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Zakatul Fitr and sadaqatul-fitr- these are different names for one obligatory type of zakat, which is paid in the month of Ramadan immediately after it ends.
Zakatul Fitr- the tax of breaking the fast, paid from each family member before the start of the holiday of breaking the fast (‘Idul-fitr, Eid al-Fitr), or rather, before the holiday prayer. It is the final condition for the Creator to accept the observed fast. It is paid primarily in favor of the poor and needy Muslims, and is also used in other charitable activities.
This form of zakat became obligatory in the second year of the Hijri.
Ibn ‘Umar reported: “The Messenger of the Almighty made obligatory zakatul-fitr. This alms tax is equal to 1 sa‘ of dates or 1 sa‘ of barley. This is a must for absolutely everyone. For both man and woman; for both a child and an adult Muslim. [Paid on behalf of the children by their parents.] The Prophet ordered us to pay it before the holiday prayer.
« Sa‘”, mentioned in the hadith, is a measure of loose bodies, equal to 3261.5 g, according to the scientists of the Hanafi madhhab, and - 2172 g, according to other Muslim scientists. The discrepancy in this matter arose as a result of the fact that in different areas different volume measuring vessels were used when selling bulk masses.
The essence and meaning of zakatul-fitr are set out in the following hadith narrated by Ibn 'Abbas: “Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made it obligatory to pay zakatul-fitr to purify the fasting person from unnecessary words spoken by him and rudeness, and also so that she served as a source of food for the poor [support, help for them]. If a person fulfills this duty [has time to transfer, pay this alms] before the holiday prayer, then this is a zakat accepted from him [one of the varieties of obligatory alms, which, by the will of the Almighty, will be accepted by Him]. If he fulfills this duty after prayer, then this is alms from among alms.
Who pays
Due to the lack of a clear narrative about this in the hadith texts, Islamic theologians have stipulated two opinions.
First. Whoever has food and everything vital for himself and his family on a holiday, and at the same time he still has the opportunity to pay (or transfer food) zakatul-fitr, he is obliged to do this. This is what most scientists thought.
Second. The person must be from among those who pay the annual obligatory zakat, which is one of the five pillars of religious practice. If a believer is such, then he pays this alms from himself and all those who are under his material care. Hanafi theologians thought so, drawing an analogy between zakatul-fitr and the annual obligatory zakat.
Who gets
Islamic scholars are unanimous that zakatul-fitr is paid in the same eight directions in which the annual zakat is paid. Usually believers give their zakatul-fitr to local mosques. It is important to note that this form of almsgiving cannot be passed on to people who are far from the concepts of faith.
“Indeed, alms (zakat) belong [are paid]:
The poor [who do not have nisab, that is, who are not related to those who are obliged to pay zakat];
The poor [poor and destitute];
Those who collect and distribute zakat;
Those who are close to faith or are still weak in their religiosity;
To ransom and free slaves;
To pay the debts of those who are unable to pay them;
On the path of the Lord (fi sabilil-lyakh);
Travelers [who find themselves in a difficult situation].
This is obligatory for you, the Lord is All-Knowing and infinitely Wise ”().
Payment terms
It is possible to pay zakatul-fitr from the beginning of the month of Ramadan. This was the opinion of a significant part of Islamic theologians, among them scientists of the Shafi'i and Hanafi madhhabs.
It would be more appropriate to pay (or transfer products) a day or two before the holiday of the end of the fast (‘Idul-Fitr).
The most correct would be to pay zakatul-fitr between sunset on the last day of fasting and until morning, before the start of the holiday prayer.
If the believer did not have time to do this before the holiday prayer, then the obligation still remains. It is highly desirable that this obligation be fulfilled on the first day of the holiday. According to all scholars, leaving it to a later time is sinful.
The monetary equivalent of one sa‘ zakatul-fitr
In 2019, the size of the fitr-sadaqah:
150 rub.- for the poor;
350 rub.- for middle-income families;
500 rub.- for high income families.Here it would be useful to quote the words of the modern theologian Yusuf al-Qaradawi: “This form of zakat (zakatul-fitr) has a certain amount established by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) - one sa‘. And it seems to me that the wisdom of this lies in the following.
(1) In those days, money was a rarity [it was mainly commodity exchange that was common. - Sh. A.], especially those who lived in the desert, far from cities. And the most common form of payment was for what was grown, such as dates, barley, etc.
