ISLAM: ZAKAAT & REPENTANCE IN RAMADAN...

Zakaatul-Fitr Fataawa

Compiled By: ALI-ZIAD NATCHER ALAM SALI





The ruling regarding forgetting to discharge the Zakaatul-Fitr

Question:
What is the ruling regarding the one who had not discharged the Zakaatul-Fitr
until during the (Eid) khutbah (sermon) after the Eid prayer, and that is
because he had forgotten?

Response:
Discharging the Zakaatul-Fitr before the (Eid) prayer is obligatory, and
whoever forgets then there is nothing upon him except to discharge it after
that. This is because it is an obligation so it is upon him to discharge it
when he remembers, and it is not permissible for anyone to delay it
intentionally until after the Eid prayer according to the most correct of the
two opinions. This is because the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)
commanded the Muslims to discharge it before the Eid prayer. – Shaykh Ibn
Baaz

The payment of Zakaatul-Fitr in money

Question:
Is it permissible to discharge the obligation of Zakaatul-Fitr on the first
day of Ramadan? And is it permissible to distribute it in money?

Response:
As for the discharging of it on the first day of Ramadan there is Ikhtilaaf
(difference of opinion among the scholars) about it. The most correct opinion
is that it’s not permissible, because it is called Zakaatul-Fitr, and al-Fitr
(ending of the fast) does not occur except at the end of the month. Also, the
Messenger of Allah [sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam] ordered that it be
discharged before the people go out to the prayer (Salaatul-Eid). Along with
that, the companions (Sahaabah) used to give out the Zakaatul-Fitr one or two
days before the Eid. As for discharging the Zakaatul-Fitr in MONEY, this is a
point of Ikhtilaaf (difference among the scholars). And the correct opinion –
as I see it – is that it is not discharged except by (distribution of) FOOD.
This is because Ibn ‘Umar [radhiallaahu ‘anhumaa] said: “The Messenger of
Allah [sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam] made obligatory (the payment of)
Zakaatul-Fitr from a Saa’ of dates or a Saa’ of barley...” (Bukhari 2:579),
(One Saa’ is equal to four Mudd, and one Mudd is equal to the amount held by
cupping the two hands together. It is a measure by volume not by weight). Abu
Sa’eed Al-Khudree [radhiallaahu ‘anhu] said: “We used to distribute it
(Zakaatul-Fitr) in the time of the Messenger of Allah [sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam] as one Saa’ of food, and our food was dates and barley and raisins
and cottage cheese...” (Bukhari 2:582). So, it becomes clear from these two
hadith that it (Zakaatul-Fitr) is not discharged except from FOOD. And the
distribution of it in food displays it openly and shows it, and all of the
members of the family know about it. In this way, there is an exhibition or
manifestation of this aspect of the religion. As for discharging it in money,
this causes it to be concealed (unseen), and perhaps the person may favour
himself, by discharging it in money, and thus reduce its amount. (As the
amount would differ if we compare the value of one Saa’ of dates to one Saa’
of barley for example. Since a Saa’ of barley is about 7 riyals ($2), while a
Saa’ of dates ranges – according to quality – from 25 riyals ($7) for a
lesser quality to 42 riyals ($12) for a medium quality, to 175 riyals ($49)
for the best quality per Saa’.) Therefore, strictly following the Law
(Al-Qur’an and Sunnah) is best and it is blessed. Someone might argue that
the distribution of food doesn’t benefit the poor. (But, we say) the poor
person – if truly poor – must definitely benefit from the food. – Shaykh Ibn
‘Uthaymeen

Question:
Is it permissible to discharge Zakaatul-Fitr in money? - with mention of the
evidences

Response:
Zakaatul-Fitr is not permissible except (to be paid) from FOOD. And it is not
allowed to discharge its value in money. This is because the Prophet
(sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) made it obligatory (to be discharged) from a
Saa’ of dates or a saa’ of barley. Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudree [radhiallaahu ‘anhu]
said: “We used to discharge it (Zakaatul-Fitr) in the time of the Prophet
[sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam] as a Saa’ of FOOD...)”. (Bukhari 2:582)
Therefore, it is not lawful for anyone to discharge Zakaatul-Fitr from money
or clothing or household furnishings. Instead, that which is obligatory is to
discharge it in what Allah has made obligatory on the tongue of the Prophet
(sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). There is no consideration (weight) for the
Istihsaan [viewing of something to be good, without basis from the legal
sources of the Qur’an and Sunnah] of those of the people who viewed the
giving of money as a good thing. The Law (Shari'ah) does not follow (i.e. it
is not secondary to) the opinions of people. No, it (the Law) is from the One
Who is Wise, Knowing – Allah (subhaanahu wa-ta’aala) – The Mighty, The
Glorious, The Most Knowing, The Most Wise. So, if that which has been made
obligatory by the tongue of Muhammad is a Saa’ of food, then it is not
permissible to bypass (skip over) that, no matter what our intellects make us
to view as being good. Instead, it is a must that the human being question
and suspect his intellect and views if it conflicts with, or contradicts, the
law of Allah. – Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen

What is the ruling in the case of someone compelled to pay Zakaatul-Fitr by
money?

