19 Questions and Answers About Zakātul Fiṭr

➢ 1. What is Zakātul Fiṭr? • Zakāh is mandatory charity. • Fiṭr is to break/end the fast; here it refers to the end of Ramaḍhān. When the two words are combined, the second (Fiṭr) becomes the cause/time of the first (Zakāh); i.e. Zakātul Fiṭr is the Zakāh that is payed after completing the fasting of Ramaḍhān. 🔺Note: Zakātul Fiṭr and Ṣadaqatul Fiṭr refer to the same thing. ➢ 2. What's the reason for giving Zakātul Fiṭr? This act of worship was legislated for the benefit of two parties: (1) the one giving, and (2) the one receiving. As for the one giving, Zakātul Fiṭr is a purification from idle talk and obscene speech, and for the one receiving, it is a source of provision. The Prophet ﷺ said: “...To purify the fasting person from idle and obscene speech and as food for the poor.” [Abū Dāwūd & others - graded 'Ḥasan' by Sheikh Muḥammad Ādam Al-Ithyobi in Dhakhīrat Al-’Uqbā]. 💡Benefit: If a person did not fast Ramaḍhān, like the young and those exempted from fasting, are they still required to give Zakātul Fiṭr? Sheikh ’Uthaymīn raḥimahullāh said, fasting was mentioned in the ḥadīth as that is the general state of Muslims in Ramaḍhān, not that it is a condition for giving Zakātul Fiṭr. In fact, even if this reason (fasting) is not present, the other reason (feeding the poor) still applies. So everyone is required to give Zakātul Fiṭr, even those who did not fast Ramaḍhān. [his explanation of Bulūgh Al-Marām] ➢ 3. What is the ruling of Zakātul Fiṭr? Zakātul Fiṭr is obligatory upon every Muslim; old and young, male and female, freeman and slave, due to the ḥadīth of Ibn ‘Umar raḍhiyallāhu ‘anhu, who said: “The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ obligated Zakātul Fiṭr on the Muslims as one Ṣā‘ of date, or one Ṣā‘ of barely, upon every slave and freeman, male and female, old and young from the Muslims, and he ordered for it to be given before everyone goes out to pray (the ‘Eid prayer).” [Bukhāri & Muslim] ➢ 4. When did it become obligatory? Zakātul Fiṭr was obligated in the second year after Hijrah, in the month of Ramaḍhān, two days before ’Eid. ➢ 5. How rich must a person be before Zakātul Fiṭr becomes obligatory upon them? According to most of the scholars, Zakātul Fiṭr is obligatory upon the one who has food in excess of his, and his dependent's needs on the night and day of ‘Eid. ➢ 6. Who must give Zakātul Fiṭr? The head of the house must give Zakātul Fiṭr on behalf of everyone in his household. This includes three categories: (1) slaves (2) wives (3) children • Slaves are not required to give Zakātul Fiṭr according to most of the scholars, as this is the duty of the slavemaster. Moreover, it is not obligatory to give Zakātul Fiṭr on behalf of a non-believing slave because the Prophet ﷺ said: “...from the Muslims.” [Agreed upon] • Most scholars have said that it is the husband's duty to give Zakātul Fiṭr on behalf of his wife, because he is the one who provides for her. He also has to give it on behalf of his divorced wife - as long as the divorce is revokable (Raj‘ē) and she is within the waiting period (’Iddah). But if she has already completed the waiting period, or the divorce is unrevokable, then it is not obligatory upon him to give it on her behalf. Rather it is her guardian's duty to do it on her behalf, or she can do it herself. 🔺Note: Zakātul Fiṭr is payed on behalf of Muslims, so in the case where a man is married to a Jewish or Christian wife, there's no Zakātul Fiṭr payable. • The father must pay Zakātul Fiṭr on behalf of any dependent children, including any new born babies; as they too are included in the ḥadīth: “...for every young and old.” In the case of pregnancies, if the fetus is 120-days-old or over, the correct opinion is that it is not obligatory, because it's not yet born, and so none of the worldly rulings apply to it other than the laws of inheritance and endowment - provided it comes out alive. However, some of the Salaf recommended to give Zakātul Fiṭr on their behalf.