(2) The cost and value of certain monetary units, currencies often changes, and sometimes they go out of use altogether. Therefore, when in the month of Ramadan they announce the amount of zakatul-fitr this year in the monetary units of an Arab state, it is not surprising that this figure may differ from last year.
It is precisely through the measure of loose bodies - sa‘ - (translating it into known units of weight) that you can get the amount of food or money that will be quite enough to feed one family.
Islamic scholars said that the form of payment of zakatul-fitr is not limited to the products mentioned in the hadiths (dates, barley, wheat or raisins), but is determined by those products that are most common in the area. Scholars of the Hanafi madhhab also talked about the possibility of paying zakatul-fitr in monetary terms.
If the person paying this form of obligatory alms is wealthy enough, then it is better to give more than one sa‘.”
In many countries, including Arab countries, where the madhhab of Imam al-Shafi‘i prevails in religious practice, the amount of zakatul-fitr in monetary units is determined at the state or local level, the equivalent of which is announced to people in advance in mosques and through the media. Believers subsequently take zakatul-fitr to the mosque or hand it over to those in need. There is also a practice when the monetary equivalent is transferred to special ministries and departments that implement these funds for the needs and aspirations of the poor and orphans in the form that is most useful and necessary for them.
“The tax of breaking the fast is the final condition for the Almighty to accept the observed fast. It is paid in favor of the poor and indigent Muslims. I live in a small provincial Russian town where there are not so many Muslims. Is it right if I help poor people of a different religion? Narmin.
Intending to pay this obligatory alms, find the poor, the poor, among the Muslims. Since they exist and there are many of them, such implementation of this almsgiving remains a priority.
See: Al-‘Askalyani A. Fath al-bari bi sharh sahih al-bukhari. In 14 vols. T. 3. S. 430–441; al-Zuhayli V. Al-fiqh al-islami wa adillatuh. In 11 vols. T. 3. S. 2035–2050 and others.
See: Mu'jamu lugati al-fuqaha'. S. 233.
The most important thing is that the head of the family pay for his wife and small children. If the wife wants to pay zakatul-fitr on her own from her savings, then this is possible. As for the rest of the relatives, everything here is determined by the situation and agreement. For more details, see: Majduddin A. Al-ihtiyar li ta‘lil al-mukhtar. In 1 vol., 5 hours. Istanbul: Chagre, 1980. Part 1. S. 123; ash-Shirazi I. Al-muhazzab. In 3 volumes. Beirut: al-Kutub al-‘ilmiya, 1995. Vol. 1. S. 302.
Hadith from Ibn ‘Umar; St. X. al-Bukhari, Muslima and others. See: Al-‘Askalyani A. Fath al-bari bi sharh sahih al-bukhari. In 14 t. T. 3. S. 430, hadith No. 1503, and also see hadiths No. 1508, 1510.
See: Al-Qaradawi Yu. Fatawa mu‘asyr. In 3 vols. T. 1. S. 336, 337. See also: Az-Zuhayli V. Al-fiqh al-islami wa adillatuh. In 11 vols. T. 3. S. 2044, 2045.
"Fitr" means breaking the fast, refraining from fasting. Therefore, the holiday after the fast of the month of Ramadan is called Eid-ul-Fitr (Feast of Breaking the Fast), as this is the day of joy after the end of the fast. On this happy day, as a token of gratitude, it is necessary to distribute a certain amount of alms, called fitr-sadaqa (sadaqat-ul-fitr).
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made fitr-sadaqah obligatory as a cleansing of fasting from useless talk and empty conversations, as well as food for the poor. (Abu Dawud)
Therefore, this alms in order to cleanse the fast is necessary (wajib). Its other purpose is to help the poor and needy so that they can enjoy this happy day with their richer brethren.
In the collection of Imam Tirmidhi, there is a story about how the prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent a herald to announce throughout Mecca:
Attention! Fitr-sadaqah is a wajib for every Muslim: man and woman, free and slave, young and old. It is two muddas of wheat or equivalent, or one saa of food crops!
