EsinIslam
Ramadan
Ramadan Explorer
I
feel compelled to put this together because I've seen the following boo-boos
happen for years. In sha Allah, you can help me spread the word by sharing
this article with your community, friends and family.
What is Zakat ul-Fitr? Think ''Iftar'', Zakat Ul-Fitr is the charity that we
pay at the end of Ramadan. Here is the foundational hadith that establishes
the obligation of Zakat ul-Fitr:
Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam), made Zakat
al-Fitr compulsory on every slave, freeman, male, female, young and old among
the Muslims; one Saa (a measurement: four double handfuls) of dried dates or
one Saa of barely. [Sahih Bukhari - Arabic/English, vol. 2, p. 339, no. 579]
«فرض رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم زكاة الفطر ، صاعا من تمر أو صاعا من شعير ،
على العبد والحر ، والذكر والأنثى ، والصغير والكبير ، من المسلمين ، وأمر بها أن
تؤدى قبل خروج الناس إلى الصلاة »
رواه البخاري
To understand Zakat ul-Fitr, here is a good summary of it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zakat_al-fitr
But unfortunately, our community makes some basic boo-boos in the payment of
Zakat Al-Fitr that must be clarified.
Boo-Boo One: Paying at Eid Salah
Some people go
to Eid prayers and drop money into the donation box thinking that they have
paid their Zakat ul-Fitr. No, Zakat al-Fitr, which is food, must be in the
hands of the needy family BEFORE Eid prayer. If someone goes to Eid prayer and
pays then it is GUARANTEED that the money will NOT arrive on time. And thus
the person paying is sinful for having missed the payment of Zakat al-Fitr.
May Allah forgive us.
Boo-Boo Two: Snail mailing the money overseas
Basic principle as before: the Zakat al-Fitr, food, MUST be in the hands of
the needy BEFORE Eid prayer. One cannot mail the money overseas and have it
arrive in the hands of the needy after Eid prayer is over.
However, if one is able to get the Zakah al-Fitr to the needy overseas BEFORE
Eid prayer is conducted in their locality and it was difficult for him to pay
it in his country (ex. no poor people), then in sha Allah it's alright.
Boo-Boo Three: Not paying
Yes, as simple as
this boo-boo is, it is HARAM to skip the payment of Zakat Al-Fitr. EVERYONE
must pay Zakat Al-Fitr, every member of the household. So if you have 8 people
in your house, Zakat Al-Fitr must be paid x 8, even if the youngest member is
just a few days old.
Boo-Boo Four: Confusing Zakat ul-Fitr with Zakat ul-Maal
We are talking about Zakat al-Fitr here (think ''Iftar'', i.e.
Ramadan). Zakat Al-Maal (Maal literally means wealth), is the Zakah due on
ones' money – and that could be due any time during the year depending on when
it was due.
Boo-Boo Five: Giving money instead of food
Although some scholars have allowed giving money instead of food, the spirit
of Zakat Al-Fitr is to give food to the needy of the community, NOT money.
The Companion of the Prophet, Abu Saeed al-Khudree, radi Allahu 'anhu, said,
"In the Prophet's time, we used to give it (Zakatal-Fitr) as a sa of food,
dried dates, barley, raisins or dried cheese". [Bukhari - Arabic/English vol.
2, p. 340, no. 582]
«كنا نخرج زكاة الفطر ، صاعا من طعام ، أو صاعا من شعير ، أو صاعا من تمر ، أو
صاعا من أقط ، أو صاعا من زبيب»
رواه البخاري
Boo-Boo Six: Giving one's Zakah al-Fitr to a charitable building project
Some people mistakenly give their Zakah Al-Fitr to a charitable
building project: like the building of a Masjid, or Islamic school. There is a
difference of opinion on this issue, but suffice it to say that the spirit of
Zakah Al-Fitr is that the needy should have plentiful food on Eid. All eight
types of recipients of Zakah mentioned in the Quran are HUMANS, not ''building
projects''.
Boo-Boo Seven: Giving Zakat ul-Fitr to non-Muslims
Charity is given to both Non-Muslims and Muslims. However,
Zakah al-Fitr charity is something exclusive to the MUSLIM poor and needy.
Hence, one could not give Zakah Al-Fitr to any needy person on the street.
''Regular'' charity can be given to them, but not Zakah Al-Fitr.
Boo-Boo Eight: Delaying distribution
Sometimes
Masjids might collect Zakah Al-Fitr money and then put it in a bank. It
doesn't reach the needy for months and months. The correct method is to give
Zakah Al-Fitr immediately when it is due.
In sha Allah, if you have Zakah questions, I encourage you to seek counsel
from your local sources of knowledge. People you can speak to directly. And
I've noted some points that have a difference of opinion, so if your local
sources of knowledge tell you other than what I've told you, and you trust
them, then listen to them.
With best wishes to see you succeed in Ramadan at the highest level!
Muhammad Alshareef
http://www.PostRamadan.com
EsinIslam
Ramadan
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