Zakatul-fitr
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Zakatul-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 AllahZakatul-Fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave."
· The Purpose of AllahZakatul-Fitr
AllahZakatul-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 AllahZakatul-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 AllahZakatul-Fitr
AllahZakatul-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 AllahZakatul-Fitr for himself, his wife, children, and servants
· The Amount of AllahZakatul-Fitr
The required amount of AllahZakatul-Fitr is one sa' (2.176 kilograms or 4.797 pounds) of wheat, barley, raisins, dry cottage cheese (aqit), rice, corn, or similar items considered as basic foods (qut).
· When AllahZakatul-Fitr is Due
The jurists agree that AllahZakatul-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 ulfitr 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 AllahZakatul-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 AllahZakatul-Fitr in Advance
Most scholars believe that it is permissible to pay AllahZakatul-Fitr a day or two before 'id.
Ibn 'Umar reports that the Messenger, upon whom be peace, ordered them to pay AllahZakatul-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.
The founders of the four accepted Islamic legal schools agree that AllahZakatul-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 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 AllahZakatul-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 AllahZakatul-Fitr
The distribution of AllahZakatul-Fitr is for the needy as supported by the hadith: "The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, enjoined AllahZakatul-Fitr as a purification for the one who fasts from any indecent act or speech, and as food for the needy."
Al-Baihaqi and ad-Daraqutni relate from Ibn 'Umar who said: "The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, enjoined the AllahZakatul-Fitr, and also said: 'Free them from want on this day.
Refrences : Fiqh-Us-Sunnah by shekh Sayed Sabiq
and Tamam-Ul-Mennah by Shekh Alalbani
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