Meaning of Sadaqat al-Fitr
➊ Sadaqat al-Fitr means giving Fitrana before the Eid prayer at the end of the month of Ramadan.
صحيح البخاري: كِتَابُ الزَّكَاةِ
1504. حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ عَنْ نَافِعٍ عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَرَضَ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ عَلَى كُلِّ حُرٍّ أَوْ عَبْدٍ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى مِنْ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
As narrated by Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) made Sadaqat al-Fitr obligatory upon every free person, slave, male, female, and Muslim, in the amount of one Sa’ of dates or one Sa’ of barley.
Note:
There is consensus among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) on this.
Warning:
From this, it is understood that Fitrana is obligatory on slaves, free persons, men, women, children, and the elderly.
Amount and Items of Sadaqat al-Fitr
That is (what things should be given as Fitrana).
In Sadaqah al-Fitr, wheat, dates, cheese, raisins, and cash can also be given as Fitrana, as mentioned in Musnad al-Humaydi…
759 – حدثنا الحميدي قال: ثنا سفيان، قال: ثنا ابن عجلان، انه سمع عياض بن عبد الله، يقول: سمعت ابا سعيد الخدري، يقول: ما كنا نخرج على عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فى زكاة الفطر إلا صاعا من تمر، او صاعا من شعير، او صاعا من اقط
759- Sayyiduna Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) says: During the blessed time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), we used to give one Sa’ of dates or one Sa’ of cheese as Sadaqah al-Fitr.
Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that in the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Sadaqah al-Fitr was given as one Sa’ of wheat, or one Sa’ of raisins, or one Sa’ of cheese, or one Sa’ of dates, or one Sa’ of barley.
Hadith Reference: إسناده حسن
وأخرجه البخاري فى صحيحه No: 1505, 1506, 1508, 1510,
ومسلم فى صحيحه No: 985, and Ibn Hibban in صحيحه No: 3305, 3306, 3307,
والحاكم فى مستدركه No: 1500,
والنسائي فى المجتبیٰ No: 2510, 2511,
وأبو داود فى سننه No: 1616, 1618,
والترمذي فى جامعه No: 673,
والدارمي فى مسنده No: 1704, 1705, 1706,
وابن ماجه فى سننه No: 1829,
والبيهقي فى سننه الكبير No: 7766, 7792,
وأحمد فى مسنده, No: 11249 No: 11352 (3)
Note:
① This Sadaqah al-Fitr is obligatory upon Muslims. See
② In one narration, it is mentioned that we used to give Sadaqah al-Fitr… while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was among us.
It is understood that the above hadith is Marfu‘ (attributed directly to the Prophet).
③ There is a difference of opinion regarding the weight of a Sa’. The preferred view is that the Sa’ should be calculated according to 2.5 kilograms so that a person does not remain in doubt.
④ From Sayyiduna Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), half a Sa’ of wheat is established, but from the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Sayyiduna Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) and others, a full Sa’ is established; therefore, the preferred view is to give a full Sa’.
⑤ It is better and preferable that the Sa’ be taken from wheat, barley, dates, grapes, and other fruits, grains, and food, but if there is compulsion or any Shariah excuse, then payment in the customary monetary equivalent of the Sa’ is also permissible. Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) sent an order to Adi in Basra that half a dirham be taken from the gifts of the people of the Diwan for each person.
◈ Abu Ishaq al-Subai’i said that he found people giving dirhams instead of food as Sadaqah al-Fitr during Ramadan.
⑥ Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to give Sadaqah al-Fitr only in dates except once (when dates were not available, he gave barley).
⑦ Sadaqah al-Fitr is only the right of the poor.
Therefore, it is incorrect to divide it among the eight categories of Zakat recipients. See Zad al-Ma’ad
and “Innovations in Worship and Their Refutation from the Prophetic Sunnah”
(11) حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عِيسَى الْحِيرِيُّ، ثنا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَا: ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْأَعْلَى، ثنا الْمُعْتَمِرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: حِينَ فَرَضَ صَدَقَةَ الْفِطْرِ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ، وَكَانَ لَا يُخْرَجُ إِلَّا التَّمْرُ ” هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ عَلَى شَرْطِ الشَّيْخَيْنِ، وَلَمْ يُخَرِّجَاهُ فِيهِ: إِلَّا التَّمْرَ
Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) states that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) himself used to give dates as Sadaqah al-Fitr.
أَخْبَرَنَا بَكْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَمْدَانَ الصَّيْرَفِيُّ، ثنا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ الْبَلْخِيُّ، ثنا مَكِّيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، ثنا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي رَوَّادٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: كَانَ النَّاسُ يُخْرِجُونَ صَدَقَةَ الْفِطْرِ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ، أَوْ سُلْتٍ، أَوْ زَبِيبٍ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ رَوَّادٍ ثِقَةٌ عَابِدٌ وَاسْمُ أَبِي رَوَّادٍ أَيْمَنُ، وَلَمْ يُخَرِّجَاهُ بِهَذَا اللَّفْظِ “
Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) says: In the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), people used to give one Sa’ of dates or one Sa’ of barley or dried grapes or peeled barley as Sadaqah al-Fitr.