To distribute to the poor the amount of money, barley, dates, etc., determined by Islam, on the Feast of Breaking the Fast is a wajib. Such almsgiving on this significant day is called "sadaqat-ul-fitr". The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ordered the distribution of fitr-sadaqah in the same year (2nd year of the Hijri) when fasting was made obligatory in the month of Ramadan. The reasons for its distribution are as follows:
1. To accept a post.
2. Gratitude to the Almighty for giving us enough strength to fast in Ramadan.
3. Cleansing the fast and getting all the benefits from it.
4. Celebrating the end of the fast.
5. Demonstration of the greatness of the holiday.
6. To help the poor also feel the festive atmosphere.
Sadakat-ul-fitr is an obligatory alms that must be paid before the Feast of Conversation. If this is not done, she will remain in debt, no matter how long after the Feast.
Rules for distributing fitr-sadaqah
Fitr-sadaqah (or fitra) is a wajib for all Muslims: men, women and children, who on the day of the Feast of Conversation have a nisab of zakat.
If the child is born before dawn, the fitrah is paid for him. If the child was born after dawn (on the Feast of Breaking the Fast), Fitrah for him is not a wajib.
A father must pay fitrah for all his immature children.
The husband is not obligated to pay fitrah for his wife. If she has a nisab, she must distribute the fitrah herself.
If an immature child has property equal to the nisab, the fitrah for him may be paid from his property.
Fitrah is best distributed before the Eid prayer. It is not allowed to delay the distribution of fitrah until the following days (after the day of the Eid). But if it was not distributed on the day of the Eid or earlier, then the obligation remains, and the fitrah must be distributed.
It is allowed to distribute fitrah in advance, at any time during the month of Ramadan. Fitrah can be distributed even before Ramadan. Sadakat-ul-fitr is a wajib for all those who fasted, and for those who, for one reason or another, did not fast.
Fitrah can only be given to the poor, i.e. those who can accept zakat.
Fitrah cannot be used for any other charitable purpose other than distribution to the poor. Therefore, if the money from the fitrah is collected and then used for some other charitable purposes, the obligation of the fitrah from those who paid it in this way is not removed.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Fasting lingers between heaven and earth until the fitrah is given.”
These words illustrate the importance of fitrah and its direct relation to accepting our fast. Fasting is submitted for acceptance by the Almighty only when the obligation of Fitrah is fulfilled in the right way. Therefore, Muslims should be very conscientious about the distribution of fitrah. If the fitrah collectors misuse or distribute the fitrah, the fitrah obligation will not be removed from those who paid them the fitrah in this way.
The payment of fitr-sadaqah is the duty of every Muslim, male or female, who is in charge of 613.35 grams of silver or its monetary equivalent, which is in free circulation. Each person who owns such an amount must pay fitr-sadaqa (alms of breaking the fast) not only on his own behalf, but also on behalf of his minor children.
Fitr - sadaka is one of the conditions for accepting fasting in the month of Ramadan. It is paid from all family members (including infants) before the start of the Eid al-Adha holiday prayer. Amount (depending on the wealth of the family): 100 rub. - for the poor; 300 rub. - people of average income; from 500 rub. and above - for the wealthy.
Zakat breaking the fast is a feature of the community of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). This type of zakat became obligatory in the second year of the Hijra, two days before the Feast of Breaking the Fast, in the same year in which Allah Almighty ordered the fasting of the month of Ramadan. A day or two before breaking the fast, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon in which he said: “Pay saa(a measure of loose bodies equal to 2kg 400g) of wheat or saa dates, or barley for each free or slave, both small and adult.
One of the wisdoms hidden in the payment of zakatul-fitr is that thanks to this, Allah Almighty forgives shortcomings in fasting. The hadith says:
شهر رمضان معلق بين السماء والأرض ولا يرفع إلى الله إلا بزكاة الفطر
“The fast of Ramadan will be between earth and heaven, and only after the payment of zakatul-fitr, the fast will be raised to heaven” (“Jamiulahadis” No. 13439), i.e., zakat-ul-fitr contributes to the acceptance of our fast.
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: "فرض رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم زكاة الفطر صاعاً من تمر أو صاعاً من شعير على العبد والحر والذكر والأنثى والصغير والكبير من المسلمين وأمر بها أن تؤدى قبل خروج الناس إلى الصلاة".
“The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered to pay alms for breaking the fast after the fast of Ramadan in the form of saa dates or saa barley for a slave and free, for a man and a woman, for an adult and a child from Muslims” (“Sahih al-Bukhari” No. 1503 “Sahihal -Muslim" No. 984).
The unbeliever is also obliged to pay zakatul-fitr, but not for himself, but for his Muslim relatives who are dependent on him.
The one who does not have the means to subsist for himself and his dependents for more than the night of the holiday and the holiday is considered poor and is not required to pay zakatul-fitr, unlike the one who has a surplus after the holiday night and the holiday. Surplus is any property, selling which you can pay zakatul-fitr, with the exception of the house - it does not undertake to sell it. The presence of debt is not an obstacle to the payment of zakatul-fitr. Whoever is obliged to give zakatul-fitr for himself, is obliged to pay it for those who are dependent on him. However, a Muslim cannot give zakat for his slave, close relative, wife, if they are not Muslims, although they are dependent on him. The son is not required to pay zakatul-fitr for his stepmother.
If the head of the family does not have sufficient funds to pay zakatul-fitr for all family members, then first of all he will give for himself, then for his wife, then for his minor child, then for his father, then for his mother, then for his adult child .
Zakatul-fitr is paid from those crops from which zakat is charged: wheat, rice, corn, dates, grapes, etc. Also, cheese and milk can be given as zakatul-fitr, but only those who have this as their main food product give zakat from them. A Muslim is obliged to give zakatul-fitr from the food that the majority of the inhabitants of his settlement eat. If there are several basic foodstuffs in the settlement, you can give away from any of them.
According to the madhhab of Imam Shafi'i (May Allah be pleased with him) Zakatul Fitr must be paid in grain. The grain must be whole and of good quality.
A father is allowed to give zakatul-fitr for his imperfect child, even without his consent.
When paying zakat, it is necessary to make an appropriate intention, for example: "I intend to pay obligatory zakat-ul-fitr for myself." The guardian also needs to make an intention when paying zakat on the property of a minor child and a mentally ill person. It is not necessary for a wakil, i.e., an authorized person, to make an intention during the distribution of zakat, if the authorizing person, i.e., the owner, made an intention when giving him his zakat.
It is obligatory to make the intention with the heart, and the pronunciation of the intention aloud is desirable.
Who is obligated to pay zakatul-fitr
The payment of zakatul-fitr is obligated on a free Muslim who has food for the day and night of the Feast of Conversation for himself and those who he is obliged to support. Also, the payment of zakatul-fitra is obligatory for the infidel, if those whom he is obliged to support are Muslims.
If the husband is poor and the wife is wealthy, then she is not obliged to pay zakat either for him or for herself, but, nevertheless, it is desirable for her to pay it, and this will be considered her desirable alms. If the husband is far away, and the wife is left without food, then she can borrow something in her husband’s name for her food, but first she should contact the imam so that he notifies her husband about her situation and the need to support her family . If a divorced (threefold divorce) wife is pregnant, the ex-husband is obliged to pay zakat for her.
Zakatul-Fitr is received by the same eight categories of people who receive zakat from property.
The scholars of the madhhab of Imam Shafi’i (may Allah be pleased with him) Ibnu Munzir, Ravyan, Sheikh Abu Ishak Shirazi say that it can be distributed to three poor people and not necessarily to all categories.
Rafii said that you can give it to one person.
The size of the alms of breaking the fast
Zakatul-fitr is paid with the type of grain that is more consumed in the area, in the amount of one sakha per person. It can be wheat, barley, corn, rice, peas, millet, lentils, dates, raisins, etc. If barley is used somewhere, it will be better if you pay with wheat.
Zakatul-fitr for the deceased
From the one who died after sunset on the last day of Ramadan, zakatul-fitr is paid, and if he died before sunset, he is not paid. A child born on the last day of Ramadan is also paid if he remains alive before sunset.
Sax is 2 kg. 400 grams, and for accuracy it is better to pay 2.5 kilograms. According to the madhhab of Imam Shafi (may Allah be pleased with him), it is impossible to pay in cash. When there is difficulty in paying in grain, following Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah be pleased with him), a Shafi'i is allowed to pay in money, in the amount of the cost of 1sah, but it should be borne in mind that according to the madhhab of Abu Hanifa (may Allah be pleased with him), it is enough to give half of the sakha if paid in wheat or raisins i.e. approximately 1700-2000 grams.
Timing of Zakatul-Fitr
Muslim jurists agreed that the time of payment of zakatul-fitr is the end of the month of Ramadan, and differ only in whether it should be sunset on the evening of breaking the fast or sunrise on the day of the holiday. But, undoubtedly, the best time is before going to prayer.
Ibn Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
عن ابن عمر أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أمر بإخراج زكاة الفطر قبل خروج الناس إلى الصلاة
“The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us to pay the zakat of breaking the fast before people go out to pray” (“Sahih al-Bukhari” No. 1407).
Zakatul Fitr is allowed to be paid at the beginning of Ramadan, without waiting for the end of the month. But you can not pay it before the onset of Ramadan.
Postponing the payment of zakat after the Eid prayer is undesirable (makruh).
It is a sin (haram) to postpone the payment of zakatul-fitr until sunset on the day of breaking the fast without a reason. A Muslim has the right to delay the payment of zakatul-fitr if his property is far away, or if the people who are due to receive zakat are far away.
Zakat must be distributed to those people who are in the settlement of the payer. If there are no people of those categories who can receive zakat, only then it is transferred to another place.
If at the beginning of the month of Ramadan the zakat was not paid, then it must be paid and distributed in the locality in which it is located at the time of sunset on the last day of the month.
Zakat breaking the fast is a feature of the community of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). This type of zakat became obligatory in the second year of the Hijra, two days before the Feast of Breaking the Fast, in the same year in which Allah Almighty ordered the fasting of the month of Ramadan. A day or two before breaking the fast, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon in which he said: “Pay saa(a measure of loose bodies equal to 2kg 400g) of wheat or saa dates, or barley for each free or slave, both small and adult.
One of the wisdoms hidden in the payment of zakatul-fitr is that thanks to this, Allah Almighty forgives shortcomings in fasting. The hadith says:
شهر رمضان معلق بين السماء والأرض ولا يرفع إلى الله إلا بزكاة الفطر
“The fast of Ramadan will be between earth and heaven, and only after the payment of zakatul-fitr, the fast will be raised to heaven” (“Jamiulahadis” No. 13439), i.e., zakat-ul-fitr contributes to the acceptance of our fast.
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: "فرض رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم زكاة الفطر صاعاً من تمر أو صاعاً من شعير على العبد والحر والذكر والأنثى والصغير والكبير من المسلمين وأمر بها أن تؤدى قبل خروج الناس إلى الصلاة".
“The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered to pay alms for breaking the fast after the fast of Ramadan in the form of saa dates or saa barley for a slave and free, for a man and a woman, for an adult and a child from Muslims” (“Sahih al-Bukhari” No. 1503 “Sahihal -Muslim" No. 984).
The unbeliever is also obliged to pay zakatul-fitr, but not for himself, but for his Muslim relatives who are dependent on him.
The one who does not have the means to subsist for himself and his dependents for more than the night of the holiday and the holiday is considered poor and is not required to pay zakatul-fitr, unlike the one who has a surplus after the holiday night and the holiday. Surplus is considered any property, selling which you can pay zakatul-fitr, with the exception of the house - it is not obliged to sell it. The presence of debt is not an obstacle to the payment of zakatul-fitr. Whoever is obliged to give zakatul-fitr for himself, is obliged to pay it for those who are dependent on him. However, a Muslim cannot give zakat for his slave, close relative, wife, if they are not Muslims, although they are dependent on him. The son is not required to pay zakatul-fitr for his stepmother.
If the head of the family does not have sufficient funds to pay zakatul-fitr for all family members, then first of all he will give for himself, then for his wife, then for his minor child, then for his father, then for his mother, then for his adult child .
Zakatul-fitr is paid from those crops from which zakat is charged: wheat, rice, corn, dates, grapes, etc. Also, cheese and milk can be given as zakatul-fitr, but only those who have this as their main food product give zakat from them. A Muslim is obliged to give zakatul-fitr from the food that the majority of the inhabitants of his settlement eat. If there are several basic foodstuffs in the settlement, you can donate from any of them.
According to the madhhab of Imam Shafi'i (May Allah be pleased with him) Zakatul Fitr must be paid in grain. The grain must be whole and of good quality.
A father is allowed to give zakatul-fitr for his imperfect child, even without his consent.
When paying zakat, it is necessary to make an appropriate intention, for example: "I intend to pay obligatory zakat-ul-fitr for myself." The guardian also needs to make an intention when paying zakat on the property of a minor child and a mentally ill person. It is not necessary for a wakil, i.e., an authorized person, to make an intention during the distribution of zakat, if the authorizing person, i.e., the owner, made an intention when giving him his zakat.
