By Abdullahi Jamaa
Zakatul Fitr also referred to as Sadaqatul-Fitr is an obligatory charity that is done at the conclusion of the fasting month of Ramadan. This form of charity is due on every person who has sufficient means to maintain himself and his family beyond the day and night of Eid and it must be paid on behalf of every member of one’s family including infants.
The purpose?
According to the teachings and sayings of our beloved prophet (SAW), the fulfilment of the obligation of Zakatul fitr is intended to serve two main purposes:
The first is to help compensate for the deficiencies in our fasts. As weak human beings we often make mistakes in our acts of worship. Our actions may undermine the rewards of fasting and so we need to make up for our intended or unintended slipups.
The famous scholar Wakee’ ibn al-Jarraah is reported to have said: “Zakaat al-fitr for the month of Ramadaan is like two sajdahs of sahw for the prayer. It makes up for any shortcomings in the fast as the prostrations make up for any shortcomings in the prayer.”
Secondly, Islam is a religion of compassion and mercy, Zakatul Fitr allows the poor amongst the community to celebrate the day of Eid with assurance of food on the table at least for this important day when every Muslims’ face is beaming with elation and happiness.
Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) narrated that “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) prescribed Zakatul Fitr in order to cleanse those who were fasting from (damages done to their fasts due to indulgence in) lewdness or obscenities, as well as a means of proving food for the poor; so, if someone pays it before the Salah, it is considered Zakah, and if someone pays it after, it is a form of charity” (Dawud)
Who must pay?
Zakatul Fitr is considered obligatory on every Muslim, male or female, young or old. It is incumbent upon a Muslim who possess more than a day’s food requirement. It means therefore that both the rich and the poor are obligated to offer this charity.
Narrated Ibn Umar: “Allah’s Apostle enjoined the payment of one Sa’ of dates or one Sa’ of barley as Zakat-ul-Fitr on every Muslim slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he ordered that it be paid before the people went out to offer the ‘Id prayer.” (Bukhari)
A Muslim is obligated to give on his own behalf and on behalf of those on whom he spends, such as wives and relatives, if they cannot give it on their own behalf. If they are able to, it is better for them to give it themselves, because the command is addressed to them in the first place.
Food or money?
It’s clear that the majority of scholars have preferred food to money. Imams Shafii, Maliki and Hanbali strongly supported the idea of giving out food for Zakatul Fitr. It is reported that they have flatly rejected the use of money in this matter.
Imam Hanafi in his part highly recommended giving out food as Zakatul Fitr, although he allowed money as a possible substitute when and if necessary. This is a powerful indication that food is preferred to money when it comes to fulfilling this important obligatory charity.
Based on the directions of both the previous and contemporary Islamic scholars, the standard ruling of the majority of scholars is that Zakatul Fitr is to be paid in staple foods rather than in cash.
What amount of Food?
Narrated Abu Said: “We used to give one Sa’ of barley as Sadaqatul-Fitr (per head)” (Bukhari). Sa’ has been the standard unit of measurement of grains during the early years of Islam, especially in Madinah.
A question arises: What is a sa‘? Scholars say that it was comparable to four mudds; a mudd is what an average person can hold when he cups his hands.
There are varied rulings on the equivalence of this type of measurement with regards to contemporary units of measurement. The weight of the sa’ varies according to the type of food concerned, so when giving zakatul Fitr by weight, one must make sure that what is given is equivalent to a sa’ of that type of food.
Currently Islamic scholars are giving the equivalence of a Sa’ at a minimum of 2.5Kilograms or 3 to 3.5 kilograms at Maximum. It’s a preferred Islamic tradition to offer the maximum while there is no harm in offering the bare minimum in Zakatul Fitr.
When to pay?
Zakatul Fitr must be paid before Eid Salah. According to Islamic jurists, it has been a highly cherished practice to offer it on the night before Eid day. Or according to available narrations, it is permissible to give Zakatul Fitr one or two days before Eid.
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: “The Prophet (SAW) ordered the people to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr before going to the ‘Id prayer” (Bukhari)
Refer also to the previous hadith when the prophet (SAW) said, “If someone pays it before Eid Salah, his charity will be considered Zakah. If someone pays it after the Salah, it is reckoned only as a regular form of charity”
Scholars agree that it is haraam to delay giving it for no good reason, because this defeats the purpose which is to save the poor from having to ask on the day of joy. If a person delays giving it with no excuse, he has committed a sin but he still has to make it up.
