the pulpit and
said to them: ‘I see that two mudds of wheat of Syria equals one sa’ of dates.’
The people accepted that.” However, Abu Sa’id contended: “I would continue to
give as I used to give, namely, one sa’ as long as I live.” This is related by
most hadith narrators. At-Tirmizhi remarks: “Some of the scholars gave one sa’
from every charitable item [which is accepted as a sound practice].” Ash-Shaf’I
and Ishaq sustain this view but some other scholars gave one sa’ from every
charitable item except wheat, of which only half a sa’ would be sufficient.
This is the saying of Sufyan, Ibn al-Mubarak, and the scholars of Kufah.
When Zakat ul-Fitr is Due
The
jurists agree that zakat ul-fitr is due at the end of Ramadan. They differ,
however, about the exact time.
Ath-Thauri,
Ahmad, Ishaq, and ash-Shaf’i (in his later opinion), and Malik (in one of his
reports) are of the opinion that it is due at the sunset of the night of
breaking the fast, for this is when the fast of Ramadan ends. Abu Hanifah,
al-Layth, ash-Shaf’i (in his original opinion), and the second report of Malik
say that zakat ul fitr is due at the start of fajr on the day of ‘id.
These
two different views acquire relevance if a baby is born after sunset but before
dawn on the day of ‘id; the question then is whether zakat ul-fitr is
obligatory for the baby or not. In accordance with the first view, it is not
since the birth took place after the prescribed time, while according to the
second view, it is due because the birth took place within the prescribed space
of time.
Paying Zakat ul-Fitr in Advance
Most
scholars believe that it is permissible to pay zakat ul-fitr a day or two
before ‘id. Ibn ‘Umar reports that the Messenger, upon whom be peace, ordered
them to pay zakat ul-fitr before the people went out to perform the ‘id
prayers. Nafi’ reports that ‘Umar used to pay it a day or two before the end of
Ramadan. However, scholars hold different opinions when a longer time period is
involved. According to Abu Hanifah, it is permissible to pay it even before
Ramadan. Ash-Shaf’i holds that it is permissible to do so at the beginning of
Ramadan. Malik and Ahmad (in his well-known view) maintain that it is
permissible to pay it only one or two days in advance.
The
founders of the four accepted Islamic legal schools agree that zakat ul-fitr is
not nullified simply by not paying it on its due date. If such is the case, it
becomes a debt on the one responsible for it until it is paid. They also agree
that it is not permissible to delay it until the day of ‘id, but Ibn Sirin and
Nakha’i say that this can be done. Ahmad says: “I hope that there is no harm
[in the delay of its payment].” Ibn Raslan says that there is a consensus that
its payment cannot be delayed just because it is a type of zakah. Thus, any
delay is a sin and is analogous to delaying one’s prayers without an acceptable
excuse. This is proved by the following hadith: “If one pays zakat ul-fitr
before the salah, it is considered an accepted zakah. If he pays it after the
salah, it is considered an ordinary sadaqah.”
Distribution of Zakat ul-Fitr
The
distribution of zakat ul-fitr is the same as that of zakah-- that is, it has to
be distributed to the eight groups of beneficiaries mentioned in the ‘ayah:
“The alms are only for the poor ...” [at-Taubah 60]. The category comprising
the poor is considered the most deserving. This is also supported by the
hadith: “The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, enjoined zakat ul-fitr as
a purification for the one who fasts from any indecent act or speech, and as
food for the needy.”
EID
AL- FITR
Eid
al-Fitr “festival of breaking of the
fast”) is an important religious holiday
celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy
month of fasting (sawm). The religious Eid is the first and only day in the
month of Shawwal during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. The holiday
celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during
the entire month of Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr is observed when the first new moon is
sighted.
This
can lead to the festival being celebrated on different days in different parts
of the world.
While
some Muslims wait to be able to see the moon themselves, many either use the
calculated time of the new moon, or base it on the declaration made in Saudi
Arabia.
How
is Eid al-Fitr celebrated?
On
the day of Eid, Muslims gather at mosques in the morning to perform the Eid prayer,
before holding family gatherings and visiting friends.
Muslims
share feasts and sweets to mark the end of the fasting period, and greet each
other by saying “Eid Mubarak” - which roughly translates as “happy Eid” or
“blessed Eid.”
The
celebrations last for three days, and are seen as a time of forgiveness and of
giving thanks to Allah for helping people to complete their spiritual fasting.
Many
Muslims display this thanksgiving by giving donations and food to those less
fortunate than themselves.
Many
Muslims attend communal prayers and listen to a khutba or sermon on the first
day of the month of Shawwal. These prayers are held outside or in large venues,
such as sports arenas, in some places. Many Muslims may travel far to
participate in these activities. Some communities organize different
festivities, such as communal meals or events for children, on this day.
If
a Muslim has not given zakat al-fitr during Ramadan, he or she can give this on
Eid-al-Fitr. Zakat al-fitr is a form of charity consisting of a quantity of
food, such as barley, dates, raisins or wheat flour, or its monetary equivalent
given to the poor.
Many
Muslims may also prepare festive meals to share, wear new clothes, visit
relatives and give presents or candy to children. Cards can also be sent, often
featuring the words “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed Eid).
