Zakat ul Fitr (Fitrana)
Zakat ul Fitr (fitrana) is a charity given to the poor at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
Classification
The word Fitr means the same as Iftar, breaking a fast and it comes from the same root word as Futoor which means breakfast. This is a duty which is wajib (required) of every Muslim, whether male or female, minor or adult as long as he/she has the means to do so. According to Islamic tradition (Sunnah), Ibn ‘Umar said that Muhammad made Zakat al-Fitr compulsory on every slave, freeman, male, female, young and old among the Muslims; one Saa` of dried dates or one Saa` of barley. [Sahih Bukhari – Arabic/English, vol. 2, p. 339, no. 579]
The head of the household may pay the required amount for the other members. Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudree said: On behalf of our young and old, free men and slaves, we used to take out during Allaah’s Messenger’s (upon whom be God’s peace and blessings) lifetime one Sa` of grain, cheese or raisins”. [Sahih Muslim – English transl. vol. 2, p. 469, no. 2155]
Significance
The critical pretend by Zakat in the course of abundance inside Islamic culture is additionally played by the Sadaqat al-Fitr. Nonetheless, in Sadaqat al-Fitr’s case, every individual should ascertain how much cause is expected from himself and his wards and go into the local area to find the people who merit such a foundation. In this manner, Sadaqat ul Fitr assumes a massive part in the improvement of the obligations of the local area. The rich are obliged to come in direct contact with poor people, and the poor are regarding the very poor. This contact between the different degrees of society assists with building obligations of fellowship and love inside the Islamic people group and trains the individuals who must be liberal to those who don’t.
Purpose
The primary role of Zakat ul Fitr is to furnish the poor with a method by which they can praise the celebration of breaking the quick (‘Eid ul Fitr) alongside the other Muslims. Each Muslim should pay Zakat ul Fitr after Ramadan as a badge of gratefulness to God for empowering them to notice the required quickly. Its motivation is: As a toll on the fasting individual. This depends on the hadith: The Prophet of Allah said,
“The fasting of the month of fasting will be hanging between earth and heavens and it will not be raised up to the Divine Presence without paying the Zakat ul Fitr.”
If the nisab is $2,840 (PKR 497,451) this Ramadan and you have savings of $1,313 (PKR 229,983) and gold worth $1,970 (PKR 345,063) (Total $3,284)(PKR 575,222) , then you have to pay 2.5% of the whole amount as Zakat – which = $82 (PKR 1,4363).
Conditions
Zakat ul Fitr is just Wajib for a specific timeframe. If one misses the time span without a valid justification, he has trespassed and can’t make it up. This type of noble cause becomes compulsory from dusk on the last day of fasting and stays required until the start of ‘Eid Supplication (for example, soon after dawn on the next day). Nonetheless, it tends to be paid preceding the previously mentioned period, as a significant number of the Sahabah (colleagues of the Prophet) used to pay Sadaqah ul two or three days before ‘Eid. After the spread of Islam, the law specialists allowed its instalment all along and centre of Ramadan to guarantee that the Zakat ul Fitr arrived at its recipients upon the arrival of ‘Eid. It is especially stressed that the conveyance is before the ‘Eid petitions to heaven all together that the needy who get can utilize the fitr to accommodate their wards upon the arrival of ‘Eid.
Nafi` reported that the Prophet’s companion Ibn ‘Umar used to give it to those who would accept it and the people used to give it a day or two before the `Eid. [Bukhari – Arabic/English, Vol. 2, p.339, no. 579]
Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet ordered that it (Zakat ul Fitr) be given before people go to perform the (`Eid) prayers. One who forgets to pay this Zakat ul Fitr on time should do so as soon as possible even though it will not be counted as Zakat ul Fitr.
Rate
The amount of Zakat is the same for everyone regardless of their different income brackets. The minimum amount is one sa` (four double handfuls ) of food, grain or dried fruit for each member of the family. This calculation is based on Ibn ‘Umar’s report that the Prophet made Zakat ul Fitr compulsory and payable by a sa` of dried dates or a sa` of barley. The Companion of the Prophet, Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree said, “In the Prophet’s time, we used to give it (Zakat ul Fitr) as a sa` of food, dried dates, barley, raisins or dried cheese”. [Bukhari – Arabic/English vol. 2, p. 340, no. 582]
According to the majority of Sunni scholars, One Sa’a is approximately between 2.6 Kg to 3 Kg. The distribution of Zakat ul Fitr is the same as that of Zakah and is included within its broader sense. Those who may receive Zakat al-Fitr are the eight categories of recipients mentioned in Surat Al-Tawbah, [9: 60].
They include:
- The Poor
- The Needy
- Collectors of Zakah
- Reconciliation of Hearts
- Freeing Captives / Slaves (Fee Al-Riqab)
- Debtors
- Sadaqa in the Way of God’s Holy service (Fee Sabeel illah)
- The Traveler
Note: Zakat ul Fitr must not go for building a mosque, a school or for other things. It must go to the above-mentioned categories. The Zakat ul Maal cannot be used for such things either.
