عَنْ عَبْدِ اﷲِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍؓ قَالَ فَرَضَ رَسُوْل اﷲِﷺ زَکَوٰۃَ الْفِطْرِ طُھْراً لِلصِّیَامِ مِنَ اللَّغْوِ وَ الرَّفَثِ وَ طُعْمَۃً لِلْمَسَاکِیْنِ‘‘(ابوداؤد)
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbasؓ: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said, “Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (Sadaqah (alms) relating to the breaking of the fast) has been prescribed the as a purification of the fasting from empty and obscene talk and as food for the poor. If anyone pays it before the prayer (of ‘Id), it will be accepted as zakat. If anyone pays it after the prayer, that will be a sadaqah like other sadaqahs (alms).
Explanation:
Generally, the people neglect others on the occasions of happiness and enjoy themselves. It is one of the singular characteristics of Islam that it exhorts its followers to share others also others on such occasions and take care of the poor and needy ones specially. Rather, it has declared sharing others in happiness on some important occasions in form of prescribing Sadqat-ul-Fitr compulsory in Eid-ul-Fitr and a share for the poor and needy one in Eid-ul-Zuha.
What is Sadqat-ul-Fitr?:
The word ‘فطر’ means to break the fast. Terminologically, it is called a Sadqah (alms) paid on the end of Rmadhan in exchange of pleasure and thanksgiving of breaking the fast.
The reality of Sadqat-ul-Fitr:
It is narrated on the authority of Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas ؓthat the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, “Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (Sadaqah (alms) relating to the breaking of the fast) has been prescribed the as a purification of the fasting from empty and obscene talk and as food for the poor.” (Ibne Majah)
On whom Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is compulsory?:
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar ؓ relates that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ صَدَقَةَ الْفِطْرِ وَاجِبَةٌ عَلَی کُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ ذَکَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَی حُرٍّ أَوْ عَبْدٍ صَغِيرٍ أَوْ کَبِيرٍ
Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is wajib on every Muslim; male or female, freeman or slave, young or old. (Bukhari, Muslim)
According to Imam Abu Haneefah (R.A.), it is necessary to own the property to the proportion of Zakah, but it is not necessary according to other Imams, rather, anyone who affords the food of more than one day and one night for him and his subjects, can also pay Sadqat-ul-Fitr on behalf of himself and his family members. It should be noted here that, the mandatory of Sadqat-ul-Fitr, there is not condition for the completion of one year on one’s Nisab-e-Zaka.
The amount of paying Sadqat-ul-Fitr:
One should pay Sadqat-ul-Fitr in case he owns one Sa’ (weight of 3 and half k.g.) of dates and raisins or half Sa’ (approximately one and one fourth k.g.) of wheat as the Holy Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said: ‘Pay one Sa’ Sadqat-ul-Fitr from wheat on behalf of two men and from one Sa’ of dates and barley on behalf of one man. (Dare Qutni, Ahmad)
Hazrat Imam Abu Haneefah, Imam Bukhari, Umar bin Abdul Azeez, Hasan Basri (R.A.) are of the opinion that Sadaqat-ul-Fitr may be paid in the form of price of food-grains and crop. The fact is that seeing the gravity of time, approximately all the Ulama are agreed upon paying the price of food-grains and crop.
The prescribed time of paying Sadqat-ul-Fitr:
Sadqat-ul-Fitr should be paid before performing Eid Salah on Eid-ul-Fitr. It may be also paid during the last days of Ramadhan as also narrated on the authority of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar ؓ, the Holy Prophet ﷺ is reported to have commanded, “Sadqat-ul-Fitr ought to be paid before going to offer Eid Salah.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
Nafey (R.A.), the slave of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar ؓ says: “Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (R.T.A.) would pay Sadqat-ul-Fitr on behalf of his all young and elders of his family even on behalf of my sons just one or two days before Eid-ul-Fitr.” (Bukhari)
It can be given as a debt even before Eid Salah, but delaying to such extent is not appropriate, since it nullifies the main objective of Sadqat-ul-Fitr.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas ؓ is reported to have said:
مَنْ أَدَّاهَا قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ فَهِيَ زَکَاةٌ مَقْبُولَةٌ وَمَنْ أَدَّاهَا بَعْدَ الصَّلَاةِ فَهِيَ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ الصَّدَقَاتِ
“If anyone pays it before the prayer (of ‘Id), it will be accepted as zakat. If anyone pays it after the prayer, it will be a Sadaqah like other Sadaqahs (alms).” (Abu Dawood)
Points worth-considering:
- Anyone who is not able to keep the fasts of Ramadhan due to some problem, he should also pay Sadqat-ul-Fitr.
- Distributing Sadqat-ul-Fitr in the same locality is better. It is not desirable to send it town to town for this purpose. However, it makes no difference if one sends it to the poor and needy or in case there is no needy in the town.
- The Sadqah on behalf of one man may be distributed among many beggars and that of many men may be paid to one beggar.