Zakat Alms of Fitr (fast breaking)

[Muslimah]

It means the amount of alms becomes compulsory upon fast breaking from Ramadan. It is obligatory for each Muslim, young, old, male, female, free or enslaved. Bukharai and Muslim reported that Ibn Omar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) narrated:” Prophet Mohamed (PAPBUH) made compulsory, for salve, free, male, female, young and old of Muslims, the payment of alms upon the end of Ramadan: fast breaking at the end of the month with the amount of both hands full of date or barely”

Reasoning behind its payment: It was ordained in Shabaan of the second year of Hijra bearing the sense of purifying the fasting person of any obscenity or pointless talking he/she may have made. Simultaneously, it assists the poor and needy people upon Eid. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them said:” The Messenger of Allah (PAPBUH) ordained alms of Fitr as purification for the fasting person from any pointless talking, and obscenity, as well as food for the poor. One who pays it out before Eid prayer is an accepted Zakah while one who pays it after Eid prayer is just an ordinary Sadaqa (alms)”

It is compulsory to be paid by the free Muslim who affords the amount mentioned above. However, the amount must be over the regular needs of the person and his family. One must pay Zakat u lfirt for himself and on behalf of whoever he supports including, wife, children and servants whom he financially supports.

The amount is: both hands full of grain, barely, dates, raisins, dried milk, rice or corn or whatever is considered of food. However, Abou Hanifa (scholar) permitted the payment of what is worth of money. For further clarification, head of family, male or female must pay Zakat u lfitr for each person he/she (in case of a single mother or an unmarried female who has no Muslim male relatives) financially supports plus him/herself. The amount of money equal to the price of the above mentioned quantities must be paid for every individual to the Muslim poor people.

The time of payment: It is due by the end of Ramadan, however, must be given out before Eid prayer. One must strictly observe the timing other wise it remains a debt that must be fulfilled.

To whom it must be paid?: To poor people as the Messenger of Allah (PAPBUH) said: “Satisfy them on the day of Eid, let them not ask for assistance” as narrated by Ibn Omar (may Allah be pleased with both of them).

May Allah accept all our deeds and save us from Hell as He promised by the end of this blessed month.

[NaSra]

<b>17. ZAKATUL-FITR HOW WILL YOU BE PAYING?</b>-


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Ramadaan, the 9th month of the hijree calendar, is well known for (1) Siyaam (abstaining from food, drink, and sex ; paying extra-attention to refraining from lying, backbiting, slander, vain talk, fighting that is not for the cause of Allah, etc; and for abstinence from such things as smoking, music, movies, unnecessary television, cursing etc. from dawn to dusk and (2) Taraweeh: a replacement for tahajjud of multiple two-rakaat prayers that do not exceed a total of eight rakaats.


However, besides practicing more Taqwaa (Allaah-consciousness) not enjoying certain amenities of life for several hours, and being vigilant there are other acts of worship particular to Ramadaan. Most notably is Zakaah al-Fitr, also called Sadaqah al-Fitr. Fitr means breaking a fast; zakaah is an alms-tax which literally means to purify, to grow; and sadaqah means contribution or donation. Zakaat ul-Fitr is compulsory to be paid on every Muslim. Who should pay Zakaat ul-Fitr


Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah prescribed the Zakaat ul-Fitr on every slave, free person, male, female, young and elderly among the Muslims [bukhaaree Vol I no.579. Muslim no. 2149, Abu Daawood no. 1608]. The head of the house hold may give the required amount for ones house. Sadaqah al-Fitr is compulsory on one even if he or she embraced Islam in the last seconds of Ramadaan.


The same applies if a woman gives birth. Conversely, If someone dies before the close of Ramadaan his or her heirs are excused from paying for the deceased.


<b>When should it be paid?</b>


Zakaat ul-Fitr must be paid before Salaat ul-Eid. If one misses paying it before the prayer without a good reason it is not considered Zakaah but Sadaqa (charity).


Naafi' transmitted that Ibn Umar used to pay fitr a day or two before the Eid prayer [bukhaaree & Muslim, Abu Daawood]. Whoever pays fitr after the Eid prayer wlll not get the blessings of it because it will be rendered as regular Sadaqah [see Abu Daawood no. 1605]


It would be strongly advisable for one to pay Zakaah ul-Fitr before the prayer because it purifies the faster of idle deeds and vain talk committed during Ramadaan [Abu Daawood no. 1605] as well as providing its recipients in time for the Islamic holiday.


<b>What is its amount?</b>


The amount of Zakaat ul-Fitr is one saa (two handfuls/kilo/40 grams/4.5 lbs/112 oz/beaker of dates, barley, raisins, cheese, grain of wheat [see Muslim no.2151 & 2154]. Some scholars say any topic of food that is common in a particular region can be given for fitr, e.g. flour, ground beef, or milk in the United States.


<b>How should it be given?</b>


Items other than food such as money, clothes, furniture, etc. cannot be given as Zakat al-fitr. because it is contrary to what the Prophet commanded and what Allah wants. The Prophet (S) said, "Whoever introduces anything in this matter (deen) of ours will have it rejected." [bukhaaree Vol 3 no. 861. Muslim no.4266, Abu Daawood no.4589]


Paying Zakaat ul-Fitr is an act of worship, and through the Quran and authentic Sunnah all acts of worship are described. Therefore, to add, subtract, or alter any act of worship is a bida'h. Thus, paying zakaah al-fitr by other than food is a bida'h and every bid'ah eventually leads to the fire [see Abu Daawood no. 4590].


