Mistakes made in paying Zakat Al Fitr

8 Basic Errors Muslims make when Paying Zakaat Al-Fitr
By Muhammad Alshareef

What is Zakaat ul-Fitr? Think "Iftar", Zakaat Ul-Fitr is the charity that we pay at the end of Ramadan. Here is the
foundational hadith that establishes the obligation of Zakaat ul-Fitr:

Ibn `Umar reported that the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam), made Zakaat al-Fitr compulsory on every slave,
freeman, male, female, young and old among the Muslims; one Saa3 (a measurement: four double handfuls) of dried dates or one Saa3 of barely. [Sahih Bukhari - Arabic/English, vol. 2, p. 339, no. 579]

But unfortunately, our community makes some basic errors in the payment of Zakaat Al-Fitr that must be clarified.

Error One: Paying at Eid Salah

Some people go to Eid prayers and drop money into the donation box thinking that they have paid their Zakaat
ul-Fitr. No, Zakaat al-Fitr, which is food, must be in the hands of the needy family BEFORE Eid prayer. If someone
goes to Eid prayer and pays then it is GUARANTEED that the money will NOT arrive on time. And thus the person paying is sinful for having missed the payment of Zakaat al-Fitr.

May Allah forgive us.

Error Two: Snail mailing the money overseas

Basic principle as before: the Zakaat al-Fitr, food, MUST be in the hands of the needy BEFORE Eid prayer. One cannot mail the money overseas and have it arrive in the hands of the needy after Eid prayer is over.

However, if one is able to get the Zakaah al-Fitr to the needy overseas BEFORE 3Eid prayer is conducted in their
locality, then in sha Allah it's alright.

Error Three: Not paying

Yes, as simple as this error is, it is HARAM to skip the payment of Zakaat Al-Fitr. EVERYONE must pay Zakat Al-Fitr,
every member of the household. So if you have 8 people in your house, Zakaat Al-Fitr must be paid x 8, even if the
youngest member is just a few days old.

Error Four: Confusing Zakat ul-Fitr with Zakat ul-Maal

We are talking about Zakaat al-Fitr here (think "Iftar", i.e. Ramadan). Zakaat Al-Maal (Maal literally means wealth),
is the Zakaah due on ones money – and that could be due any time during the year depending on when it was due.

Error Five: Giving money instead of food

Although some scholars have allowed giving money instead of food, the spirit of Zakat Al-Fitr is to give food to the
needy of the community, NOT money.

The Companion of the Prophet, Abu Sa3eed al-Khudree, radi Allaahu 3anhu, said, "In the Prophet's time, we used to give it (Zakaatal-Fitr) as a saa3 of food, dried dates, barley, raisins or dried cheese".
[Bukhari - Arabic/English vol. 2, p. 340, no. 582]

Error Six: Giving one's Zakah al-Fitr to a charitable building project

Some people mistakenly give their Zakaah Al-Fitr to a charitable building project: like the building of a Masjid, or Islamic school. There is a difference of opinion on this issue, but suffice it to say that the spirit of Zakaah
Al-Fitr is that the needy should have plentiful food on Eid. All eight types of recipients of Zakaah mentioned in
the Quran are HUMANS, not "building projects".

Error Seven: Giving Zakat ul-Fitr to non-Muslims

Charity is given to both Non-Muslims and Muslims. However, Zakaah al-Fitr charity is something exclusive to the MUSLIM poor and needy. Hence, one could not give Zakaah Al-Fitr to any needy person on the street. "Regular" charity can be given to them, but not Zakaah Al-Fitr.

Error Eight: Delaying distribution

Sometimes Masjids might collect Zakaah Al-Fitr money and then put it in a bank. It doesn't reach the needy for
months and months. The correct method is to give Zakaah Al-Fitr immediately when it is due.

By Muhammad Alshareef
AlMaghrib Instructor

May Allah forgive me for any errors I might make in writing this article, but because it's Zakaah Al-Fitr time, the time is NOW to get this info into your hands.

And to forward to other Muslims so they can do their Ibadah correctly.