Paying Sadaqat al-Fitr in Cash Instead of Commodities – Shariah Guidance
Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah, Vol. 3 – Issues of Fasting, Sadaqat al-Fitr, and Zakat, p. 154
Question
Is it permissible to give Sadaqat al-Fitr in the form of money instead of commodities? And how many days before Eid should it be paid?
(Naveed Shaukat Zarbī, UK)
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Ba‘d!
Practical Example from the Time of the Prophet ﷺ
The meaning of a ḥadīth from Sayyidunā Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī رضي الله تعالى عنه is:
“During the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we used to give one ṣāʿ of food (grain) as Sadaqat al-Fitr, whether it was barley or dates. When Mu‘āwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān رضي الله تعالى عنه came to Madinah, he said:
‘I think that two mudd of Syrian wheat (i.e., half a ṣāʿ) are equivalent to one ṣāʿ of dates.’
So the people adopted his opinion.
But Abū Sa‘īd رضي الله تعالى عنه said: ‘I will continue to give one ṣāʿ as I always did.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1505, 1506, 1508; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 985; Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 673, and he said: “This ḥadīth is ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ.”)
From this blessed ḥadīth, it is clear that giving Sadaqat al-Fitr in the amount of one ṣāʿ of commodities is the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the practice of the Companions. Based on this, Imām al-Shāfi‘ī رحمه الله, Imām Aḥmad رحمه الله, Imām Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh رحمه الله, and other jurists hold the same position.
Some Scholars’ Ijtihād and Half Ṣāʿ of Wheat
Some scholars, such as Sufyān al-Thawrī رحمه الله and Imām ‘Abdullāh ibn al-Mubārak رحمه الله, exercised ijtihād and adopted the view of giving half a ṣāʿ of wheat as Sadaqat al-Fitr.
Opinions on Giving Sadaqat al-Fitr in Cash
Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله did not like the idea of paying Sadaqat al-Fitr in the form of money. He said:
“I fear that if someone gives the value in money, his Sadaqat al-Fitr will not be valid.”
(Masā’il ‘Abdullāh ibn Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal: 809)
Practice of Caliph ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz رحمه الله
On the other hand, Caliph ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz رحمه الله wrote a letter to ‘Adī in Basrah, stating:
“Half a dirham should be taken from every person.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, 3/174, ḥadīth: 10358, with a ṣaḥīḥ chain)
Similarly, Qurrah ibn Khālid al-Sadūsī also received instructions to this effect (ibid., ḥadīth: 10369, with a ṣaḥīḥ chain).
Observation of the Tabi‘ī Abū Isḥāq al-Sabī‘ī رحمه الله
According to the narration of Zuhayr ibn Mu‘āwiyah, Abū Isḥāq al-Sabī‘ī رحمه الله said:
“In Ramadan, I found people giving the value of food as Sadaqat al-Fitr.”
(ibid., ḥadīth: 10371)
Conclusion – Commodities or Cash?
From all these reports, the following points become clear:
❀ It is permissible to give Sadaqat al-Fitr in the form of money (e.g., currency).
❀ However, this permission should be seen as specific to those living in places like Europe (e.g., UK) or the USA, so they can help their poor relatives in countries like Pakistan or India, fulfilling the purpose of ṭu‘matan lil-masākīn (providing food to the needy).
❀ Otherwise, it is better to give Sadaqat al-Fitr in commodities such as wheat, flour, dates, etc. In Pakistan, we generally follow this method.
Time of Payment
Sadaqat al-Fitr must be paid before Eid. It is better to pay it in the last days of Ramadan so that it reaches the needy in time.
Reference for Further Details:
See Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, pp. 164–165 (Dated: 6 August 2013)
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
