Obligation of Sadaqat al-Fitr
❀ «عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما : أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فرض زكاة الفطر صاعا من تمر، أو صاعا من شعير، على كل أو عبد، ذكر أو أنثى من المسلمين.»
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made Sadaqat al-Fitr obligatory upon every Muslim, free or slave, male or female, which is one Sa’ of dates or one Sa’ of barley.
❀ «عن قيس بن سعد رضى الله عنه، قال: أنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بصدقة الفطر قبل أن تنزل الزكاة، فلما نزلت الزكاة لم يأمرنا ولم ينهنا ونحن نفعله .»
Hazrat Qais bin Saad (may Allah be pleased with them) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded us to give Sadaqat al-Fitr before the obligation of Zakat was established, but when Zakat became obligatory, the Prophet (peace be upon him) neither commanded us to give Sadaqat al-Fitr nor forbade it, and we used to give it.
Note: According to the majority of scholars, Sadaqat al-Fitr is obligatory, as is proven by the first hadith mentioned here. As for the second hadith, Allama Bayhaqi states: This hadith does not indicate the abrogation of the obligation of Sadaqat al-Fitr, because the obligation of one thing does not necessarily annul the obligation of another. Scholars agree on the obligation of Sadaqat al-Fitr, although there is some difference in calling it “Fard” (obligatory). Therefore, it is not permissible to abandon it.
The majority consider Sadaqat al-Fitr as “Fard” (obligatory), and the Hanafis consider it “Wajib” (necessary), but this verbal difference does not matter, and it is necessary for everyone to give it. If one is able but does not give it, he will be sinful.
According to the majority of scholars, it is not necessary to possess the Nisab (minimum wealth) for it; rather, it is obligatory on every rich and poor person. However, according to the Hanafis, it is only obligatory on those who possess the Nisab, because it is permissible to take Sadaqat al-Fitr from those who do not possess the Nisab, so how can it be obligatory on them? This seems to be the appropriate opinion.
Sadaqat al-Fitr is obligatory on everyone, young and old, men and women, free and slaves.
The Muslim man responsible for the household must pay Sadaqat al-Fitr on his own behalf, as well as on behalf of his wife, children, and every individual for whom he is responsible, such as elderly parents who are unable to pay their own Sadaqat al-Fitr. It is not the responsibility of the owner to pay on behalf of household servants and employees; it is their own responsibility. However, if an owner pays it out of kindness, it is permissible, and he should inform the employees about it.
If a woman has her own business or salary from a job, she must pay Sadaqat al-Fitr from her own earnings. But if she does not, then after marriage, her husband is responsible, and before marriage, her parents are responsible.
It is recommended, but not obligatory, to pay Sadaqat al-Fitr on behalf of children who are still in the womb. It is reported that Hazrat Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) used to do this.
The Wisdom of Sadaqah al-Fitr
❀ «عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما، قال: فرض رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم زكاة الفطر طهرة للصائم من اللغو والرفث وطعمة للمساكين، من اداها قبل الصلاة فهي زكاة مقبولة، ومن اداها بعد الصلاة فهي صدقة من الصدقات”.»
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made Sadaqah al-Fitr obligatory, which purifies the fasting person from vain and obscene speech and becomes food for the poor. Whoever gives Sadaqah al-Fitr before the Eid prayer, it will be accepted, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it will be like other ordinary charity.
The Amount of Sadaqah al-Fitr
❀ «عن ابي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه، يقول:” كنا نخرج زكاة الفطر صاعا من طعام او صاعا من شعير او صاعا من تمر او صاعا من اقط او صاعا من زبيب”.»
Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) says that we used to give in Sadaqah al-Fitr one Sa’ of wheat, or one Sa’ of barley, or one Sa’ of dates, or one Sa’ of cheese, or one Sa’ of raisins.
