Frequently Asked Questions on Zakat Al-Fitrah
According to Fataawa of Ayatullah Sayyid Ali al-Husayni Seestani by Academy of Learning Islam
Prayer
Following are some important rules:
(i) Fitrah should not be sent outside the town one resides in, if there are deserving mumineen in that town.
(ii) Fitrah from a non-Sayyid cannot be given to a needy Sayyid; the reverse is permissible.
(iii) A needy should be given at least one Fitrah
(iv) Amongst the needy, relatives should be preferred over others when giving Fitrah, next in line are neighbors and then the learned.
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A needy who: consumes alcohol, does not say his daily prayers (salat), commits sins openly, or he who is known to use the Fitrah in sinful way.
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It is given to the needy who are unable to meet their own or their dependents annual living expenses, nor do they have the means to do so through earning.
Ayatullah As-Seestani says that the needy who is given the fitrah must be a Shi`ah Ithna `Ashari.
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Yes, cash value in lieu of any food stuff mentioned can be given as Fitrah.
Thus, if a kilo of rice costs $2.00, the cash value of Fitrah on rice per person would be $6.00.
We recommend, Fitrah on basmati rice to be Australian Dollars 10.00 for residents of Australia (Please check prices for other items in your areas.)
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Fitrah for a person is given on a weight of three kilograms (one sa`a) on any food commodity like wheat, barley, rice, millet, raisins or dates.
Ayatullah Seestani is of the opinion that the item that is not a staple food in your town should not be given in Fitrah.
Say, for example, if millet is not a staple in Vancouver then Vacouver mumineen should not pay Fitrah on millet.
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Ayatullah Sayyid As-Sistani says that the host should still pay the Fitrah as an obligatory precaution.
However, Marhum Ayatullah Sayyid al-Khui was of the opinion that is recommended for the host to pay Fitrah of an uninvited guest.
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In this case the guest will pay his/her own Fitrah and it is not obligatory on the host to pay Fitrah for the guest.
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If a person invites another person to his house on the eve of Eid al-Fitr and if the guest is present at the host’s place at the time of the sunset then it is obligatory for the host to pay Fitrah for his guest.
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Paying Fitrah is obligatory on every Muslim who is mature (baligh), sane, financially able, and conscious on the eve of Eid al-Fitr.
Fitrah should also be paid on behalf of all dependents (e.g. wife, children) whom one supports financially.
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Giving Fitrah before the eve of Eid al-Fitr is not permissible.
However, if you wish to send Fitrah earlier so that it reaches the needy on time, then you can send it as a temporary loan to the needy and then change your intention from loan to Fitrah on the eve of Eid al-Fitr.
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If one does not give out or set aside the Fitrah within the due time, he should give the Fitrah later, on the basis of precaution, without making the niyyah of adaa or qadhaa but only Qurbatan Ilallah
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Payment of Fitrah becomes obligatory after sunset on the eve of Eid al- Fitr.
The Fitrah should be kept aside and paid on Eid al-Fitr before Eid prayers or before midday for those who cannot say their Eid prayers.
It is necessary to have obligatory intention (niyyah) of giving Fitrah for God’s pleasure only.
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Imams (a) say that the verses:
Indeed whosoever purifies himself shall achieve success, and glorifies the Name of his Lord and prays (87:14 & 15) refer to giving of Fitrah and saying prayers on Eid al-Fitr.
Imam Ja`far as- Sadiq (a) said: for your fast to be accepted, give zakât.
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It is religious tax/alms (zakat) paid on the day when Muslims break the fasting period at the end of the month of Ramadhan.
This alms is known as Zakat al-Fitrah
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