The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No. 1692- At the time of sunset during the night of Eid al-Fitr (i.e., the night preceding Eid day), it is obligatory on whoever is sane, needless and mature to give zakāt of fiṭrah to a deserving person, on his own behalf as well as on behalf of those whose maintenance is obligatory on him. Zakāt of fiṭrah per person is about three kilos (one ṣā‘) of food which is common in his area, such as wheat, barley, date, rice, corn, etc. It is also sufficient if he pays the price of one of these items.

Issue No. 1693- A needless person is one who has enough to meet his own expenses, as well as those whose maintenance is obligatory on him for a period of one year, whether he already owns or possesses money for his annual spending or earns income through business. A person who is not in such a state is considered as a poor individual, and it will not be obligatory on him to pay zakāt of fiṭrah, rather, he can receive zakāt of fiṭrah.

Issue No. 1694- One should pay fiṭrah (zakāt of fiṭrah) for all those persons who are his dependents at his house on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, whether they are minors or adults, Muslims or not, their maintenance is obligatory on him or not and whether they are living with him or somewhere else.

Issue No. 1696- It is obligatory to pay the fiṭrah of a guest who arrives at one’s house with the host’s consent and intends to stay for a while, before the sunset of the eve of Eid al-Fitr. However, if he has been invited for Eid al-Fitr night only, it is not obligatory on the host to pay his fiṭrah. If it was without the consent of the owner of the house, the obligatory precaution is to pay his fiṭrah. The same rule applies regarding the payment of fiṭrah if one is compelled to bear the expenses of the maintenance of another person.

Issue No. 1698- If a person is poor but possesses three Kilos of wheat and the like, it is recommended that he should pay zakāt of fiṭrah. If he has family members and wishes to pay their zakāt of fiṭrah as well, he can give those three Kilos to one of his family members with the intention of zakāt of fiṭrah, then give it to another family member and so on until the last person; it is better though, that the last person should give what he receives to a person who is not one of them. In case one of them is a minor his legal guardian can take zakāt of fiṭrah on his behalf and then give it to another person.

Issue No. 1699- If one’s child is born after the sunset of the eve of Eid al-Fitr, or somebody becomes one of those whose maintenance is obligatory on him after sunset, it is recommended that he should pay his fiṭrah, however, it is not obligatory.

Issue No. 1702- If it is obligatory on a person to pay the fiṭrah of another person, his obligation will not end if the latter himself pays his own fiṭrah, unless it is with the consent and permission of him (the former).

Issue No. 1703- If the husband of a woman does not bear her expenses and somebody else is paying for her expenses, it is obligatory on that person to pay her fiṭrah. In case a woman [who is not poor] earns money and spends her income for her expenses, she should pay her fiṭrah herself, provided that she is not poor.

Issue No. 1704- A sayyid cannot receive zakāt of fiṭrah from a non-sayyid.

Issue No. 1705- The fiṭrah of a child who is breastfed by its mother or a wet nurse is due on the one who bears the expenses of the mother or the wet nurse. However, if the mother or the nurse meets her expenses from the property of the child itself, payment of fiṭrah for the child is not obligatory on any person.

Issue No. 1706- The person who meets the expenses of his family members by haram money, must pay their fiṭrah out of halal property.

Issue No. 1707- If a person employs someone and agrees to meet his expenses (i.e., a servant), he should pay his fiṭrah. However, this does not apply to the labourers whose expenses are met by their employer as a part of their wages; thus, it will not be obligatory on him (employer) to pay their fiṭrah. Similarly, in guest houses and the like, where it is common for the staffers to have their meals there, and in fact, the food that they eat is considered to be part of their wages, it is obligatory on them to pay their fiṭrah themselves and the employer would be under no obligation.