Question: What is the ruling in the case of someone compelled to discharge
Zakaatul-Fitr by money? And does it fulfil for him his obligation?

Response: It appears to me that if someone is compelled to discharge the
Zakaatul-Fitr by money, then he should give them the money, and not openly
disobey those in authority. But, as far as that which is between him and
Allah, he should discharge what he has been commanded by the Prophet
(sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) to discharge. So, he should discharge a Saa’
of food as the Prophet commanded. Their compelling you to discharge it from
money is compulsion to do something which Allah has not legislated. In that
case, you must fulfil what you believe to be obligatory. – Shaykh Ibn
‘Uthaymeen

Is it permissible to discharge Zakaatul-Fitr from meat?

Question:
Is it permissible to discharge Zakaatul-Fitr from meat? Some of the desert
dwellers don’t have food to distribute for Zakaatul-Fitr, so is it
permissible for them to slaughter some of their animals and distribute it to
the poor?

Response:
This is not correct, because the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) made
it obligatory to give one Saa’ of food, while meat is measured by weight (not
by volume). Ibn ‘Umar (radhiallaahu ‘anhumaa) said: “The Messenger of Allah
(sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) made obligatory the Zakaatul-Fitr as a Saa’
of dates or a Saa’ of barley...”(Bukhari 2:579). And Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree
(radhiallaahu ‘anhu) said: “We used to discharge it (Zakaatul-Fitr) in the
lifetime of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) as a saa’ of food,
and our food was dates, and barley, and raisins and cottage cheese.” (Bukhari
2:582). For this reason, the strongest opinion of the sayings of the scholars
is that Zakaatul-Fitr is not fulfilled by paying (distributing of) money, nor
clothing, nor furnishings (furniture). There is no weight to the sayings of
those who say that Zakaatul-Fitr is fulfilled by payment of money; this being
so because as long as we have in front of us a text of the Prophet
(sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) then there is no opinion (in the matter)
after his, nor accepting as good what the intellect considers good while
negating the Law (the Qur’an and Sunnah). Allah (subhaanahu wa-ta’aala) will
not ask us about the opinion of so and so on the day of Resurrection. He will
only question us about the saying of the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam) as in His (Allah’s) saying: {And ( remember) the Day (Allah) will
call to them and say: what answer gave you to the Messengers?} [Soorah
al-Qasaas, Aayah 65]. Just imagine yourself standing before Allah on the day
of Resurrection while it had been made obligatory on you to fulfil the
payment of Zakaatul-Fitr from food. Will it be possible, if you are asked on
the Day of Resurrection: How did you answer the Messenger of Allah
[sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam] in reference to the obligation of this
charity? Will it be possible for you to defend yourself and say: By Allah!
this is the opinion of so and so, and this is the opinion of such and such?
The answer: No! and even if you said that, it would not benefit you (at all).
The truth, without doubt, is that Zakaatul-Fitr is not accepted except from
FOOD; and any food which is the staple food of the country fulfils this
obligation. If you see the opinions of the scholars in this issue, you will
see that they are on two extremes and one in the middle. One (extreme) side
says: Pay it (Zakaatul-Fitr) from food or pay it from cash (money). The other
(extreme) side says: Don’t pay it from money, and don’t pay it from food
except five types only, that is: wheat, dates, barley, raisins, cottage
cheese. These two opinions are the extreme opposite of each other. As for the
middle opinion, it says : Pay it (Zakaatul-Fitr) from every food which the
people are fed from, and not from that which the people are not fed from. So,
pay it from wheat, dates, rice, pearl millets (dukhn), corn – and whatever is
similar to that, – even to the extent if we accepted the idea that there is a
place where the staple food of the people is meat, then we would pay it from
meat. Based on this, it becomes clear that what the questioner mentioned
about the people of the desert giving meat in place of (a Saa’ of those
staple items which are normally given as) Zakaatul-Fitr, does not fulfil its
obligation. – Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen

Source: fatwa-online.com



Truly Yours,

ALI-ZIAD NATCHER ALAM SALI

(aznas0429@yahoo.com)