Did the Obligation of Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr End After Zakāt Was Prescribed?

Source: Fatāwā Āmanpūrī – Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Āmanpūrī

❖ Question​

When the command of Zakāt was revealed, did the obligation of Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr come to an end?

✿ Answer​

No, the obligation of Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr did not end after Zakāt was prescribed.

Evidence from Ḥadīth​

Narrated by Qays ibn Saʿd ibn ʿUbādah رضي الله عنه:


أمرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بصدقة الفطر قبل أن تنزل الزكاة، فلما نزلت الزكاة لم يأمرنا ولم ينهنا، وكنا نفعله
(Musnad Aḥmad 6/6; Sunan al-Nasāʾī: 2509; Sunan Ibn Mājah: 1828; al-Sunan al-Kubrā lil-Bayhaqī 4/159 – with a ṣaḥīḥ chain)


Translation:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to give Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr before the revelation of Zakāt. When Zakāt was prescribed, he neither commanded us nor forbade us, but we continued to give it.”


Imām Ibn Khuzaymah (2394) and Imām al-Ḥākim (1/410) graded it ṣaḥīḥ, and al-Dhahabī agreed.

Scholars’ Explanation​

Ḥāfiẓ al-Khaṭṭābī (d. 388H) writes under this ḥadīth:

• This narration does not indicate abrogation of Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr.
• In acts of worship, an additional command does not imply the cancellation of the original ruling.
• Moreover, Zakāt is obligatory on wealth, whereas Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr is obligatory on persons (souls).

Conclusion​

• The obligation of Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr remains in force even after the legislation of Zakāt.
• Zakāt and Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr are two distinct obligations:
  
  • Zakāt is tied to wealth,
  • Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr is tied to the individual Muslim.

ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب