61 - Zakat al-Fiṭr

1. The Prophet (peace be upon him) made Zakat al-Fiṭr, which is due at the end of Ramadan, a duty on all Muslims. Needless to say, a duty stated by the Prophet is the same as if it is stated by God, as He says: ‘Whoever obeys God’s Messenger obeys God’. (4: 80) It is a personal duty on all Muslims, according to the consensus of the majority of scholars. [1] The Prophet made it a reparative measure for any omission, forgetfulness or error that might have occurred during the fasting month of Ramadan. Its other purpose is the provision of plentiful food for the poor and needy, so that they do not have to beg on the Day of Eid. They will thus be able to participate fully in the happy occasion of Eid. Ibn ‘Abbās said: ‘God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) established the duty of Zakat al-Fiṭr as purification from idle talk and unbecoming behaviour on the part of the fasting person and as food for the needy’. [2]

2. The amount of Zakat al-Fiṭr is one ṣā‘ of dates, barley, rice, or some other type of staple food, as Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudrī explains: ‘We used to pay Zakat al-Fiṭr one ṣā‘ of food, or barley, or dates, or dried milk, or raisins.’ [3] The ṣā‘ was a volume measure equal to the fill of the two cupped hands of an average man four times. It is estimated in weight at around 2.17 kilograms. 

This and other hadiths indicate that the duty of Zakat al-Fiṭr requires paying it in kind not value. This was the practice of the Prophet and his companions. However, it is acceptable to give it in money which is used to buy food.

3. It is a binding duty on all Muslims: male and female, young and old. During the time of slavery, it was a duty on slaves as well, but the master paid it.

It is binding on everyone who owns what is in excess of his own and his family’s food for the day and night of Eid. Thus, a man must pay it for himself, his wife, family, children and slaves.

It becomes a duty at sunset on the last day of the month of Ramadan. Thus, if a child is born before sunset on that day, his father must include that child in his Zakat al-Fiṭr. The same applies to one who goes through his marriage contract before sunset. He pays it for his wife. If either event takes place after sunset, then no Zakat al-Fiṭr is required for either child or wife. This is the same as the case of one who dies after his annual zakat becomes due. It must be taken out of his estate and paid to its beneficiaries. 

The hadith makes clear that Zakat al-Fiṭr is not applicable to a non-Muslim, because its purpose is spiritual purification for Muslims. 

4. The Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded that Zakat al-Fiṭr should be taken out before people left home to join the Eid Prayer. He then added the concession that it could be paid out one or two days before the end of Ramadan. [4] If it is delayed beyond that time, it becomes unacceptable, and the person who delays it is accountable for his misdeed. This is based on Ibn ‘Abbās’s hadith: ‘God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) established the duty of Zakat al-Fiṭr as purification from idle talk and unbecoming behaviour on the part of the fasting person and as food for the needy. Whoever pays it before the [Eid] Prayer, it is counted as acceptable zakat. If it is paid after the Eid Prayer, it is a mere act of charity’. [5]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) limited the beneficiaries of Zakat al-Fiṭr to the poor and needy. It may not be paid to any of the other beneficiaries of zakat.

Implementation

1. God has established Zakat al-Fiṭr to compensate for any short fall that occurs during the fasting month of Ramadan, such as idle talk or minor sins. Thus, paying it makes the fasting perfect and a Muslim earns his reward in full. Therefore, whoever wants to have the full reward of his fasting the month of Ramadan must pay his Zakat al-Fiṭr. 

2. The Prophet (peace be upon him) made Zakat al-Fiṭr the means to make the poor self-sufficient on the Day of Eid, so that the festive occasion of the Eid is shared by all Muslims. Therefore, every Muslim should be keen to pay it, to earn his reward and to ensure that those around him are also happy. 

3. The Prophet (peace be upon him) made Zakat al-Fiṭr an act expressing gratitude to God, the Exalted, for enabling us to fast and attend to our worship during Ramadan. Therefore, every Muslim should hasten to thank God for His blessings and favours, as also for enabling him to attend to acts of worship many people fail to do. 

4. Zakat al-Fiṭr is a small amount that does not burden a Muslim. No one should ignore or begrudge it. 

5. Although the various types of zakat and ṣadaqah are small in amount, but they are offered directly to God. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Whenever a person gives a ṣadaqah [i.e. charity] from good earnings – and God accepts nothing except what is good – God, the Lord of Grace will take it in His right hand. Even if it is as little as one date, it will grow in the Lord of Grace’s palm until it becomes larger than a mountain, just like any of you rears his weaned cow or weaned camel’. [6]

6. Zakat al-Fiṭr is a duty binding on every Muslim who is alive during Ramadan until sunset on the last day of the month. Every Muslim must pay it for himself and his dependants.

7. It is not right for a Muslim to delay paying Zakat al-Fiṭr until people have left home to attend the Eid Prayer. It is far better to pay it early, before he is distracted by other duties and liable to miss its time. It is invalid when its time is gone.

1. Al-Nawawī, al-Majmū‘ Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab, Vol. 6, p. 104.

2. Related by Abu Dāwūd, 1609; Ibn Mājah, 1827.

3. Related by al-Bukhari, 1506; Muslim, 985. 

4. Ibn‘Umar said: ‘They used to pay Zakat al-Fiṭr one or two days before Eid’. Related by al-Bukhari, 1511.

5. Related by Abu Dāwūd, 1609; Ibn Mājah, 1827.

6. Related by al-Bukhari, 1410; Muslim, 1014.