Obligatory Charity Tax After Ramadaan (Zakat ul Fitr)

Allah [subhanahu wa tala] says:"Take alms from their wealth in order
to purify them and sanctify them with it." [Soorah at-Tauba 103]


Zakaat
al-Fitr is charity given to the poor at the end of the fasting in
the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The word Fitr means the same as
Iftar, breaking a fast and it comes from the same root word as
Futoorwhich means breakfast.

Classification
Sadaqat al-Fitr is a duty which is wajib (required) of every Muslim,
whether male or female, minor or adult as long as he/she has the means
to do so.

The proof that this form of charity is compulsory can be found in the
Sunnah whereby Ibn `Umar reported that the Prophet (upon whom be God's
peace and blessings), made Zakat al-Fitr compulsory on everyslave,
freeman, male, female, young and old among the Muslims; one Saa` of
dried dates or one Saa` of barely. [Sahih Bukhari - Arabic/English, vol.
2, p. 339, no. 579]

The head of the household may pay the required amount for the other
members. Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree said, "On behalf of our young and old,
free men and slaves, we used to take out during Allaah's Messenger's
(upon whom be God's peace and blessings) lifetime one Sa` of grain,
cheese or raisins". [Sahih Muslim - English transl. vol. 2, p. 469, no.
2155]

Significance
The significant role played by Zakat in the circulation of wealth within
the Islamic society is also played by the Sadaqat al-Fitr. However, in
the case of Sadaqat al-Fitr, each individual is required to calculate
how much charity is due from himself and his dependents and go into the
community in order to find those who deserve such charity. Thus, Sadaqat
al-Fitr plays a very important role in the development of the bonds of
community. The rich are obliged to come in direct contact with the poor,
and the poor are put in contact with the extremely poor. This contact
between the various levels of society helps to build real bonds of
brotherhood and love within the Islamic community and trains those who
have, to be generous to those who do not have.

Purpose
The main purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is to provide those who fasted with
the means of making up for theirerrors during the month of fasting.
Zakat al-Fitr also provides the poor with a means with which they can
celebrate the festival of breaking the fast (`Eid al-Fitr) along with
the rest of the Muslims.

Every Muslim is required to pay Zakat al-Fitr at the conclusion of the
month of Ramadan as a token of thankfulness to God for having enabled
him or her to observe the obligator fast.

Its purpose is:
1. As a levy on the fasting person. This is based on the hadith: The
Prophet of Allah, upon whom be God's peace and blessings, said, "The
fasting of the month of fasting will be hanging between earth and
heavens and it will not be raised up to the Divine Presence without
paying the Zakat al-Fitr."

2. To purify those who fast from any indecent act or speech and to help
the poor and needy.
The latter view is based upon the hadith from Ibn `Abbas who related,
“The Prophet of Allah, upon whom be God's peace and blessings, enjoined
Zakat al-Fitr on those who fast to shield them from any indecent act or
speech, and for the purpose of providing food for the needy. It is
accepted as Zakah for the one who pays it before the `Eid prayer, and it
is sadaqah for the one who pays it after the prayer.” [Abu Dawood -
Eng. transl. vol. 2, p. 421, no. 1605 - rated Sahih]

Conditions
Zakat al-Fitr is only Wajib for a particular period of time. If one
misses the time period without a good reason, he has sinned and can not
make it up. This form of charity becomes obligatory from sunset on the
last day of fasting and remains obligatory until the beginning of `Eid
Prayer (i.e. shortly after sunrise on the following day). However, it
can be paid prior to the above mentioned period, as many of the Sahabah
(companions of the Prophet, upon whom be God's peace and blessings, )
used to pay Sadaqah al-Fitr a couple days before the `Eid.

After the spread of Islam the jurists permitted its payment from the
beginning and middle of Ramadan so as to ensure that the Zakat al-Fitr
reached its beneficiaries on the day of `Eid. It is particularly
emphasized that the distribution be before the `Eid prayers in order
that the needy who receive are able to use the fitr to provide for their
dependents on the day of `Eid.

Nafi` reported that the Prophet's companion Ibn `Umar used to give it to
those who would accept it and the people used to give it a day or two
before the `Eid. [Bukhari - Arabic/English, Vol. 2, p.339, no. 579]
Ibn `Umar reported that the Prophet, upon whom be God's peace and
blessings, order that it (Zakat al-Fitr) be given before people go to
perform the (`Eid) prayers.

