Tuesday March 19, 2024
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Zakat Al Fitr is a charitable donation that is obligatory upon every Muslim to distribute among the needy/ poor at the completion of the Holy month of Ramadan before performing the Eid prayer.                                                                                                                         
The nature of this donation is that of a tax which every Muslim man, woman, or even the children has to submit in the way of Allah Almighty. So they are bound to pay it on their own and their dependents’ (wife,children, etc) behalf.
The basic purpose of this obligation is to make up for the mistakes that might one had made during fasting in Ramadan.Another aim of Fitra is to provide the poor some sufficient goods so that they can also enjoy the blessed festival of Eid ul Fitr bestowed by Allah Almighty.
 
Ibn Abbas has narrated: “The Holy Prophet (PBUH) made Zakat al-Fitr compulsory so that those who fasted may be purified of their idle deeds and shameful talk and so that the poor may be fed’. (Abu Dawud)
 
Fitrah becomes compulsory upon Muslims by the end of last sunset of Ramadan & sight of new moon (i.e.for Mah-Shawwal) till the beginning of the Eid prayer but it has also been seen in the times of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that the Sahaba (the Companions) used to distribute Firtah a couple of days before Eid.
So the Islamic principles teach us to pay the donation in advance to the needy individuals of our community so that they can also prepare for the Eid.The form of this donation is usually in a short amount of food which has been a tradition in the Muslim community for decades.The amount of Zakat Al-Fitr guided by the Beloved Prophet (PBUH) is equivalent to one Sa’a of grain.
 
“The Prophet  enjoined the Zakah of Ramadan on everyone, young and old, free and slave, male and female, a Sa’a of dates or a Sa’a of barley.” (Sahih)
 
A Sa’a is an ancient means of calculation. In which one Sa’a is equal to approximately 3.28 litres, 2.73 kgs of rice, 2.8kg of wheat, 2.7kg of dates, or 2.4kgs of barley.)
However, the current cost according to the market rate of 2.25 kilograms of flour has been set as a sum up to about Rs. 100 per head.
And the people who want to pay it according to the prices of barley, dates or raisins will have to give Rs. 320, Rs. 1,680 or Rs. 1,600 per head, respectively.

GOODS ZAKAT AL-FITR FIDYAH FOR FASTING (30DAYS) KAFARAH OF FASTING KAFARAH FOR PROMISING
Wheat Flour 2kg Rs. 100 Rs. 3,000 Rs. 6,000 Rs. 1,000
Barley Flour 4kg Rs. 400 Rs. 12,000 Rs. 24,000 Rs. 4,000
Dates 4kg Rs. 1,600 Rs. 48,000 Rs. 96,000 Rs. 16,000
Raisin 4kg Rs. 1,920 Rs. 57,600 Rs. 1,15,200 Rs. 19,200
Cheese 4kg Rs. 2,940 Rs. 88,200 Rs. 1,76,400 Rs. 29,400

 
On the other hand, the Muslims who are unable to fast during the Holy month of Ramadan due to any reason are asked to pay its compensation called Fidyah and its minimum amount is Rs. 100 per missing fast and Rs. 3000 in case of not fasting for the whole month that would also be equivalent to the cost of flour.
Whereas, for Barley, Dates, and Raisin the Fidya stands as Rs. 19,200, Rs. 96,000, and Rs. 96,000 for the entire month of Ramadan.
However, the Kafara for leaving all fasts is Rs. 6,000 for wheat, Rs. 14,400 for barley, Rs. 76,800 for dates and Rs. 153,600 for raisin.
May our fasts are accepted and our hearts be purified of all our sins during the Holy Month of Ramadan and even after. And May we get the ability to pay all of our liabilities such as Fitrah, Fidyah, and Kafarah. Ameen!