Question: 1) On
whom is sadaqatul fitr (fitraana) compulsory? Must one pay on behalf of his wife and children too? 2) What
amount has to be paid for sadaqatul fitr? 3) When
should sadaqatul fitr be
paid? 4) Can
one give his sadaqatul fitr
to two or more poor people or does he have to give it all to one person? Answer: بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most
Merciful. 1) Sadaqatul fitr is compulsory on a person if
the total value of his zakatable assets (cash, gold,
silver, merchandise) plus non-essential items (i.e. assets above his basic
needs) minus liabilities (debts) equals the zakat nisaab
or more. A father on whom sadaqatul fitr is compulsory must also pay sadaqatul
fitr on behalf of his immature (non-baligh) children if they do not have their own wealth equal
to the nisaab. If they have their own wealth equal to
the nisaab, he can pay their sadaqatul
fitr from their own wealth. A woman on whom sadaqatul fitr is compulsory must pay it herself. However,
if her husband voluntarily pays on her behalf, it will be permissible. 2) One
can pay any of these items or the value thereof: ·
2.25 kg of wheat ·
3.6 kg of barley ·
3.9 kg of sultanas ·
4.65 kg of dates
3) It is mustahab
(commendable) to give sadaqatul fitr
on the day of Eid before going for Eid prayer; but it can also be given during Ramadan or even
earlier. (Ikhtiyaar: 1/182; Ahsanul Fatawa: 4/384) However, if one is sending his sadaqatul fitr overseas (as most
people in Australia do) then it is preferable to send it before the Eid day so that the poor and needy can receive it on the Eid day and they, therefore, are not in a state of need and
apprehension on that day. في
حاشية الشيخ المحدّث علي السهارفوري على صحيح البخاري: قوله "أمر بزكاة الفطر
قبل خروج الناس إلى الصلاة" ظاهره يقتضي وجوب الأداء قبل صلاة العيد ولكنه
محمول على الاستحباب وذلك ليحصل الغناء للفقراء في هذا اليوم ويستريحون عن الطواف،
قاله العيني ( صحيح البخاري: 1/204 ط قديمي كتب خانه ) If one has not paid his sadaqatul fitr till the Eid day has passed, he will be sinful and must pay it as
soon as possible. Once he pays it, the sin will be wiped off. (Tahtaawi: 2/151) 4) It is permissible to give one’s sadaqatul fitr to more than one eligible
person. (Tahtawi: 2/404; Shaami:
3/377-378) And Allah Ta'ala knows
best. Faizal Riza Darul Ifta Australia |
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