Not giving money for fitr is as Sunnah at-Turkeeyah (An action, the abandonment of which is a Prophetic Sunnah). Money existed and was prevalent in the Prophet's time but he did not nor did the Companions or Taabi'oon (followers of the Companions) use any money for Fitr. For sure the Prophet (S) was, is, and always will be the best of worshippers and the Companions and Taabi'oon are the best of generations in understanding and practicing Islaam [see Soorah's 4:115 and 3:110, Bukhaaree Vol 3 and 5, Abu Daawood no.4586]. So if he and they did not use money for Sadaqah al-Fitr why should any one else???

[NaSra]

<b>How should it be given?</b>
Items other than food such as money, clothes, furniture, etc. cannot be given as Zakat al-fitr. because it is contrary to what the Prophet commanded and what Allah wants. The Prophet (S) said, "Whoever introduces anything in this matter (deen) of ours will have it rejected." [bukhaaree Vol 3 no. 861. Muslim no.4266, Abu Daawood no.4589]


Paying Zakaat ul-Fitr is an act of worship, and through the Quran and authentic Sunnah all acts of worship are described. Therefore, to add, subtract, or alter any act of worship is a bida'h. Thus, paying zakaah al-fitr by other than food is a bida'h and every bid'ah eventually leads to the fire [see Abu Daawood no. 4590].


Not giving money for fitr is as Sunnah at-Turkeeyah (An action, the abandonment of which is a Prophetic Sunnah). Money existed and was prevalent in the Prophet's time but he did not nor did the Companions or Taabi'oon (followers of the Companions) use any money for Fitr. For sure the Prophet (S) was, is, and always will be the best of worshippers and the Companions and Taabi'oon are the best of generations in understanding and practicing Islaam [see Soorah's 4:115 and 3:110, Bukhaaree Vol 3 and 5, Abu Daawood no.4586]. So if he and they did not use money for Sadaqah al-Fitr why should any one else???

SubhanaAllah ever since I can remember people always paid money to the mosque and the mosque sends it to poor countries or muslims who are in need. People would eventually end up buying food with the money anyway right? So why is that considered haram in this article? La hawla wala quwata iLa BiLah.


What if there aren't any poor or needy muslims here? Can you pay fitr to the poor mushrikeen?


Help me out, because if this is really a Bidaah then i'd like to stop my family before they give it in money.

[NaSra]

What if there aren't any poor or needy muslims here? Can you pay fitr to the poor mushrikeen?

Or doesn't it even matter whether its given to a poor person or not?


Ya Allah please send me someone who can answer me, please

[ubl00069]

Die in hell terrorists.


God Bless America.

[NaSra]

Die in hell terrorists.
God Bless America.

I think you got the wrong house, why don't you try the white house? I thought thats where the real Terrorists were.


See what watching fox news and shine t.v does to you? Sad thing.

[Yasmin]

aslamu alaykum


ubl00069 We're fasting give us a break


We already see too many of your likes in real life, i dont think we need you on forums too.

What if there aren't any poor or needy muslims here? Can you pay fitr to the poor mushrikeen?

one thing that i know is that u can't never pay fitra to the mushrikeen. we only suppose to pay to the poor muslims and am not sure what to do if they aren't any poor muslims around so i hope other brothers and sisters can answer that for u.

[aadil]

Assalamualaikum everyone


I hope ramadan is going good for all of you.


I wanted to add a small doubt of mine here.


I read in one book that we must pay at least 2.5% of our annual net income in zakaat, if this is true, then how come we can't give money for zakaat, or am i talking about something else.


Further, what is the author exactly mean when he says "net income" and on whom is paying the zakaat farz.


Jazakallah


Mohammed Aadil

[Peaceful~Gyal]

What if there aren't any poor or needy muslims here? Can you pay fitr to the poor mushrikeen?

you can send the money (ZAKATUL-FITR) to a neighbouring or any other poor country likeIndia Pakistan E.T.C


WELL THATS WHAT WE DO

[Ahmed Abdullah]

Wa alilkumus salaam wa rhamatuhallahi wa barakatuh everyone,


In regards to your question Aadil, what I have learned from our Fiqh class we have at our Masjid Zakat is based on these factors. Lets say you give Zakat in every Ramadan. The money you must pay the 2.5% on is the money you have been able to SAVE for one full year, ie; Ramadan to the next Ramadan. This total must be $1000 dollars minimum. So if you had lets say $2000 dollars last Ramadan saved and this year you have $3000 dollars saved. You pay the 2.5% on the $3000 dollars you have saved. This money is Fard you must pay to the needy in your community. You can give the money directly to the people you know that need help. If you do not know who needs help you can give the money to the Masjid in the Zakat fund and insha'Allah the people at the Masjid can give to the people they know who need the help. You also must pay Zakat on your wife's jewelery and it has to be a certian amount of gold and silver that you pay on. I can not remember the exact amount of grams of each you must have to pay the Zakat on.(any help here my Brothers and Sisters?)


Zakat-ul Fitr is something different that is Fard on every Muslim to pay before the end of the Khutbah on the day of Eid. It is based on two hand fulls of rice, corn, cheese or whatever the staple food of you region is. Here the amount is at least $8 dollars per family member in your household. I have seen other posts that this must be given in the food and not money. Today this would be difficult to do and the food may go to waste and we know who gets the food that is wasted, Shaytan. It is better to pay in money so the needy people can go and purchase the food they need or pay bills that they need.


Please correct me if I am wrong here. Anything I said that is true is from Allah(SWT) and anything wrong I said is my own fault, so please correct me if I am wrong so that we all have the reminder that we all should give to our Brothers and Sisters at all times to make ourself a better Muslim insha'Allah.


Wa salaam,


Ahmed