Zakat Al-Fitr (زكاة الفطر)
Zakat Al-Fitr (صدقة الفطر) is an obligatory charity at the end of Ramadan. It purifies the fasting person and provides food for the poor on Eid day.
Ibn 'Umar رضي الله عنهما reported: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prescribed 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. And he ordered it to be given before the people go out for the (Eid) prayer." — Al-Bukhari (1503) and Muslim (984)
1. Legal Status
📌 Obligation (الوجوب)
| School | Status |
|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | Obligatory (واجب) |
| 🟢 Hanafi | Obligatory (واجب) |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | Obligatory (فرض) |
| 🟣 Hanbali | Obligatory (فرض) |
📌 Wisdom of Zakat Al-Fitr
| Wisdom | Explanation |
|---|
| Purification of the fast | Repairs shortcomings (idle talk, etc.) |
| Feeding the poor | So they don't have to beg on Eid day |
| Gratitude | Thanking Allah for completing Ramadan |
📌 Hadith on the Wisdom
Ibn 'Abbas رضي الله عنهما said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prescribed Zakat Al-Fitr as purification for the fasting person from idle talk and obscene speech, and as food for the poor." — Abu Dawud (1609), Ibn Majah (1827)
2. Upon Whom Is It Obligatory?
📋 Persons Concerned
| Condition | Detail |
|---|
| Islam | Obligatory upon Muslims only |
| Ability | Possessing surplus food for oneself and family |
| Presence | Being present at the time of obligation |
📌 For Whom to Pay?
| Person | Who Pays? |
|---|
| Oneself | Obligatory |
| Wife | The husband (according to Maliki) |
| Minor children | The father |
| Dependent parents | The child who supports them |
| Servant | The employer (according to some views) |
📊 Schools' Positions on Dependents
| School | Who is included? |
|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | Oneself + those whose maintenance (نفقة) is obligatory |
| 🟢 Hanafi | Those under one's care |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | Those under one's care |
| 🟣 Hanbali | Those under one's care |
3. Obligatory Amount
📌 One Sa' (صاع) per Person
| Measure | Equivalent |
|---|
| 1 Sa' | 4 mudd |
| Weight (Maliki) | ≈ 2.5 kg to 3 kg depending on the food |
| Volume | About 2.5 to 3 liters |
📌 Reference Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ prescribed: "A sa' of dates, or a sa' of barley" — Al-Bukhari (1503)
📋 Modern Equivalents
| Food | Approximate Quantity |
|---|
| Wheat / Flour | 2.5 kg |
| Rice | 2.5 - 3 kg |
| Dates | 2.5 - 3 kg |
| Barley | 2.5 kg |
| Semolina | 2.5 kg |
4. Types of Accepted Foods
📌 Principle
| School | Accepted Foods |
|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | Local staple food (غالب قوت أهل البلد) |
| 🟢 Hanafi | Wheat, barley, dates, raisins |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | Staple food (rice, wheat, etc.) |
| 🟣 Hanbali | Five foods mentioned in the hadith |
📋 The 5 Foods from the Hadith
| # | Food | Arabic |
|---|
| 1 | Dates | تمر |
| 2 | Barley | شعير |
| 3 | Wheat | قمح / بُرّ |
| 4 | Raisins | زبيب |
| 5 | Dried cheese / Curdled milk | أقِط |
📌 Maliki Position on Foods
💡 The Maliki school recommends giving the dominant staple food of the country. In Western countries, this would be wheat, rice, or flour. In Arab countries, it could be rice or dates.
5. Payment in Money
📊 SCHOOLS' POSITIONS
| School | Payment in Money? |
|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | Not permitted (preference for food) |
| 🟢 Hanafi | Permitted and sometimes preferred |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | Not permitted |
| 🟣 Hanbali | Not permitted |
📌 Maliki Position
The Maliki school considers that Zakat Al-Fitr should be given in food in accordance with the texts. However, some contemporary Maliki scholars permit money if it is more beneficial to the poor.
