Zakat al-Fitr is a type of Zakat (obligatory charity) ordained on every living Muslim. Zakat, being the fourth pillar in Islam, is almost always mentioned in Quran in correlation with Salah to emphasize its importance in the eyes of The Law Maker/Allah.
In this article, Insha’ Allah, we will answer all questions pertaining Zakat al-Fitr in brief with evidences as possible.
Here we will learn the following:
- What Is Zakat al-Fitr?
- How much is Zakat al-Fitr in 2024?
- What is the purpose of Zakat al-Fitr?
- Is Zakat al-Fitr obligatory?
- When was Zakat al-Fitr ordained?
- Who pays Zakat al-Fitr?
- Zakat al-Fitr in Hadith
- How to calculate Zakat al fitr?
- Do you pay Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of a fetus?
- Do you pay Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of a dead person?
- Who receives Zakat al-Fitr?
- What is the Difference Between Zakat al-Mal And Zakat al-Fitr?
- To conclude
What Is Zakat al-Fitr?
Zakat al-Fitr is a type of Zakat ordained on every living Muslim (slave or free, male or female, young or old even a newborn) that witnesses the month of Ramadan or even a moment of it before the sunset of its last day.
Read also:
How much is Zakat al-Fitr in 2024?
In modern weights, Zakat al-Fitr in 2024 is equivalent to approximately TWO to THREE kilograms of rice or/and your country’s staple food (ta’am).
In modern times some scholars have the view that you either give Zakat al-Fitr in food or give equivalent amount of money so needy people would buy whatever they need.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin RAA estimated Zakat al-Fitr for each person in grams as being 2100 grams.
What is the purpose of Zakat al-Fitr?
There are numerous purposes for Zakat al-Fitr, here are the most important ones:
- Zakat is an Islamic obligation so it is an obedience to do in submission seeking the pleasure and rewards of Allah.
- It is an integral part of the perfect social welfare Islamic system. This Zakat is to help the poor and needy, and guarantees at least the bare-minimum for every Muslim in his community during Eid as a sort of collaboration between all Muslims in their communities.
- Zakat al-Fitr, as all types of worship acts in Islam precipitates Taqwah (Fear and Love of Allah) in the heart of a Muslim as a fruit of submission to Allah.
- It is done to show thankfulness to Allah for enabling that Muslim to observe Sawm.
- Another purpose is to purify a Muslim’s fast from any indecent acts or speech, imperfections and short comings. Ibn Abbas related: that Allah’s messenger prescribed the zakat relating to the breaking of the fast as a purification of the fasting from empty and obscene talk and as food for the poor. (Abu Dawud)
Is Zakat al-Fitr obligatory?
Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory to every living Muslim (slave or free, male or female, young or old even a newborn) that witnesses the month of Ramadan or even a moment of it before the sunset of its last day.
Want to know more about “what is after Ramadan events” that Allah Almighty grants to Muslims? Read these articles:
How to celebrate Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha
When was Zakat al-Fitr ordained?
Zakat al-Fitr was ordained during the month of Sha’ban in the second year of Hijrah along with Ramadan Sawm obligation.
Before that Muslims were commanded to Fast ‘Ashora’ day and paid Zakat al-Fitr after it.
Who pays Zakat al-Fitr?
All Muslims must pay Zakat al-Fitr except if they are poor and don’t have the money to give. Male and female, old and young, child or new-born fetus must pay Zakat al-Fitr to the poor. Parents should pay to whoever under their wilayah. And the PBUH commanded that Zakat al-Fitr be given before the people went out to the (‘Eid) prayer.
Zakat al-Fitr in Hadith:
Ibn ‘Umar said:
“The Messenger of Allah PBUH prescribed as zakat payable by slave and freeman, male and female, among the Muslims on closing the fast of Ramadan one sa’ of dried dates or one sa’ of barley.”
Sahih (Al-Albani)
How to calculate Zakat al fitr?
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri RAA said:
At the time of the Prophet PBUH we used to give one sa’ of food, or one sa’ of dates, or one sa’ of barley, or one sa’ of raisins.
