The Rulings of Sadaqa-e-Fitr or the Fast-breaking Charity: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 29
By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam
Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus
Siddiqi, New Age Islam
20 April 2023
Islam has commanded Muslims to pay "Sadaqa-e-Fitr"
[also known as Zakat al-Fitr or Zakat al-Fitrah] in order to make up for
any deficiencies that may have occurred while fasting throughout the month of
Ramadan and to share the joy of Eid with the less fortunate Muslims. The
verdicts in this matter are clarified in the ensuing hadiths.
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased
with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded
that every Muslim, whether slave or free person, a male or a female, a young or
an old, pay one Saa’ of dates or one Saa’ of barley as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr.
Furthermore, He (peace be upon him) ordered that it be paid before the people's
departure for performing Salah (Eid Namaz). (Sahih Bukhari and
Sahih Muslim)
"Pay Sadaqa for your fasts," said
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) at the end of
Ramadan, "for this Sadaqa has been stipulated by the Messenger of
Allah (peace be upon him), which is one Saa' of dates or one Saa'
of barley or half Saa' of wheat." (Abu Dawud and Nasa'i reported
this)
Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Haakim have reported from
Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger
of Allah (peace be upon him) stipulated the Zakaat-ul-Fitr in order to
purify the fasts from vulgar and shameless speech and to provide food for the
needy (Miskeen).
Hazrat Anas narrates that the Messenger of Allah
(peace be upon him) said, “The fasts of a servant remains suspended between the
skies and the earth until he does not discharge the Sadaqa-e-Fitr.” (Reported
by Dailami, Khateeb and Ibn Asaakir)
Law: Sadaqa-e-Fitr is Waajib
(compulsory). One has their entire life to pay it off. In other words, if he
has not paid it off within the allotted time, he should do so right now. If it
is not discharged it will not fall away [from one's obligation], and to pay it
right now does not mean it is Qaza, but it will still be regarded as Ada
(on time), even though it is Masnun to do so before the Namaaz of
Eid. [Durr-e-Mukhtar]
Law: Since Sadaqa-e-Fitr is Waajib upon
the person (i.e., an individual) rather than his wealth, it will not be paid
from his wealth in the event of his death. But if his heirs would choose to pay
it as a gesture of goodwill on their part, they are free to do so. They are not
required to, though. Even if his heirs object, if the deceased made a Wasiyat
that it should be paid, it must be paid from one-third of his wealth (from
which he is allowed to make a Wasiyat). (Juahira, etc)
Law: As soon as the True Dawn (Subh-e-Saadiq)
arrives on the Day of Eid, Sadaqa-e-Fitr turns into Waajib.
So, it is not Waajib upon someone who passed away before the True Dawn,
or if someone was wealthy and became a Faqeer, or if an unbeliever
became a Muslim after the first light appeared, or if a child was born, or if a
Faqeer became affluent, then it is not Waajib upon them. However,
it is Waajib upon them if he passed away after the first light had
appeared, or if an unbeliever became a Muslim before the first light had, or if
a child was born, or if he was a Faqeer and became affluent. [Alamgiri]
Law: Every Free Muslim who owns Nisaab, whose Nisaab
is greater than his Haajat-e-Asliyah, is required to pay Sadaqa-e-Fitr.
