| Zakah is the fifth of the Pillars of Islam and paying Zakat-ul-Fitr in cash is not permissible Q: Some Muslims are paying Zakah (obligatory charity) due on their wealth. Is it permissible to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr (obligatory charity paid before the Festival of Breaking the Fast) in the form of money?  A: Allah has prescribed and commanded the payment of Zakah on His Slaves. Zakah has been made one of the five pillars of Islam. Allah (Exalted be He) says:  And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allâh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give Zakât, and that is the right religion. Allah (Exalted be He) also says: | | (Part No. 14; Page No. 30) | |
And perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakât and obey the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) that you may receive mercy (from Allâh). There are many other Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) in this regard. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said:  Islam was based on five pillars: testimony that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; performing Salah (prayers), giving Zakah; fasting Ramadan; and performing Hajj (pilgrimage). (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). All Muslims are obliged to give the Zakah due on their wealth and deliver it to the deserving recipients hoping to attain Allah's Reward and fearing His Punishment. The categories of Muslims who are worthy of receiving Zakah have been defined in the Ayah (Qur'anic verse) in Surah Al-Tawbah where Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: As-Sadaqât (here it means Zakât) are only for the Fuqarâ’ (poor), and the Masâkin (needy) and those employed to collect (the funds), and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islâm), and to free the captives, and for those in debt, and for Allâh’s Cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allâh. And Allâh is All-Knower, All-Wise. In the same Surah Allah informs us that Zakah purifies the soul of those who pay it. Allah (Glorified be He) says: Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it On the other hand, Allah has threatened a painful punishment to those who withhold it out of miserliness. | | (Part No. 14; Page No. 31) | |
Allah (Glorified be He) says: And those who hoard up gold and silver [Al-Kanz: the money, the Zakât of which has not been paid] and spend them not in the Way of Allâh, announce unto them a painful torment.On the Day when that (Al-Kanz: money, gold and silver the Zakât of which has not been paid) will be heated in the Fire of Hell and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, (and it will be said unto them): "This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard." It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Any money whose due Zakah is not paid, is treasure with which its owner will be punished. It is also authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Every owner of camels or cattle or goats who does not pay their due Zakah will be punished with it on the Day of Resurrection. Allah has also made it obligatory on Muslims to pay Zakah for the purification of their souls. This type of Zakah is known as Zakat-ul-Fitr. It is narrated in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) who said: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) 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 should be paid before the people went out to offer the ‘Id prayer. This is the version narrated by Al-Bukhari. It is also narrated in the Two Sahih on the authority of Abu Sa`id (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: During the Prophet's time, we used to give it (Zakat-ul-Fitr) as a Sa` (1 Sa` = 3 kg. approx.) of food, dried dates, | | (Part No. 14; Page No. 32) | |
barley, raisins or dried cheese". According to the most correct view held by scholars, other types of food hold the same ruling and can thus be paid as Zakat-ul-Fitr, like rice, corn, wheat and other things of the sort. The main purpose of Zakat-ul-Fitr is to provide those who fasted with the means of making up for their errors during the month of fasting. It also serves as a food gift for the needy. This is based on the Hadith narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both). It is narrated by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah. Al-Hakim classified this Hadith as Sahih (authentic). As per the command of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), Muslims have to pay this Zakah before Salat-ul-`Eid (the Festival Prayer). There is no harm if Zakat-ul-Fitr is paid one or two days before the `Eid. This was the practice of the Prophet's Sahabah (Companions). It should be made clear that Zakat-ul-Fitr can be paid on the twenty eighth, twenty ninth, thirtieth of Ramadan or a short time before Salat-ul-`Eid. This is because the lunar month can be twenty nine or thirty days as has been narrated in the Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him).According to the majority's view, it is not permissible to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr in the form of money as this contradicts the practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them all). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Say: "Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he (Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) is only responsible for the duty placed on him (i.e. to convey Allâh’s Message) and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger’s duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a plain way)." | | (Part No. 14; Page No. 33) | |
Allah (Glorified be He) says: And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah - legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant) should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them. May Allah grant us success. |
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