a) Meaning:
Zakat-ul-Fitr is charity which is obligatory on every Muslim, it is called Fitr charity.
Zakat-ul-Fitr is obligatory on every Muslim, slave or free, man or woman, minor or major. One who was fasting or not, one who possesses Nisab (minimum standard) or not.
Ibne Umar (RA) transmits that the Messenger of Allah (saw) has prescribed on saa (2 ½ kg) of dates or maize as Zakat-ul-Fitr for each Muslim, slave or free, man or woman, minor or major. (Sahih Bukhar & Muslim)
b) Purpose:
The object of providing Zakt-ul-Fitr is to cleanse oneself of sins committed in the state of fasting.
c) Due Time:
It has to be given before leaving for the Ramadhan Eid prayers. Otherwise it will count as ordinary charity.
The Time to distribute Zakat-ul-Fitr charity commences after breaking the last fast, but it can also be done a day or two before the Eid.
The head of the family should distribute Zakat-ul-Fitr on behalf of all the
members of his household such as wife, children and servants.
Naafe (RA) transmits: Ibne Umar (RA) distributed Zakat-ul-Fitr charity on behalf of the members, young and old, of his household and even on behalf of my sons. Ibne Umar (RA) distributed it among people who accepted it and it was a day or two before Eid-ul-Fitr. (Sahih Bukhari)
d) Amount:
The quantity of Zakat-ul-Fitr is one ‘saa’ which is equivalent to three kilogram
per head.
e) Recipient:
Those who are entitled to receive Zakat are the same people that deserve to be given Zakat-ul-Fitr (Surah Al-Tubah 9: V. 60)
f) Distribution:
Zakat-ul-Fitr may be distributed preferable in the shape of grains. It should be distributed out of such commodities as are in daily use like wheat, rice, maize, date, raisin or cheese.
Abu Saeed Khudri (RA) relates: We used to distribute as Fitr charity any one of the above items in the measure of one ‘saa’ or 2 ½ kg per head. (Bukhari & Muslim)
It was narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined zakaat al-fitr upon the Muslims at a rate of one saa’ of dates or one saa’ of barley, and he commanded that it should be given before the people went out to pray – i.e., the Eid prayers. In al-Saheehayn it is narrated that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “At the time of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) we used to give it at a rate of one saa’ of food, or one saa’ of dates, or one saa’ of barley, or one saa’ of cheese, or one saa’ of raisins…” A number of scholars interpreted the word ta’aam (food) in this hadeeth as referring to wheat, and others explained it as referring to the staple food of the local people, no matter what it is, whether it is wheat, corn or something else. This is the correct view, because the zakaah is a kind of help given by the rich to the poor, and the Muslim should not offer help with anything other than the staple food of his country. What must be given is a saa’ of all kinds of food, which is four times the amount scooped up with two hands, which is approximately three kilograms. If the Muslim gives a saa’ of rice or some other staple food of his country, that is fine.
It first becomes due on the night of the twenty-eighth of Ramadaan, because the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to give it one or two days before Eid, and the month lasts twenty-nine or thirty days.
The latest it may be given is at the Eid prayer, but it is not permissible to delay it until after the prayer, because of the report narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever gives it before the prayer, it is accepted zakaah, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it is a kind of charity.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood).
It is not permissible to pay the value in money, according to the majority of scholars, and the evidence for this view is more sound. Rather it should be given in the form of food, as was done by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), his companions (may Allaah be pleased with them) and the majority of the ummah.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him). Majallat al-Buhooth al-Islamiyyah, issue no. 17, pp. 79-80.
