Zakaat al-Fitr:  The Purifying Charity ‘Zakaat al-Fitr’ or ‘Sadaqah al-Fitr’ means ‘the purifying charity of breaking the fast’ It is a prescribed amount of staple food given by the Muslims to their poor Muslim brothers during the last few days of Ramadaan or on the morning of Eid prior to the Eid prayer.

The Wisdom of Zakaat al-Fitr:
The wisdom behind ‘Zakaat al-Fitr’ is as mentioned in the narration of Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu): “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu laihi wa-sallam) ordained Zakaat al-Fitr to purify the fasting person from indecent words or actions and to provide food for the needy. It is accepted as Zakaat for the person who gives it before the Eid prayer; but merely Sadaqah for the one who gives it after the prayer.” [(Hasan) Abu Dawood (no: 1622), an-Nisa’ee (5/49), Ibn Majah (1/585) and others]

Thus, Zakaat al-Fitr serves as a purification for those who fast in the month of Ramadaan from the minor sins, which decrease the rewards of their fasts. It is also feeding the poor Muslims, so that they may have enough provision during Eid. Al-Khattabee (rahimahullah) says in Ma’aalimus Sunan (2/214): “It is obligatory upon every wealthy fasting person and poor person who has in excess of his need, since its obligation is in order to purify and all those who fast need this. So, if they are all in need for it (i.e. purification from sins), then they are all the same as regards to its obligation.”

The Obligation of Zakaat al-Fitr:
Zakaat al-Fitr is obligatory on every individual who is capable of giving it, as Ibn Umar (radhi allahu anhu) stated: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu laihi wa-sallam) ordained Zakaat al-Fitr in the amount of one saa of dates or one saa of barley for the Muslim; slave or free, male or female, young or old; and he ordered that it be given before the people went out to the Eid prayer.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]

The responsibility of Zakaat al-Fitr falls on the head of the household;
He should give it on behalf of himself and those under his care; young and old; male and female, free and slave. Ibn Umar (radhi allahu anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu laihi wa-sallam) ordained Sadaqah al-Fitr for those under your custody; young and old, free and slave.” [(hasan) ad-Daraqutni and others]

As for him, who does not have the financial capability to pay Zakaat al-Fitr, then he is exempted from this obligation because Allah clearly says: “Allah does not require from any soul more than his capability.” [Soorah al-Baqarah(2): 286]

Note: Zakaat al-Fitr is not required to be paid on behalf of a fetus because a fetus is not considered as a young person neither in the language nor in practice.

What is accepted as Zakaat al-Fitr?
Zakaat al-Fitr should be given in the form of ‘staple food’ like wheat, barley, rice etc. Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree (radhi allahu anhu) said: “(At the time of the Prophet (sallallahu laihi wa-sallam)) we used to give out Zakaat al-Fitr as one saa of food, one saa of barley, one saa of dates, one saa of aqit (dried yogurt), or one saa of raisins. At that time, our food used to be barley, raisins, aqit and dates.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee]

The scholars differ in understanding the ‘food’ referred to in this report. However, the reports discussing Zakaat al-Fitr generally cover all kinds of grains such as wheat, barley etc. Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu) said: “The Sadaqah of Ramadaan is one saa. Thus, he who brings wheat, it will be accepted from him; he who brings barley, it will be accepted from him; he who brings dates, it will be accepted from him; he who brings rye, it will be accepted from him; he who brings raisins, it will be accepted from him…” [(saheeh) Ibn Khuzaimah]

The above Ahadeeth indicate that Zakaat al-Fitr cannot be given in the form of money. However, one may determine the approximate value of the food he has to pay and hand it to an individual or an organization, which he trusts to buy the correct type. It is important that when Zakaat al-Fitr reaches the recipients, it is in the form, permissible by the Sunnah.

Quantity of Zakaat al-Fitr:
The amount of Zakaat al-Fitr is one saa of any food mentioned above except one i.e. wheat which is half saa. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu laihi wa-sallam) said: “Give a saa of wheat or wheat-grain to two people; or one saa of dates, or a saa of barley for every free person and slave and young and old.” [(saheeh) Daraqutni (2/151) and Musnad Ahmad (5/432)]

The ‘saa’ was a fixed amount of capacity of volume; it varied from place to place, but the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu laihi wa-sallam) standardized it saying: “Weights are according to Madeenah’s weights; and the measures are according to Madeenah’s measures.” [(saheeh) Abu Dawood (2340), an-Nisa’ee (7/281) and others]

Thus, the saa mentioned in the Hadeeth is the saa of the people of Madeenah, which is available to this time. However, since it is not accessible to most of the people, scholars have estimated it approximately to four full handfuls (with hands put together) of an average man. [An-Nawawi in al-Majmoo 6: 69]

It is wrong to measure Zakaat al-Fitr by weight because weight of one saa varies for different materials. However, if the relationship between weight and capacity is determined for a specific material, the weight of one saa of that material may then be used.

Time to give the Zakaat al-Fitr:
Zakaat al-Fitr should be given on the day of Eid prior to the Eid prayer, as in the narration of Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu): “…It (Zakaat al-Fitr) is accepted as Zakaat for the person who gives it before the Eid prayer; but merely Sadaqah for the one who gives it after the prayer.” [(hasan) Abu Dawood (no: 1622), an-Nisa’ee (5/49, 5/550), Ibn Majah (1/585) and others]

It is further reported that Ibn Umar (radhi allahu anhu) used to give Zakaat al-Fitr one or two days before the Eid. [An-Nawawi in al-Majmoo 6: 69] This provides a basis for giving Zakaat al-Fitr a few days before the Eid but it is incorrect to give it too early, which might conflict with its wisdom of being an atonement for the sins during the month of Ramadaan and provision for the needy on the day of Eid; it will further conflicts with the practice of the pious predecessors.

It is also allowed to appoint individuals to collect Zakaat al-Fitr from the people; it is further recommended to appoint a person to take care of the collected Zakaat al-Fitr, as the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu laihi wa-sallam) appointed Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) for this job, as he (radhi allahu anhu) said: “Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu laihi wa-sallam) entrusted me to look after the Zakaat of Ramadaan.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee]

People who deserve Zakaat al-Fitr:
Zakaat al-Fitr should be distributed to the miskin (the needy) and not among all the eight categories which are eligible for the Zakaat on wealth, as Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu laihi wa-sallam) ordained Zakaat al-Fitr to purify the fasting person from indecent words or actions, and to provide food for the needy…” [(hasan) Abu Dawood (ni: 1622), an-Nisa’ee (5/49, 5/550), Ibn Majah (1/585) and others]

This view is preferred by Shaikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) and his student Ibn al-Qayyim in his valuable book ‘Zaad al-Ma’aad’ (2/44).