ZAKAT AL FITR

What is Zakat al Fitr?:
The Zakat al Fitr is a sunnah waayibah, an obligatory practice of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Abdullah ibn Umar related, may Allah be pleased with him: “The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, made obligatory the Zakat al Fitr, which consists of a sa´a of dates or a sa´a of barley, which must be given by all muslims, male or female, free or slave, young or old.”

Who must pay the Zakat?:
All muslims, child or adult, on the condition that they have sufficient provision for the day of the Eid, for themselves and for their family, in accordance with what is normal in the country in which they live. Each person pays for themselves and for each person under their charge, meaning those whom he is under obligation to take care of (nafaqa) in accordance with the book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger

The traveler who is far from his family can ask others to represent him and pay his due.

When is it paid?:
The preferred time to pay the Zakat is early on the morning of the Eid, after the dawn (fajr) and before the Eid Prayer.

The obligatory time is from the sunset of the day prior to the morning of the Eid (maghrib).

The permissible time is one or two days before the day of the Eid.

It is not permitted to delay the payment until after the Eid Prayer, without just reason

If one has measured and provided the corresponding quantity of zakat before the day of the Eid Prayer in order to give it to the poor, this is considered to be in compliance with the accepted time even when given after the prayer.

What does one pay it with?:
Usual food of the country, constituting a basic food stuff, not a condiment or secondary food stuff, and which can be easily stored. The Fuqaha list: wheat, raisins, barley, dates, cheese (dry), oats, corn, rice and salt (husked barley).

The quantity:
Each person must pay one sa´a (one sa´a is 4 mudds, which is to say, 4 measurements of two hands cupped together, the hands should be medium sized and adult). In Kilos: One and a half kilos per person.

Who receives it:
The Zakat al Fitr is firstly for the most poor in the muslim community. If one does not find sufficient poor to distribute all the zakat, then it is shared amongst the other 8 categories of those deserving Zakat (the fuqara, the masaakin, those who work to collect and distribute the Zakat, liberating slaves, the travelers, conciliating peoples hearts, in the way of Allah, helping those under the burden of debt)

Where should the Zakat be given:
The Zakat al Fitr can be given in at the mosque or in the musallah of the Eid, it should be within the prescribed time, so it can be distributed by the Amir of the muslims, it can also be given directly to the muslim recipient.

The significance of Zakat al Fitr:
The Zakat al Fitr is a purification for those who have fasted, to make up for any incorrect actions of words, frivolous or indecent that may have been committed, consciously or unconsciously. It is also an act of solidarity and generosity to bring joy to poor muslims on the day of the Eid.