There is no condition of Aaqil (sanity), Baaligh (puberty), or Maal-e-Naami
(productive wealth) in this. [Durr-e-Mukhtar]
Law: It is also not a condition for the wealth to stay
intact in order to pay Sadaqa-e-Fitr. In contrast to the rule of Zakat
and Ushr, the obligation of which falls away after the wealth has been
ruined or lost, Sadaqa is still Waajib and will not fall away (from
one's duty) even if the wealth is destroyed or lost. [Durr-e-Mukhtar]
Law: Fasting is not a condition in order for Sadaqa-e-Fitr
to be considered Waajib. Regardless of whether someone missed the fast
for a legitimate reason—such as travel, illness, or advanced age—or whether he
missed it without a legitimate excuse, the Sadaqa e Fitr is still Waajib
in all of the aforementioned situations. [Raddul Muhtaar]
Law: The paternal grandfather takes the role of the
father if he is not alive. He is obligated to give Sadaqa on behalf of
his needy grandsons and granddaughters. [Durr-e-Mukhtar]
Law: A person is not liable for the Fitrah of
his wife and his children who are Aaqil and Baaligh, even if they
are disabled [or differently abled], and even if he is in charge of their
provisions. [Durr-e-Mukhtar]
Law: If a person paid the Fitrah of his wife
and his Baaligh children without getting their consent, it will be
considered discharged, on condition that the children are from his Ay’yaal
(i.e. his children whom he is providing for, i.e. his dependants). In other
words, the provisions etc. of those children are his responsibility; otherwise,
it will not be regarded as discharged if he does so, on behalf of his children
without their permission. It won't be discharged if the wife paid her husband's
Fitrah without his consent. [Alamgiri/Raddul Muhtar]
Law: One is not responsible for paying the Fitrah
of his mother, father, paternal grandfather, paternal grandmother, and his Na-Baaligh
brothers and for that of his other relatives; and he cannot pay it without
their authority. [Alamgiri]
Law: It is best to give the Fitrah of one
person to one Miskeen (needy person), and if it was divided between
several needy persons, then this is also permissible. Similarly, the Fitrah
of many needy persons can be given to one Miskeen, even though they may
all be mixed together. [Durr-e-Mukhtar/Raddul Muhtaar]
Law: The recipients of Sadaqa-e-Fitr are the
same as those who are the recipients of Zakat. In other words, you may
give Fitrah to those to whom you may give Zakat, and you are not
permitted to give Fitrah to those, to whom you are not permitted to give
Zakat, with the exception of an ‘Aamil’ (Zakat Collector
appointed by the Islamic Ruler), because he is permitted to accept Zakaat,
but not Fitrah. [Durr-e-Mukhtar/Raddul Muhtaar]
(Continued)
Related Article: How, When, Whom and Why To Pay Fast-Breaking Charity (Sadqa-E-Fitr)?
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Mufti
Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and
held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and
director at a number of institutions, including Darul Uloom
Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in
Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah
Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina
Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti
in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of
the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder
of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi
Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
Previous Articles:
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and
First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Second Lesson on the Respect of Ramadan –
Part 2
Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Third Lesson On The
Horrific Consequences Of Desecrating Ramadan – Part 3
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Fourth Lesson on the
Fasting Of Ramadan and its Intention – Part 4
Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Seventh Lesson On Sehri [Pre-Dawn Meal] Part
7
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Eighth Lesson on Iftar –
Part 8
Thirty
Lessons of Ramadan: Ninth Lesson on Rulings and Laws Related to Fasting – Part
9
Thirty
Lessons Of Ramadan: Tenth Lesson On Rulings And Laws Related To Fasting – Part
10
Thirty
Lessons of Ramadan: Twelfth Lesson on Rulings Related to Qazaa, Kaffarah and
Fidyah – Part 12
Thirty
Lessons of Ramadan: 13th Lesson on Rulings of Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 13
Thirty Lessons of
Ramadan: Zakaat in the Light of the Quran and Hadith – Part 17
The Rulings and Laws of
Zakaat: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 18
The Virtues and Laws of
I’tikaaf: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 19
The Virtues of the Qadr
Night or Lailatul Qadr: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 20
Fasting and Modern
Science: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 21
Some Facts about The
Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 22
Virtues and Rulings
about the Recitation of the Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 23
Ramadan—the Month of
Generosity and Charity: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 24
The Importance of Halal
Sustenance: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 25
The Rights of
Neighbours in Islam: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 26
Juma’ah and
Jumu'at-ul-Widaa': Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 27
The Description Of Moon-Sighting: Thirty
Lessons Of Ramadan – Part 28
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/rulings-sadaqa-fitr-fast-charity-ramadan-part-29/d/129609
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