ZAKAAT-UL FITR

 Muslims Till Death:

AS SALAAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAH WABARAKAATUHU. LET'S START TONIGHT'S EDUCATION. OUR TOPIC IS 👇.                                                                              *ZAKAAT-UL FITR                                                                                                                              
*Thursday 19th March 2026. 29 Ramadan 1447 AH*

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Zakat al-Fitr or Fitrah is a charity taken for the poor a few days before the end of fasting in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The Arabic word Fitr means the same as iftar, breaking a fast, and it comes from the same root word as Futoor which means breakfast. Zakat al Fitr is a smaller amount than Zakat al-Mal. Zakatul-Fitr is incumbent on every free Muslim who possesses one Sa

 (2.176 kilograms or 4.797 pounds) of dates or barley over and above his basic needs of food for himself and his family/dependants for the duration of one day and night. Every free Muslim must pay Zakatul-Fitr for himself, his wife, children, and servants. Ibn 

Umar, may Allah be pleased with them 
both, said, _"The Prophet ﷺ, enjoined the payment of one Sa

 of dates or one Sa

of barley as Zakatul-Fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave."_ *(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)*
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It was declared by the Prophet ﷺ as a requisite for one's fast to be accepted. It is meant to cement the relationship between the members of the Muslim societto alleviate the pains of the poor, to cultivate the sense of brotherhood and solidarity in the hearts of the Muslims, etc. Various reasons are given by scholars for this obligatory charity. Some say that this charity helps the poor and needy, and takes care of their needs in the month of Ramadan and also makes it possible for them to celebrate the

Eid festival with other Muslims. Other scholars maintain that this charity is meant to expiate (Kaffarah) for any mistakes or wrongdoings a person may have done during this blessed month.
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Ibn 

Abbas said, _"The Prophet ﷺ enjoined Zakatul-Fitr so that those who fast are purified of their sins and the poor and needy are fed. Therefore, whoever gives it before the

Eid prayer, it will be counted for him as an acceptable Zakah (of al-Fitr), but if someone delays and gives it afterwards, his charity will be an ordinary one."_ 
*(Reported by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah)*. This charity should be given during the month of Ramadan, anytime before the 

Eid-ul-Fitri prayer. Because it can't be given anytime until the time of `Eid-ul-Fitr, it ___ul-Fitr.____*PAGE 4*_______________.                                ✍️...

The Prophet ﷺ urged Muslims to pay this charity in the month of Ramadan. The amount of Zakat-ul-Fitr was fixed by the Prophet ﷺ. It is about 5 pounds of wheat, flour, barley, dates or raisins. Some jurists also allow paying cash to the poor and needy. The head of the household must pay this amount on behalf of all the members of the household or his dependants; males or femal___*PAGE 5*______*PAGE 5*_____________.                      ✍️...

When the Prophet ﷺ asked Muslims to give Zakatul-Fitr from the common foodstuffs, he wanted to make matters easy for them; silver and gold money were rare means of dealings among the Arabs and the majority of people did not own but a few coins. Moreover, the poor were in dire need of the common foodstuffs, such as wheat, dates, raisins, and cheese. Thus, giving Zakatul Fitr from the staple food was easy for the payer and beneficial for the recipient. Also, he ﷺ permitted the owners of camels and sheep to give cheese as Zakatul Fitr in order to facil___or them.____*PAGE 6*_______________.                                ✍️...

Furthermore, the purchasing power of money varies from one time to another and from one country to another. Thus, estimating the amount of Zakatul-Fitr by a fixed amount of money would make it fluctuate and be unstable. That is why the Prophet  fixed it by an amount that does not vary or fluctuate. This amount is the Sa