It is obligatory to make the intention with the heart, and the pronunciation of the intention aloud is desirable.
Who is obligated to pay zakatul-fitr
The payment of zakatul-fitr is obligated on a free Muslim who has food for the day and night of the Feast of Conversation for himself and those who he is obliged to support. Also, the payment of zakatul-fitra is obligatory for the infidel, if those whom he is obliged to support are Muslims.
If the husband is poor and the wife is wealthy, then she is not obliged to pay zakat either for him or for herself, but, nevertheless, it is desirable for her to pay it, and this will be considered her desirable alms. If the husband is far away, and the wife is left without food, then she can borrow something in her husband’s name for her food, but first she should contact the imam so that he notifies her husband about her situation and the need to support her family . If a divorced (threefold divorce) wife is pregnant, the ex-husband is obliged to pay zakat for her.
Zakatul-Fitr is received by the same eight categories of people who receive zakat from property.
The scholars of the madhhab of Imam Shafi’i (may Allah be pleased with him) Ibnu Munzir, Ravyan, Sheikh Abu Ishak Shirazi say that it can be distributed to three poor people and not necessarily to all categories.
Rafii said that you can give it to one person.
The size of the alms of breaking the fast
Zakatul-fitr is paid with the type of grain that is more consumed in the area, in the amount of one sakha per person. It can be wheat, barley, corn, rice, peas, millet, lentils, dates, raisins, etc. If barley is used somewhere, it will be better if you pay with wheat.
Zakatul-fitr for the deceased
From the one who died after sunset on the last day of Ramadan, zakatul-fitr is paid, and if he died before sunset, he is not paid. A child born on the last day of Ramadan is also paid if he remains alive before sunset.
Sax is 2 kg. 400 grams, and for accuracy it is better to pay 2.5 kilograms. According to the madhhab of Imam Shafi (may Allah be pleased with him), it is impossible to pay in cash. When there is difficulty in paying in grain, following Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah be pleased with him), a Shafi'i is allowed to pay in money, in the amount of the cost of 1sah, but it should be borne in mind that according to the madhhab of Abu Hanifa (may Allah be pleased with him), it is enough to give half of the sakha if paid in wheat or raisins i.e. approximately 1700-2000 grams.
Timing of Zakatul-Fitr
Muslim jurists agreed that the time of payment of zakatul-fitr is the end of the month of Ramadan, and differ only in whether it should be sunset on the evening of breaking the fast or sunrise on the day of the holiday. But, undoubtedly, the best time is before going to prayer.
Ibn Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
عن ابن عمر أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أمر بإخراج زكاة الفطر قبل خروج الناس إلى الصلاة
“The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us to pay the zakat of breaking the fast before people go out to pray” (“Sahih al-Bukhari” No. 1407).
Zakatul Fitr is allowed to be paid at the beginning of Ramadan, without waiting for the end of the month. But you can not pay it before the onset of Ramadan.
Postponing the payment of zakat after the Eid prayer is undesirable (makruh).
It is a sin (haram) to postpone the payment of zakatul-fitr until sunset on the day of breaking the fast without a reason. A Muslim has the right to delay the payment of zakatul-fitr if his property is far away, or if the people who are due to receive zakat are far away.
Zakat must be distributed to those people who are in the settlement of the payer. If there are no people of those categories who can receive zakat, only then it is transferred to another place.
If at the beginning of the month of Ramadan the zakat was not paid, then it must be paid and distributed in the locality in which it is located at the time of sunset on the last day of the month.
The holy month of Ramadan is coming to an end, and the most urgent thing for Muslims is the payment of zakat ul-fitr. It must be paid by a Muslim (Muslim woman) who has food for one day on the eve of Eid ul-Fitra and is healthy by the time the sun sets. If a child is born before this moment, then Zakat ul-Fitr should also be paid for him. Every adult Muslim is obliged to pay zakat ul-fitr not only for himself, but also for those who are legally dependent on him (for his wife, children, etc.)
money or food
One of the most pressing questions that arise in the last days of the month of Ramadan is whether it is possible to pay zakat ul-fitr in cash?