This hadith is authentic, but Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) and Imam Muslim (may Allah have mercy on him) did not narrate it with these exact words. Abdul Aziz bin Rawad is trustworthy and devout, and Abu Dawood’s name is “Ayman.”
أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو نَصْرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَامِدٍ التِّرْمِذِيُّ، ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جِبَالٍ الصَّنْعَانِيُّ، ثنا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، ثنا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عَقِيلٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أُمِّهِ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا أَنَّهَا حَدَّثَتْهُ، أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُخْرِجُونَ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْمُدِّ الَّذِي يَقْتَاتُ بِهِ أَهْلُ الْبَيْتِ، أَوِ الصَّاعِ الَّذِي يَقْتَاتُونَ بِهِ، يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ كُلُّهُمْ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ عَلَى شَرْطِ الشَّيْخَيْنِ، وَلَمْ يُخَرِّجَاهُ، وَهِيَ الْحُجَّةُ لِمُنَاظَرَةِ مَالِكٍ وَأَبِي يُوسُفَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمَا “
Hazrat Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them) says: During the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), people used to give the measure or sa’ of whatever food they used in their homes as Sadaqah. And this was the practice of all the people of Madinah. ** This hadith is authentic according to the standards of both Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) and Imam Muslim (may Allah have mercy on him), but neither of them narrated it. And this hadith is evidence in the debate between Imam Malik and Imam Abu Yusuf. ”
Note:
A letter of Umar bin Abdul Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) was brought in which it was written regarding Sadaqah al-Fitr that the price of Sadaqah al-Fitr will be collected from each person in dirhams.
Hasan Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) says that giving dirhams in Sadaqah al-Fitr is not objectionable.
Abu Ishaq (may Allah have mercy on him) says that the earlier people, i.e., the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all), used to give the price of wheat in dirhams as Sadaqah al-Fitr.
The summary is that all such items which are people’s food (i.e., nourishment) as mentioned in the narration صَاعاً مِنْ طَعَامِِ from all of them one sa’ of Sadaqah al-Fitr will be given.
Warning:
Remember that one sa’ is four mudd, besides this the quantity of sa’ is also mentioned as five ratl and one-third of a ratl.
According to modern weight, one sa’ is approximately two and a half kilograms.
Note:
If someone pays Sadaqah al-Fitr in cash, this is also permissible.
Who Should Receive Zakat al-Fitr
Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said that Zakat al-Fitr is prescribed to purify the fasting person from any indecent act or speech and to feed the needy.
When Should Zakat al-Fitr Be Given
Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that they used to send Zakat al-Fitr to the collector two or three days before Eid al-Fitr.
Who Should Receive Zakat al-Fitr
Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said that Sadaqah al-Fitr is prescribed to purify the fasting person from idle talk and obscenity during fasting and to feed the poor.
Warning:
Dividing Sadaqah al-Fitr among eight categories of deserving people is one of the incorrect customs. Some people distribute Sadaqah al-Fitr among those eight categories of deserving people who are eligible to receive Zakat.
Ibn al-Qayyim said that the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to give this Sadaqah specifically to the poor; he did not divide it among those categories of deserving people, nor did he command that, nor did any companion or later follower act upon it. Rather, one of our opinions is that giving Sadaqah al-Fitr to anyone other than the poor is not permissible, and this opinion is stronger than the one that obligates dividing Sadaqah al-Fitr among eight categories.
Note:
Nowadays, some organizations collect Sadaqah al-Fitr (take everything) in the name of Jihad.
اِنَّا لِلّـٰهِ وَاِنَّـآ اِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ
Question: Is it permissible to give Zakat al-Fitr to relatives?
Answer:
Yes! It is permissible to give Zakat al-Fitr to relatives such as brothers, sisters, paternal uncles, maternal uncles, paternal aunts, etc., but one cannot give Zakat al-Fitr or Zakat to one’s own children or parents, maternal grandparents, or paternal grandparents. Additionally, a husband cannot give Zakat al-Fitr to his wife, nor can a wife give it to her husband. And Allah knows best.
When should Zakat al-Fitr be given
Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما narrates that they used to send the Zakat al-Fitr to the collector two or three days before Eid al-Fitr.