📌 Monetary Value (for reference)
| Staple Food | Approximate Value |
|---|
| Wheat/Flour | $5-10 per person |
| Rice | $5-10 per person |
| Dates | $10-20 per person |
⚠️ Values vary by country and year. Consult local religious authorities.
6. Time of Obligation
📌 When Does It Become Obligatory?
| School | Timing |
|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | At sunset on the night of Eid (entry of 1st Shawwal) |
| 🟢 Hanafi | At dawn on Eid day |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | At sunset on the night of Eid |
| 🟣 Hanbali | At sunset on the night of Eid |
📋 Payment Periods
| Period | Status |
|---|
| 1-2 days before Eid | ✅ Permitted (preferred by some) |
| Night of Eid | ✅ Valid |
| Morning of Eid (before prayer) | ✅ Optimal (Sunnah) |
| After Eid prayer | ⚠️ Valid but makruh (disliked) |
| After Eid day | ❌ Sin if delayed intentionally, but still owed |
📌 Hadith on Timing
"...and he ordered it to be given before the people go out for the prayer." — Al-Bukhari (1503)
7. To Whom to Give It?
📋 Beneficiaries
| Category | Eligible? |
|---|
| The poor (الفقراء) | ✅ Yes (main category) |
| The needy (المساكين) | ✅ Yes |
| Other Zakat categories | Divergence |
📌 Maliki Position
The Maliki school generally limits Zakat Al-Fitr to the poor and needy, as the hadith specifically mentions "food for the poor."
⚠️ Restrictions
| Not to Give To | Reason |
|---|
| Ascendants | You already owe them nafaqa |
| Descendants | You already owe them nafaqa |
| Spouse | You already owe them nafaqa |
| The wealthy | Not eligible |
| Non-Muslims | Divergence (Maliki: no) |
8. Practical Rules
📋 Delegation
| Action | Permitted? |
|---|
| Appoint someone | ✅ Yes |
| Give to an organization | ✅ Yes (if reliable) |
| Pay in advance | ✅ 1-2 days before |
📋 Distribution
| Question | Answer |
|---|
| Can it be divided among several poor people? | ✅ Yes |
| Can multiple portions go to one poor person? | ✅ Yes |
| Can it be sent to another country? | ⚠️ Preferable locally |
📋 Case of Newborn
| Situation | Maliki Rule |
|---|
| Born before sunset of Eid | ✅ Zakat obligatory |
| Born after sunset | ❌ Not obligatory (but recommended) |
📋 Case of Death
| Situation | Rule |
|---|
| Died before Maghrib of Eid | ❌ No Zakat |
| Died after Maghrib of Eid | ✅ Zakat due (taken from estate) |
9. Common Mistakes
❌ To Avoid
| Mistake | Correction |
|---|
| Forgetting children | Pay for all household members |
| Delaying after prayer | Pay before Eid prayer |
| Giving spoiled food | Give good quality |
| Giving to one's own family | Give to external poor |
🎯 Summary
| Point | Maliki Rule |
|---|
| Status | Obligatory (واجب) |
| Amount | 1 sa' (≈ 2.5-3 kg) per person |
| Food | Local staple food |
| Money | Not preferred (food is priority) |
| Timing | Before Eid prayer |
| Beneficiaries | Poor and needy |
| For whom | Self + dependents |
📋 Practical Checklist
| # | Action | ✓ |
|---|
| 1 | Count household members | ☐ |
| 2 | Calculate: number × 2.5 kg | ☐ |
| 3 | Choose local staple food | ☐ |
| 4 | Identify poor beneficiaries | ☐ |
| 5 | Pay before Eid prayer | ☐ |
📚 Sources
- Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 1503
- Sahih Muslim, Hadith no. 984
- Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith no. 1609
- Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith no. 1827
- Al-Muwatta by Imam Malik
- Al-Mudawwana by Imam Malik
- Mukhtasar Khalil
- Ash-Sharh Al-Kabir by Ad-Dardir