What is Zakat Al Fitr?
Zakat Al Fitr has been prescribed by Allah, its purpose is to feed the indigent/poor people and to sanctify and cleanse the person fasting from their harangue, speech, such as gossiping, backbiting and its likes. It is also to sanctify and cleanse the fasting believer from any of their evil doings.
Who is required to give Zakat Al Fitr?
It’s imposed upon every Muslim - men, women, slaves and children too - it has been prescribed upon anyone who fasts.
This zakat hasn’t been prescribed upon money rather it’s been prescribed upon the body. You must give it. Anyone who has food to eat for one night and one day is required to give Zakat Al Fitr to the poor Muslims.
When to give Zakat Al Fitr?
The best time to give Zakat Al Fitr is after the Fajr prayer and before the Eid prayer. But if you do it before that, it’s okay. Zakat Al Fitr can be given anytime throughout the month but the best time for it is at the end of Ramadhan.
If you give it after the Eid prayer it will not accepted as Zakat but it will be considered as a charity, Allah will accept it but not completely.
The prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said whosoever gives it before the Eid prayer, it is Zakat and whosoever gives it after the Eid prayer, it’s a Sunnah, a charity. In other words the reward for it before Eid prayer is more than if you give it after the Eid prayer.
What to give?
It must be given as food, the prophet said to give it as food such as wheat, rice, dates, dry yoghurt etc. so it must be food given to the poor NOT money. Because the prophet said food and we must obey the prophet.
How much to give?
Approximately they said about 3 kilos of rice, wheat, dates, dry yoghurt etc.
May Allah accept your fasting and zakat, have a happy and blessed Eid to all the Muslims around the world.
- Shaykh Musa Jibril حفظه الله