, which is usually considered as sufficient food for one family for a day. Our scholars agree that fatwas change according to the time, place, and condition of the people involved. The one who impartially examines the current status will realize that giving food as Zakatul-Fitr is only suitable for simple societies in which the poor need grains and the payer finds such grains easily.
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In the large and complex societies that have a high population density and where grains are rare and the poor do not need them, as they no longer grind, knead, and bake their food, the impartial will agree that paying the value of Zakatul-Fitr as money is more suitable. Imam Ibn Taymiyah did well when he permitted the Muslim who had sold the fruits of his land for some dirhams to pay the tenth of these dirhams and not to be asked to buy fruits to just to give them to the poor. Also, he permitted the owner of the camels who was obliged to give a sheep as Zakah to pay the value in money and did not ask him to travel to another city to buy a sheep.
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This is true Fiqh (understanding of Shari

ah). Then how can we ask a Muslim in a city like Cairo, where more than 10 million Muslims live, to give grain that has become rare and is of no need to the poor as Zakatul fitr. There is a big difference between the one who has a stock of food and refrains from giving the poor and the one like a city dweller who has nothing but money and is just to the poor. Zakatul-Fitr was made obligatory in order to help the poor and make them not need to go from one place to another seeking food on the day of

Eid while the rich enjoy their wealth with their children.
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One should ask oneself, _"Would he make a poor person not need to go to the market if he gives him a Sa

of dates or barley in a city like Cairo, for example?"_ Of course not, as the poor will surely go to market to sell them to obtain money to buy suitable food for their families!. Thus, some of the Muslim scholars took into consideration the objectives involved and permitted giving Zakatul-Fitr from the common foodstuffs of the country; this food is not even listed in the Shari

ah". This sadaqa should be given to the poor and needy. Individuals can also make the payments to Islamic charitable organizations that collect this fund.
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These organizations then should distribute these funds as soon as possible so that they reach the needy people on time. It is better to pay Zakatul-Fitr in the place one lives and fasts. However, if someone fasts in a country other than his home town, he should pay Zakatul-Fitr therein, this is the position of the Hanbalis and Shafi

is, because Zakatul-Fitr relates to where one is resident (during the fast). As for sendi___*PAGE 11*__er, it is permissible if there is a strong enough reason:
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The country where he lives is in no need of Zakah; another country is in dire need because of starvation, calamity, or war; or the payer has some relatives in another country who need his help. These reasons permit the Muslim to send their Zakah to the poor Muslims who are resisting aggressors or suffering from starvation and calamities, as in Palestine, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Bangladesh, Burma, etc.

On the legitimacy of paying Zakatul-Fitr in cash, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradwi said,: Imam Abu Hanifah and his companions, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Sufyan Ath-Thawri, Caliph

Umar ibn 

Abd Al-

Aziz, and many other scholars permitted paying the value of Zakah, including Zakatul-Fitr, as money.
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Both supporters and opponents of the opinion depended on many pieces of evidence and points of views. I have detailed this matter in my book Fiqh Az-Zakah, in a chapter on paying the monetary value when giving Zakah. Sheikh Ibn Taymiyah reached an opinion that is considered a compromise between these two parties, _"Paying the value of Zakah in money when there is no need or interest in doing so, is impermissible…As for paying the value of Zakah as money because of a need or interest, it is permissible._ For example, if a Muslim sells the fruits or the crops of his land for some dirhams, he can pay the tenth of these dirhams and he should not be asked to buy fruits or plants.
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Also, if he has five camels he is obliged to give a sheep as Zakah, but if he does not find a sheep to buy, he can pay the value in cash and he is not asked to travel to another city to buy a sheep. In addition, if those who deserve Zakah ask him to pay it as money because of some need, he can do so. It was narrated that Mu

adh Ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said to the people of Yemen, _"You can bring me khamis and labis (local textiles) instead of the actual plants and fruit, for this will make matters easy for you and will be more useful to the poor Muhajirun (immigrants) and Ansar (helpers) in Madinah." It was narrated that he said these words concerning Zakah, and it was said they were concerning Jizyah."_
*(Majmu` ___iyah, 25/___ition)*

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End of Today's Education. Subhanakallahuma wabihamdik ash-Hadu an laaila Ilan Anta astagfiruka wa atuuubu ilayhi. *That's all  on this topic.*. Questions, problems and complaints on this program are welcome privately. May HE strengthen and make us steadfast in faith. May HE accept our ibaadat and grant us the Good in this World and the Hereafter. May Allah Azza wa jalla forgive and grant us Jannah...AMIN.