It is a compulsory charity that is due at the end of Ramadan. It is considered an obligation, as Allah (SWT) says “He is certainly successful the one who purifies himself. And mentions the
name of his Lord, and prays”. From the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAWS), it was said: “The Prophet (SAWS) has made compulsory the zakat ul-fitr: A saa’ of dates or saa’ of barley, and it is a must that it is paid for the slaves, the free, the men, the women, the young and the old of the Muslims. He (SAWS) ordered us to pay it before people would leave for Eid Prayer” (on the Authority of
A saa’ is a unit of measure approximately equal to 3 kgs., and it is permissible to pay the equivalent of a saa’ in money (to be used for the purchase of food), which is $10. The Zakat ulFitr must be paid prior to Eid ul-Fitr, and it is compulsory on every individual in the household. The recipients of Zakat ul-Fitr are the poor and the needy (unlike the recipients of regular Zakah),
as is the opinion of Ibn Uthaimeen.
Zakat ul-Fitr is the responsibility of the head of the household, and they are to pay it on behalf of everyone they are responsible for ($10 per person, per household). It is recommended (but not mandatory) to pay Zakat ul-Fitr on the unborn child (fetus), but becomes mandatory when the child is born.
Benefits of Zakat ul-Fitr:
- Purifies the fast of all shortcomings such as idol talk, arguments, etc. that occurred during the fasting. “The Prophet (SAWS) made Zakat ul-Fitr to purify the fast from shortcomings…”
- It is given to the poor, and it is so they do not have to beg on the day of Eid, and to bring joy to them
- Unity for Muslims: Rich and poor come together to worship Allah (SWT)
- Getting the great reward by giving the charity to those who need it, at its appointed time, because the Prophet (SAWS) said in the hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas “whoever gives it prior to the salah then it is accepted from them (as it is intended), and whoever gives it after the salah then it is just a regular charity”
- Showing gratitude for the blessings of Allah (SWT) that he allowed us to fast Ramadan
Delaying it after Eid is NOT PERMISSIBLE according to the sound opinion, and whoever delays it for no reason must repent to Allah.
Imam/ Abdelhameed Elhaddad