Zakat ul-Fitr
None of us can escape not saying a few misplaced words during Ramadhan. It is from the
Mercy of Allah 
SWT that He prescribed on us Zakat al-Fitr to get rid of the bad effect of vain
talks and useless speeches in Ramadhan, as well as to feed the needy on the day of `eid and
make him happy on that day as well.
Zakat al-Fitr is mandatory on every Muslim on his behalf and on the behalf of all people he
is in charge of. “The Muslim gives it for himself and for those whom he takes care of-. young
or old, male or female, free or slave – due to the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar, radiyallaahu
‘anhuma: “Allah ’s Messenger ordered Sadaqatul-Fitr on behalf of the young and the old,
and the free and the slave – whom you provide for.” [ad-Daraqutni and al-Baihaqui :
Hasan]“(1)
Also Ibn `Umar said “Allah ’s Messenger, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, obligated Zakat al-Fitr
[for Ramadan upon the people]“.[Bukhari and Muslim]
Another Hadith gives more details :
Ibn ‘Umar said, “The Prophet made incumbent on every male or female, free man or slave,
the payment of one Saa` of dates or barley as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (or said Sadaqa-Ramadan).”
The people then substituted half Sa’ of wheat for that. Ibn ‘Umar used to give dates (as
Sadaqat-ul-Fitr). Once there was scarcity of dates in Medina and Ibn ‘Umar gave barley.
‘And Ibn ‘Umar used to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for every young and old person. He even used
to give on behalf of my children. Ibn ‘Umar used to give Sadaqatul-Fitr to those who had
been officially appointed for its collection. People used to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (even) a day
or two before the ‘Eid. [Bukhari]
Ibn’Abbaas, radiyalloahu’anhu, that he used to say: “He who brings wheat it will be
accepted from him, whoever brings barley it will be accepted from him whoever brings
dates it will be accepted from him, whoever brings rye it will be accepted from him, and
whoever brings raisins it will be accepted from him, and I think he said : whoever brings
(barley) gruel it will be accepted from him. [Ibn Khuzaimah with a Sahih Isnad]
Zakat al-Fitr has to be given in the form of food. That is the practice of the Messenger of
Allah salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam and the practice of the Sahabah. It also has to be given to
the poor before Eid Prayer.
Ibn `Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah , salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, enjoined
Zakat al-Fitr on the one who fasts to shield one’s self from any indecent act or speech and
for the purpose of providing food for the poor. It is accepted as zakah for the person who
pays it before the `Eid Salah, and it is a mere sadaqah for one who pays it after the Salah”
[Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah : Hasan]
It can be given a day or two before Eid as well and [Shaikh Ali Hasan and Shaikh Salim al-
Hilali say :] it is from the Sunnah that there should be a person with whom it is gathered
just as the Prophet entrusted Abu Hurairah, radiya Allahu ‘anhu, who said: “Allah ’s
Messenger entrusted me to look after the zakah of Ramadan.” [Bukhari]
Also, Ibn ‘Umar, radiya Allahu ‘anhu, used to give some of it to those who would collect it -
and they were those whom the imam sent to collect it, and that was a day or two before
`Eidul-Fitr. It is reported by Ibn Khuzaimah by way of ‘Abdul-Waarith from Ayyoob: I said:
“When did Ibn ‘Umar used to give the saa’?” He said: “When the collectors had finished.” I
said: “When did the collectors finish?” He said: “A day or two days before the day of Fitr.”
As for its wisdom, “It has been prescribed by the Wise Legislator as a purification for those
who fasted, from loose and indecent talk, and to feed the poor Muslims so that they have
enough provision for that day – as is shown by the previous hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas, radiya
Allahu ‘anhuma.”
O Allah , we ask you by Your Beautiful Names and Attributes of higher rank, and by all the
sincere deeds we have done, do not deprive us from their company, and do not deprive us
from looking at you in Paradise. Aameen
Suhaib radhiya Allahu `anh relates that the Messenger of Allah (S) said: When the inmates
of the Paradise will have entered the Paradise, Allah , the Master of Honor and Glory, will
ask them: Do you want anything more that I should give you? They will submit: (O Allah )!
Have you not made our faces shining? Have you not admitted us to the Paradise and saved
us from the Hell? (What else is left to be desired?) Thereupon, the veil will be withdrawn,
and the inmates of the Paradise will not have known anything dearer to them than looking
at their Lord. [Muslim].
