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الفتح الربانی
Fath al-Rabbani
كتاب الزكاةBook of Zakat
فَصْلٌ مِنْهُ فِيمَنْ رَوَى نِصْفَ صَاعٍ مِنْ قَمْحٍSection: On Those Who Narrated Half a Sa‘ of Wheat
Hadith 3570
اُردوEn
عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَتْ: كُنَّا نُؤَدِّي زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُدَّيْنِ مِنْ قَمْحٍ بِالْمُدِّ الَّذِي تَقْتَاتُونَ بِهِ
It is narrated from Sayyida Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her), she says: In the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), we used to give two mudd of wheat as Sadaqat al-Fitr on behalf of a person. This is the same mudd with which you measure grain for transactions.
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … From the authentic ahadith of this chapter, it is established that half a sa‘ (صاع) of wheat suffices as sadaqat al-fitr. There is also a hadith: It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ((… two mudd (مدّان) of wheat or one sa‘ of anything else from food.)) (Darqutni: 220, 221, from two chains from Ibn Jurayj from him, Sahihah: 1179) … “Two mudd of wheat and one sa‘ from the rest of the foods.” Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, Sayyiduna Umar, Sayyiduna Uthman, Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, Sayyiduna Jabir ibn Abdullah, Sayyiduna Muawiyah, Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas, and Sayyiduna Zubair—all were of the opinion that half a sa‘ of wheat should be given as sadaqat al-fitr.
Among us, it is common practice to give sadaqat al-fitr on Eid al-Fitr in the form of the price of the customary commodity. As far as permissibility is concerned, one can accept this view; however, the original legal ruling is that, according to the Sunnah, the commodity itself should be given. In this, there is greater benefit for the needy people.
At this point, it is necessary to clarify one matter: some people have been heard saying that giving the price of the commodity is more appropriate. They reason that the needy will be able to buy various things related to Eid according to their needs. This understanding of theirs is incorrect for two reasons: firstly, the most appropriate form is that which was adopted in the time of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam; and secondly, are the joys of Eid for the poor, the helpless, and the destitute hidden only in the fifty or sixty rupees of our sadaqat al-fitr? When such people, on the occasion of Eid, are buying all sorts of clothes, shoes, toys, and food items for their own children, does it not trouble them that in our society there are hundreds of children who, at such times, look at their parents with needy eyes, but the pockets of those poor parents are unable to fulfill their children’s demands? How flawed and worthless is this thinking, that such needy people should run their entire life’s circle only on sadaqat al-fitr.
Among us, it is common practice to give sadaqat al-fitr on Eid al-Fitr in the form of the price of the customary commodity. As far as permissibility is concerned, one can accept this view; however, the original legal ruling is that, according to the Sunnah, the commodity itself should be given. In this, there is greater benefit for the needy people.
At this point, it is necessary to clarify one matter: some people have been heard saying that giving the price of the commodity is more appropriate. They reason that the needy will be able to buy various things related to Eid according to their needs. This understanding of theirs is incorrect for two reasons: firstly, the most appropriate form is that which was adopted in the time of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam; and secondly, are the joys of Eid for the poor, the helpless, and the destitute hidden only in the fifty or sixty rupees of our sadaqat al-fitr? When such people, on the occasion of Eid, are buying all sorts of clothes, shoes, toys, and food items for their own children, does it not trouble them that in our society there are hundreds of children who, at such times, look at their parents with needy eyes, but the pockets of those poor parents are unable to fulfill their children’s demands? How flawed and worthless is this thinking, that such needy people should run their entire life’s circle only on sadaqat al-fitr.