A sa’ of the Prophet PBUH is four complete scoops as scooped up with two hands, this is the measure of Zakat al fitr. In modern weights, this is equivalent to approximately TWO to HREE kilograms of your country’s staple food (ta’am).
Some of the scholars have interpreted “food” (ta’am) in Hadith as referring to wheat; others interpreted it as meaning the staple food of the country, whatever it is, whether it is wheat, corn, pearl millet or whatever.
Do you pay Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of a fetus?
Zakat al-Fitris not obligatory to give it on behalf of a fetus according to scholarly consensus, but it is Mustahab (liked), because ‘Uthman RAA did that.
Read also:
Ramadan Habits
How to lose weight during Ramadan
Do you pay Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of a dead person?
Ramadan starts from the Maghrib (sunset) of the night stating Ramadan till sunset on the night before Eid. If a Muslim dies after witnessing the sunset on the night before Eid (due time of Zakat al-Fitr) then Zakat al-Fitr should be paid on his/her behalf, otherwise it is not due.
Who receives Zakat al-Fitr?
Zakat al-Fitr is received by those who are poor and needy. During Eid all should be guaranteed sufficient provisions for at least the days of ‘Eid.
Ibn ‘Abbas RAA said:
The Messenger of Allah PBUH enjoined Zakat al-Fitr as a purification for the fasting person from idle and obscene speech, and to feed the poor. Whoever gives it before the prayer, it is Zakat al-Fitr, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it is ordinary charity.
(Sahih Abi Dawud)
What is the Difference Between Zakat al-Mal And Zakat al-Fitr?
The main differences between Zakat al-Mal and Zakat al-Fitr is that Zakat al-Mal is paid when a Muslim saves a certain amount of money but Zakat al-Fitr is paid at the end of Ramadan by each individual Muslim.
The philosophy behind wealth in Islam is circulation and that it belongs to Allah, The Provider to all His creations. Only He decides how His provision gets handled. That being said, you find Zakat of all kinds extremely just and fair.
There are several key differences between the two types of Zakat:
1. Eligibility:
every living Muslim soul should give Zakat al-Fitr. This is key to the welfare of the Muslim community as each one in this place is guaranteed his provisions for ‘Eid. On the other hand, Zakat al-Mal is only obligatory to those who have wealth of any sort in excess to their needs that surpassed Nisab (the threshold amount of Zakat) and had it for a complete Hijri year.
2. Amount due:
Each and every Muslim no matter how unwealthy will enjoy the sense of giving and helping his fellow Muslims in need by paying Zakat al-Fitr because it is a small amount of food or money. While Zakat al-Mal is only for the wealthy and it is significant in amount.
3. Due dates:
Zakat al-Mal is only obligatory to those who have wealth of any sort in excess to their needs that surpassed Nisab (the threshold amount of Zakat) and had it for a complete Hijri year so it is due on the time a complete Hijri year has passed. Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory on a specific time, before the ‘Eid Salah, to every living Muslim soul for even a moment during Ramadan.
4. Recipients of Zakat:
In Quran Allah SWT mentions eight categories who are eligible to receive zakat al-Mal (Alms).
- In Surah at-Tawbah we read: “Alms-tax is only for the poor and the needy, for those employed to administer it, for those whose hearts are attracted ˹to the faith˺, for ˹freeing˺ slaves, for those in debt, for Allah’s cause, and for ˹needy˺ travelers. ˹This is˺ an obligation from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (9:60)
- While some scholars say Zakat al-Fitr is only given to the poor and needy, the majority of scholars say it can be given to the poor and needy alone, OR in all eight zakat categories mentioned before. It is a choice.
Allah’s goal of circulatory wealth philosophy is accomplished and put in action by establishing all sorts of Zakat.
For more about Ramadan and fasting meaning, read:
Hadiths and Quran verses about Ramadan
To conclude:
Every living Muslim (slave or free, male or female, young or old even a newborn) is obligated to pay Zakat al-Fitr at the conclusion of the month of Ramadan as a token of thankfulness and gratefulness to God for having enabled him to observe Sawm. Its purpose is to purify those who offered Sawm from any indecent act or speech and provide help to the poor and needy.
What do you think of the circulatory wealth philosophy in Islam?