❀ «عن ابي سعيد الخدري، قال: ” كنا نخرج إذ كان فينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم زكاة الفطر، عن كل صغير وكبير حر او مملوك صاعا من طعام، او صاعا من اقط، او صاعا من شعير، او صاعا من تمر، او صاعا من زبيب “، فلم نزل نخرجه حتى قدم علينا معاوية بن ابي سفيان حاجا او معتمرا، فكلم الناس على المنبر فكان فيما كلم به الناس، ان قال: إني ارى ان مدين من سمراء الشام تعدل صاعا من تمر، فاخذ الناس بذلك، قال ابوسعيد: فاما انا فلا ازال اخرجه كما كنت اخرجه ابدا ما عشت.»
Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri رضي الله عنه that when the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was among us, we used to give in Sadaqat al-Fitr one Sa’ of wheat or one Sa’ of barley or one Sa’ of dates or one Sa’ of raisins on behalf of every small and big, free or slave person. We continued to give in this manner until Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan رضي الله عنهما came to perform Hajj or Umrah. He spoke to the people from the pulpit and said: “In my opinion, two Mudd of the red wheat of the land of Sham are equivalent to one Sa’ of dates.” So the people accepted that and started to act accordingly. Abu Sa’id رضي الله عنه said: “But as for me, as long as I live, I will always pay in the way I used to pay.”
The words are from Sahih Muslim; it is brief in Sahih Bukhari.
❀ «عن ابي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه، قال:”كنا نخرج فى عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم الفطر صاعا من طعام”، وقال ابوسعيد: وكان طعامنا الشعير والزبيب والاقط والتمر.»
Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (RA) says that during the Prophetic era, on the day of Eid al-Fitr, we would give one Sa’ of food. He also said: “And our food was barley, raisins, cheese, and dates.”
Note: Sa’ is a measuring unit. If wheat is measured with this unit, one Sa’ of wheat weighs approximately 2 kilograms and 176 grams. If any other lighter or heavier item is measured with it, its weight will differ. Therefore, when giving something other than wheat as Zakat al-Fitr, estimate whether that item is lighter or heavier than wheat and adjust the quantity accordingly. Remember that if we spend more in the way of Allah, it is always beneficial for us.
One quarter of a Sa’ is equivalent to two Mudd, so two Mudd means half a Sa’.
Zakat al-Fitr can be given in any food item that is commonly consumed as food in a city and is halal, such as dates, barley, wheat, rice, grains, lentils, etc.
As for giving Zakat al-Fitr in cash: According to the majority, the monetary value cannot be given as Zakat al-Fitr because the Hadith mentions specific items, so it is necessary to adhere to them. However, according to the Hanafi school, the monetary value can be given because one purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is to fulfill the needs of the poor and needy, and this purpose is better achieved by giving cash, as the poor can then purchase their necessities on a priority basis, whereas with only grain they cannot fulfill many important needs. Also, Hazrat Muawiyah (RA) equated half a Sa’ of red wheat in the land of Syria to one Sa’ of dates, indicating that by considering the value, something else of equivalent worth can be given.
Time for giving Zakat al-Fitr
❀ «عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما : أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم أمر بزكاة الفطر قبل خروج الناس إلى الصلاة.»
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) ordered that Zakat al-Fitr should be given before people go to the Eid prayer.
❀ «عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما، قال: فرض النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم صدقة الفطر… وكانوا يعطون قبل الفطر بيوم أو يومين.»
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory, and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to give it one or two days before Eid.
❀ «عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما، قال:” فرض رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم زكاة الفطر طهرة للصائم من اللغو والرفث وطعمة للمساكين، من اداها قبل الصلاة فهي زكاة مقبولة، ومن اداها بعد الصلاة فهي صدقة من الصدقات.»
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made Sadaqat al-Fitr obligatory, which purifies the fasting person from vain and obscene speech and becomes food for the poor. So, whoever gives Sadaqat al-Fitr before the Eid prayer, it will be accepted, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it will be like other ordinary charity.
Note: On the last day of Ramadan, Sadaqat al-Fitr becomes obligatory from sunset, and it is necessary to give it before the Eid prayer. However, it can be given from the beginning of Ramadan because one wisdom of Sadaqat al-Fitr is to help the poor and needy. Therefore, it is better to deliver it to them early enough so that they have a proper opportunity to meet their needs.