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَاكِمُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَافِظُ إِمْلَاءً فِي صَفَرٍ سَنَةَ سِتٍّ وَتِسْعِينَ وَثَلَاثِ مَائَةٍ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ الْإِسْمَاعِيلِيُّ، ثنا أَبِي، ثنا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، ثنا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الدِّمَشْقِيِّ، ثنا يَزِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ الْخَوْلَانِيُّ وَكَانَ شَيْخَ صِدْقٍ وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْهُ ثنا سَيَّارُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الصَّدَفِيُّ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ طُهْرَةً لِلصِّيَامِ مِنَ اللَّغْوِ، وَالرَّفَثِ، وَطُعْمَةً لِلْمَسَاكِينِ، مَنْ أَدَّاهَا قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ فَهِيَ زَكَاةٌ مَقْبُولَةٌ، وَمَنْ أَدَّاهَا بَعْدَ الصَّلَاةِ فَهِيَ صَدَقَةٌ مِنَ الصَّدَقَاتِ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ عَلَى شَرْطِ الْبُخَارِيِّ، وَلَمْ يُخَرِّجَاهُ “”
1488 – on the condition of Bukhari
Hazrat Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما says: The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory; it purifies the fast from any vain or idle talk (if it occurred during the fast) and it is the provision for the poor. Whoever gives it before the Eid prayer, his Zakat al-Fitr is accepted, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it will be considered one of the general charity (Sadaqah). (But in any case, it must be given.) ** This hadith is authentic according to the standards of both Imam Bukhari رحمه الله عليه and Imam Muslim رحمه الله عليه, but neither of them narrated it.
It is narrated from Ibn Shihab رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم ordered that Zakat al-Fitr be given before performing the Eid prayer.
It is understood that this Zakat must be given before departing for the Eid prayer, and if it is given one or two days before Eid, there is no harm in that.
Warning:
If someone gives it later, it will not be accepted.
Giving half Sa’ of Sadaqah Fitr is not permissible
The Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him, and all his companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, used to give only one Sa’ of Sadaqah Fitr.
As for the statement of Amir Muawiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, that half a Sa’ should be given as Fitrana, his position is not acceptable because it contradicts the practice of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the other companions, may Allah be pleased with them all.
For this reason, Abu Sa’id Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, and Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, also did not agree with Muawiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, on this issue.
See:
Therefore, the practice that prevailed during the Prophet’s time and which the companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, followed is the established one, meaning only one Sa’ of Sadaqah Fitr should be given.
If a person gives Zakat or Sadaqah Fitr from unlawful wealth, it will not be accepted
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه says: When you pay Zakat, you have fulfilled your responsibility, and a person who accumulates unlawful wealth and then gives it as charity will not receive any reward for it; rather, it will be a burden upon him.
It is not permissible to take charity from a wealthy person
As narrated by Abdullah bin Amr رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said it is not permissible for a rich and powerful person to take charity.
Only certain individuals are permitted to receive charity
As established in Sunan Ibn Majah with the following words
بَابُ: مَنْ تَحِلُّ لَهُ الصَّدَقَةُ
Chapter: The description of those people for whom Zakat is lawful.
(Raised) حدثنا محمد بن يحيى ، حدثنا عبد الرزاق ، انبانا معمر ، عن زيد بن اسلم ، عن عطاء بن يسار ، عن ابي سعيد الخدري ، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “
لا تحل الصدقة لغني،
إلا لخمسة لعامل عليها،
او لغاز فى سبيل الله، او لغني اشتراها بماله، او فقير تصدق عليه فاهداها لغني، او غارم”.
Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Zakat is not permissible for a wealthy person except for five types of people: the collector of zakat, the one who fights in the cause of Allah, or a wealthy person who has bought it with his own money, or a poor person who has been given charity and then gifts it to a wealthy person (then that zakat is permissible for that wealthy person), or one who is in debt.”
Hadith Reference:
سنن ابی داود/الزکاة 24 (1635)، (تحفة الأشراف: 4177)، وقد أخرجہ: موطا امام مالک/الزکاة 17 (29)، مسند احمد (3/4، 31، 40، 56، 97) (صحیح)
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ الْفَقِيهُ، أَنْبَأَ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ زِيَادٍ، ثنا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، ثنا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَنْبَأَ مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” لَا تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِغَنِيٍّ إِلَّا لِخَمْسَةٍ: لِغَازٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، أَوْ لِعَامِلٍ عَلَيْهَا، أَوْ لِغَارِمٍ، أَوْ لِرَجُلٍ كَانَ لَهُ جَارٌ مِسْكِينٌ فَتُصُدِّقَ عَلَى الْمِسْكِينِ فَأَهْدَى الْمِسْكِينُ الْغَنِيَّ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ عَلَى شَرْطِ الشَّيْخَيْنِ، وَلَمْ يُخَرِّجَاهُ لِإِرْسَالِ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ إِيَّاهُ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ
Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: It is not permissible for any rich person to take charity except for five people: (1) One who fights in the cause of Allah. (2) The person appointed to collect zakat. (3) One who is in debt. (4) A person whose neighbor is poor, so charity is given to the poor person and the poor person gifts it to the rich person.
** This hadith is authentic according to the standards of Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) and Imam Muslim (may Allah have mercy on him), but the two Sheikhs (may Allah have mercy on them) did not narrate it because Malik bin Anas transmitted it from Zaid bin Aslam in an interrupted chain.