It is considered obligatory to pay zakat ul-fitr in the way that is established by Shariah and which the Messenger of Allah ordered to pay, and in the way that the companions did after him, that is, with food. There is no information from any of the companions that he paid zakat ul-fitr in money. “The Messenger of Allah obligated us to pay zakat ul-fitr in the amount of sakha dates or barley for a free man and a slave, for a man and a woman, for a small and eldest of Muslims, and ordered that this be done before people go out for holiday prayer" ( Bukhari, Muslim). And this is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, which is that zakat ul-fitr is issued from the food of the people of this country, which is used by most of them.
Money existed and circulated among Muslims at the time when the Prophet ordered the payment of zakat ul-fitr, and at that time there were many poor people. However, the Messenger of Allah did not mention this method of paying zakat ul-fitr and did not order it to be paid in money. This proves to us that the Messenger of Allah had the opportunity and reason to do this, but he did not do it.
Sax is paid by the most frequently used products. In Dagestan (as well as throughout Russia), the most commonly consumed product is wheat bread, so sakh should be removed with wheat. In this case, the wheat must be of good quality and clean. Wheat sugar is 2 kg 400 g, but taking into account possible impurities, it is better to give 2 kg 500 g each, some scientists believe that sugar is 2 kg 700 g, so it would be more expedient if we take this amount as a basis.
According to the Hanafi madhhab, if the payment of Sakha with wheat is difficult, then it can be paid in money. It should be noted that according to the Hanafi madhhab, sakh is 3 kg 400 g (or 3 kg 700 g), so the cost of this amount of wheat should be paid in money. At the same time, Shafiites who pay zakat ul-fitr for some reason with money, making an intention, need to be told that sakh is paid in money, following Imam Abu Hanifa.
Before paying zakat ul-fitr, the following intention should be made: “I intend to remove for myself (for my wife, minor children: son, daughter - the name of the person for whom you are filming is pronounced) obligatory (fard) sah - zakat ul-fitr in the name of the Almighty of Allah."
Today there is no problem finding grain to pay zakat ul-fitr. Many mosques in towns and villages have grain sales points. In this regard, some people have a question: what will the needy person who received the grain do?
The fact is that the majority of Muslims, as a rule, donate the purchased grain to the mosque, from where it is forwarded to the flour mill and is already distributed with flour among the needy, whose lists and data are at the disposal of the mosque workers. The procedure is simple and time-tested.
To whom is zakat due?
If another Muslim removes the sakh for an adult Muslim, then you should take permission from him and make him a wakil.
Zakat ul-Fitr should be given to strictly defined categories of people:
1) the poor (i.e., those with an income of 20-30% of what is needed);
2) the poor (i.e., those with an income of 70-80% of the required);
3) employees involved in the collection, storage, accounting, distribution of zakat (they are given this not as zakat, but as payment for their work);
4) converts (i.e. those who converted to Islam and need support);
5) those who have debts taken for purposes permitted by Shariah (treatment, food, construction of necessary housing, purchase of necessary clothes, etc.);
6) those who are on the true path and wage a holy war (ghazavat) against the infidels;
7) travelers who are on a journey permitted by Sharia, left without the necessary funds.
It must be emphasized that zakat is due only to the above categories of Muslims, and its issuance to others (for example, orphans or disabled people who do not fall into the listed categories, mosques, etc.) is unacceptable, because in this case the zakat is considered invalid.
First of all, zakat should be given to neighbors and relatives who are zakat (with the exception of those relatives who, according to Sharia, are obliged to support the payer, and a Muslim is obliged to support his wife, minor children, weak parents, etc.). If among them there are no people to whom zakat is due, then it is necessary to give it to those to whom it is due, from among the inhabitants of this settlement. If there are no such people in the village (city), then to the nearest cities, villages.
The one who is entitled to sakh and who received it has the right to dispose of it as he wants: eat, sell, give, etc.
Sah should be given to at least three Muslims from each of the above categories. Therefore, it is better to mix several sakhs, and then divide them among the recipients.
Sah purifies a Muslim...
... from small sins, from the errors of fasting. The fast that a Muslim observed during the month of Ramadan does not ascend to heaven, but gets stuck between heaven and earth until Zakat ul-Fitr is paid.
But zakat-sah should be paid regardless of whether a Muslim fasted in the month of Ramadan or not. If the sakh was not paid earlier, then it should be reimbursed as soon as possible, for this is the duty of every Muslim.