Zakat al-Fitr

Zakat al-Fitr is an obligatory charity that every Muslim must pay at the end of Ramadan before the Eid prayer. It is distinct from the annual zakat on wealth and has its own specific rulings. The Prophet, peace be upon him, made it obligatory: "The Messenger of Allah obligated Zakat al-Fitr — a sa' of dates or a sa' of barley — upon the slave and the free, the male and the female, the young and the old among the Muslims" (Bukhari and Muslim). Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet obligated it as a purification for the fasting person from idle speech and obscenity, and as food for the poor.

Who Must Pay: Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory upon every Muslim who possesses food beyond what he and his dependents need for the day and night of Eid. A person must also pay on behalf of those he is obligated to support: his wife, minor children, and any other dependents. The father pays on behalf of his minor children. A person is not required to pay on behalf of adult children who are financially independent.

The Amount: The amount is one sa' of the staple food of the region. A sa' is a prophetic measure equivalent to approximately 2.5 to 3 kilograms. The Prophet specified dates, barley, wheat (in some narrations), dried yogurt, and raisins. The Hanbali school holds that one pays from the staple food of the country, whatever it may be. The scholarly debate about paying monetary value (qimah) instead of food has been ongoing for centuries. The majority of classical scholars, including the Hanbali school, require payment in food. A number of contemporary scholars, including some in the Hanbali tradition, permit paying the monetary equivalent due to changed circumstances, arguing that reaching the poor with useful currency serves the purpose better.

The Time for Payment: Zakat al-Fitr becomes due at sunset on the last night of Ramadan (the night of Eid). It must be paid before the Eid prayer, as the Prophet instructed. The Hanbali school permits paying it one or two days before Eid as well, since the Companions did so. Payment after the Eid prayer constitutes ordinary charity (sadaqah), not Zakat al-Fitr, and the obligation is not fulfilled.

Recipients: Zakat al-Fitr is given to the poor and needy (fuqara' and masakin). The Hanbali school holds that it should be distributed only to the poor among the eight zakat categories, not all eight. It is recommended to give it locally, to the poor of one's own community, to reach them before the Eid prayer so they can participate in the celebration.