Zakat Al-Fitr: Cleansing of fast, support for the needy

Both can be easily achieved if people really act according to the divine injunctions. Ibn Abbas had narrated that, “The Prophet (pbuh)  made Zakah al-Fitr compulsory so that those who fasted may be purified of their idle deeds and indecent talk (during Ramadan) and for the purpose of providing food for the needy. Whoever gives […]

Both can be easily achieved if people really act according to the divine injunctions. Ibn Abbas had narrated that, “The Prophet (pbuh)  made Zakah al-Fitr compulsory so that those who fasted may be purified of their idle deeds and indecent talk (during Ramadan) and for the purpose of providing food for the needy. Whoever gives it before Eid prayer will have it accepted as Zakah, while he who gives it after the Salat al Eid has given Sadaqah.” ( Abu Dawud).  
The Hadith mentions the sole beneficiaries of Zakat Fitr: the needy and the poor. Some scholars extend the recipients to the eight category of people that are supposed to receive the proper Zakkat.
Zakat Fitr is a form of charity obliged on the every Muslim regardless of their age, gender and  social status provided they are a bit well to do or have the lawful means to do so at the end of Ramadan.  Abdullah bn ‘Umar has reported that “the Prophet (pbuh) has made Zakkat al Fitr compulsory upon every slave, freeman, male, female, young and old among the Muslims.
 Zakkat al Fitr is one Saa` of dried dates or one Saa` of barley. ( Bukhari).  It can be discerned  from the above hadith that a man is responsible for each and everybody of his household. This is the view of the majority of jurists and was clearly spelt  out by Abu Sa’id al-Khudri. He said: “On behalf of our young and old, free men and slaves, we used to take out during Allah’s Messenger’s (pbuh) lifetime one Sa` of grain, cheese or raisins.” (Muslim).
This doesn’t mean that those who are adult and living in separate domains are relieved from giving it out. It is, of course, required of them and they should give it accordingly.
Numerous hadiths have stipulated one Sa’a (approximaetly 2.6 to 3 kg) as a minimum rate that should be given out for each individual.  People are at liberty to make it out of edible things; be it food, grain or dried  dates or whatsoever, provided it is popular among them as food.
Abu Sa`id al-Khudri has attached to this Sadaqat much attention and reported a lot concerning it. He said, “In the Prophet’s time, we used to give Zakat Fitr as a Sa` of food, dried dates, barley, raisins or dried cheese.”  
However, scholars have divergent views regarding giving out cash as Zakat al Fitr. Some, like Hasan al Basri, ‘Ata, Abu Hanifa, Al-Saur and ‘Umar bn ‘Abdul’aziz opine that is all right and is acceptable. It is also the view of some prominent jurists of Malikiyyah School of Law like Ibn Habib, Asbag, Ibn Wahab, Ibn Abi Hazim and Ibn Dinar- all supported paying cash instead of crops. While other scholars have restricted paying it on the stated edible crops. On this mas’ala, therefore, it can said that if the recipient is in greater need of the cash, the equivalent that is supposed to pay for the food may be given to him, as Sheikh al Islam Ibn Taimiyyah resolved. The same was authentically reported from Imam Ishaq bn Rahaweeh and Abu Saur.
The actual time for distributing it begins from sunset of the night of Eid up to the beginning of Eid prayer on Eid day. One has to observe it within the stipulated time.  Ibn `Abbas has narrated a decisive Sunnah that the Prophet (pbuh) has categorically fixed a time for Zakat al Fitr. He said, “Whoever gives it before the Eid prayer will have it accepted as Zakkat, while he who gives it after the Eid prayer, it will be considered as ordinary charity”.  Thus, it can be paid but as ordinary Sadaqat unless there are some legally acceptable excuses that hinder one from distributing it within the time.  
May Allah accept from us the good deeds.
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