One who forgets to pay this Zakat al-Fitr on time should do so as soon
as possible even though it will not be counted as Zakat al-Fitr.

Rate
The amount of Zakat is the same for everyone regardless of their
different income brackets. The minimum amount is one sa` (four double
handfuls ) of food, grain or dried fruit for each member of the family.
This calculation is based on Ibn `Umar's report that the Prophet, upon
whom be God's peace and blessings, made Zakat al-Fitr compulsory and
payable by a sa` of dried dates or a sa` of barley.

The Companion of the Prophet, Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree said, "In the
Prophet's time, we used to give it (Zakatal-Fitr) as a sa` of food,
dried dates, barley, raisins or dried cheese". [Bukhari - Arabic/English
vol. 2, p. 340, no. 582]

The distribution of Zakat al-Fitr is the same as that of Zakah, and is
included within its broader sense. Those who may receive Zakat al-Fitr
are the eight categories of recipients mentioned in Surat Al-Tawbah, [9:
60]. They include:
(1) the poor
(2) the needy,
(3) collectors of Zakah,
(4) reconciliation of hearts,
(5) freeing captives / slaves(fee al-Riqab),
(6) debtors
(7) sadaqa in the Way of God's holy service (fee sabeel illah)
( the traveler.
Zakat al-Fitr must not go for building a mosque, or a school or for
other thing. It must go to the above-mentioned categories. The Zakat
al-mal cannot be used for such things either.




Please refer to the hadeeths below:

Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Book 25

Volume 2, Book 25, Number 579:

Narrated Ibn Umar:

Allah's Apostle enjoined the payment of one Sa' of dates or one Sa' of
barley as Zakat-ul-Fitr on every Muslim slave or free, male or female,
young or old, and he ordered that it be paid before the people went out
to offer the 'Id prayer. (One Sa' = 3 Kilograms approx.)

Volume 2, Book 25, Number 580:

Narrated Ibn 'Umar:

Allah's Apostle made it incumbent on all the slave or free Muslims, male
or female, to pay one Sa' of dates or barley as Zakat-ul-Fitr.

Volume 2, Book 25, Number 581:

Narrated Abu Said:

We used to give one Sa' of barley as Sadaqatul-Fitr (per head).

Volume 2, Book 25, Number 582:

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:

We used to give one Sa' of meal or one Sa' of barley or one Sa' of
dates, or one Sa' of cottage cheese or one Sa' of Raisins (dried grapes)
as Zakat-ul-Fitr.

Volume 2, Book 25, Number 583:

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar

The Prophet ordered (Muslims) to give one Sa' of dates or one Sa' of
barley as Zakat-ul-Fitr. The people rewarded two Mudds of wheat as equal
to that.

Volume 2, Book 25, Number 584:

Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri:

In the life-time of the Prophet we used to give one Sa' of food or one
Sa' of dates or one Sa' of barley or one Sa' of Raisins (dried grapes)
as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr. And when Muawiya became the Caliph and the wheat was
(available in abundance) he said, "I think (observe) that one Mudd (of
wheat) equals two Mudds (of any of the above mentioned things).

Volume 2, Book 25, Number 585:

Narrated Ibn 'Umar:

The Prophet ordered the people to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr before going to the
'Id prayer.

Volume 2, Book 25, Number 586:

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:

In the life-time of Allah's Apostle , we used to give one Sa' of food
(edible things) as Sadaqat-ul-Fit,r (to the poor). Our food used to be
either of barley, raisins (dried grapes), cottage cheese or dates.

Volume 2, Book 25, Number 587:

Narrated Nafi':

Ibn 'Umar said, "The Prophet made incumbent on every male or female,
free man or slave, the payment of one Sa' of dates or barley as
Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (or said Sadaqa-Ramadan)." The people then substituted
half Sa' of wheat for that. Ibn 'Umar used to give dates (as
Sadaqat-ulFitr). Once there was scarcity of dates in Medina and Ibn
'Umar gave barley. 'And Ibn 'Umar used to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for every
young and old person. He even used to give on behalf of my children.
Ibn 'Umar used to give Sadaqatul-Fitr to those who had been officially
appointed for its collection. People used to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (even)
a day or two before the 'Id.

Volume 2, Book 25, Number 588:

Narrated Ibn 'Umar:

Allah's Apostle has made Sadaqatul-Fitr obligatory, (and it was), either
one Sa' of barley or one Sa' of dates (and its payment was obligatory)
on young and old people, and on free men as well as on slaves.