Rulings on Zakat-e-Fitr in the light of Qur'an and Sunnah

Rulings on Zakat-e-Fitr in the light of Qur'an and Sunnah

Rulings on Zakat-ul-Fitr in the light of Qur'an and Sunnah

Rulings on Zakat-e-Fitr in the light of the Qur'an and Sunnah. This is also a good question regarding Ramadan۔ Ramadan is the guest month of Allah. One of the best ways to say goodbye to it is to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr. Zakat al-Fitr is also called Sadaqah al-Fitr and Fitrana.

What is Zakat-ul-Fitr?

A fasting person makes many mistakes during the fast. What a person pays on behalf of himself and his family to atone for these mistakes is called Sadaqah-e-Fitr.

What is the ruling on Zakat-ul-Fitr?

Every Muslim who has more than the alimony on the day and night of Eid is obliged to give charity. If he does not have the amount prescribed by the Prophet, he will pay as much as he has. It will happen because of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said: فَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ When I order you to do something, do it according to your ability. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1337)
 It is obligatory to pay Sadaqa al-Fitr. Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) narrates that: فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَكَاةَ الفِطْرِ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ عَلَى العَبْدِ وَالحُرِّ، وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى، وَالصَّغِيرِ وَالكَبِيرِ مِنَ المُسْلِمِينَ، وَأَمَرَ بِهَا أَنْ تُؤَدَّى قَبْلَ خُرُوجِ النَّاسِ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has enjoined every Muslim slave and free, male and female, young and old, on the date, palm or barley as a saa 'sadaqah al-Fitr. And he has ordered the people to pay it before going for the prayer (Eid).  (Saheeh al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1503).

Saa 'is an Arabic measure which weighs 2 kg and 100 grams. A person pays Zakat-ul-Fitr on behalf of himself and his dependents. But if he does not have more than he needs, then this charity is not obligatory on him.

What is the wisdom behind paying Zakat-ul-Fitr?

Apparently, even though we do not see any wisdom in it, it is obligatory for a Muslim to pay it, because our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has commanded us to pay it. But here are some of the ones we found to be interesting:

(1) It is the best means of doing good and kindness to the poor.

(2) Through it, even the poor people share in the joys of Eid.

(3) On the day of Eid, the poor become needless to ask.

(4) The mistakes and omissions that occur during the fast from the fasting person, this charity becomes the expiation for these mistakes and omissions.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) narrates فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ طُهْرَةً لِلصَّائِمِ مِنَ اللَّغْوِ وَالرَّفَثِ، وَطُعْمَةً   لِلْمَسَاكِين The Prophet (PBUH) made it obligatory on the fasting person to give charity so that he may be cleansed of the mistakes made by the fasting person. And let it become a source of food for the poor. (Sunan Ibn Majah and its chain of transmission is Hasan, Hadith No. 1827)

What are the things that can be given in Zakat-ul-Fitr?

The Prophet (PBUH) prescribed dates, wheat, barley, raisins, rice, and cheese as Zakat-ul-Fitr. Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudri says: كُنَّا نُخْرِجُ صَدَقَةَ الْفِطْرِ إِذْ كَانَ فِينَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَاعًا مِنْ طَعَامٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ زَبِيبٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ أَقِطٍ We used to pay Zakat-e-Fitr in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) on food, dates, barley, raisins or cheese.)Musnad-e-Ahmad and its chain of transmission is correct, Hadith No.11932)

That is, according to the area, the thing that is used more there should be given in charity because it will be included in the food of that area. As stated by Abu Saeed Al-Khudri: َكَانَ طَعَامَنَا الشَّعِيرُ وَالزَّبِيبُ وَالأَقِطُ وَالتَّمْرُ(Our food in those days) was barley, raisins, cheese, and dates. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1510)

Is it permissible to give their price instead of a fixed commodity?

This charity cannot be replaced with money because it is against the Sunnah. And in the hadeeth narrated from 'Abdullah ibn' Umar (RA), the Prophet (PBUH) did not mention money in any of the things he mentioned in this charity. ۔ If there was any need to narrate it, He(PBUH) would have narrated it. And paying the price instead of charity is also against the practice of the Sahaabah (RA) because they used to pay one Saa 'out of a certain commodity.

Whoever says that he pays the price of a commodity instead of a fixed commodity is also correct. Because by giving money, they will be able to buy the things they need. So the question before them is whether the charity is the only way to meet the needs of these people? Of course, Zakat al-Fitr is not only a means of meeting the needs of the poor, but Islam has also clarified a number of ways through which the poor and the needy are provided. Such as zakat on wealth, inheritance, expiation of oaths and vows, these are all things that are a means of meeting the needs of the poor. Therefore, we should not go beyond the commodities mentioned in the hadith, because this is a violation of the commands of the Prophet (PBUH).

When is the time to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr?

He has to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr should pay it before the Eid prayers. He who pays after Eid does not join it but he joins the general charity. Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) narrates: فَمَنْ أَدَّاهَا قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ فَهِيَ زَكَاةٌ مَقْبُولَةٌ، وَمَنْ أَدَّاهَا بَعْدَ الصَّلَاةِ فَهِيَ صَدَقَةٌ مِنَ الصَّدَقَاتِ Whoever pays (this charity) before the Eid prayer, then that charity is acceptable, and whoever pays it after the prayer, then it will be included in the general charity. (Sunan ibn Majah and its chain of transmission is Hasan, Hadith No. 1827)

To whom should Zakat-ul-Fitr be given?

Zakat al-Fitr is a special right of the poor and the needy. Other expenses will not be included in it, because that is what is mentioned in the hadeeth. But if we don't find poor people, we can give this charity to them too. Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) narrates فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ طُهْرَةً لِلصَّائِمِ مِنَ اللَّغْوِ وَالرَّفَثِ، وَطُعْمَةً   لِلْمَسَاكِين The Prophet (PBUH) made it obligatory on the fasting person to give charity so that he may be cleansed of the mistakes made by the fasting person. And let it become a source of food for the poor. (Sunan Ibn Majah and its chain of transmission is Hasan, Hadith No. 1827)
This hadeeth shows us that we cannot give this charity for other expenses such as the traveler, the doers of zakaah, and the freeing of slaves. But they can also be given in case of extreme compulsion.
Zakat-e-Fitr is an obligation on every Muslim. The purpose of this is to purify the fasting person from the mistakes that he makes during the fast. This is the right of the poor so that they too can share in the joys of Eid. The amount is 2 kg and one hundred grams۔In Zakat-e-Fitr, we cannot pay for the commodities instead of the prescribed ones, because it is against the Sunnah

Zakat-ul-Fitr is a means of purification for the fasting person, so we should pay it on time so that Allah may forgive us. May Allah help us to act. Ameen!