Ramadan
Lessons # 19 Zakat-ul-Fitr
Another name for Zakat-ul-Fitr, is Sadaqat ul-Fitr which is a type of charity or donation.
The word Fitr means the same thing as Iftar, which is the breaking of our fast.
So Zakat-ul-Fitr is a type donation which is only given to the poor people during the
end of Ramadan.
Zakat-ul-Fitr is a very small amount of donation, so almost, all Muslims have to pay this to
the poor people.
Even for little children, their parents have to pay Zakat Ul Fitr for them.
When we all do this, it helps Muslims come closer to each other.
The rich come to the poor people, poor people come to the extremely poor people.
By giving this donation, this is a very good training for those who are very cheap, although
that’s not the main reason for Zakat-ul-Fitr.
During the month of Ramadan we try very hard to fast in the most perfect way but we
are all human, we make mistakes and Allah (T) knows that.
So Allah gives us an opportunity to finish our fasting perfectly by giving Zakat-ul-Fitr
to the poor.
It is like water for our fasting.
When we are fasting we might make an unknown mistake, but Zakatul fitr will clean that
mistake like water, Inshallah.
Sometimes we are confused between Zakat and Zakatul Fitr.
There are 4 main differences between Zakat and Zakatul Fitr.
No. 1: For Zakat: Those who have a certain level of savings or wealth only they have
to pay Zakat.
For Zakatul Fitr: every Muslim, rich or poor, man or women, adult or baby have to pay Zakatul
Fitr.
No. 2: Zakat purifies our money or wealth.
But Zakatul Fitr purifies our fasting that we do in Ramadan.
No. 3: we can spend our Zakat money in eight categories or sections.
But we can give our Zakatul Fitr only to the very poor people.
No. 4: Zakat can be given at any time of the year but Zakatul Fitr has a very limited timeframe.
According to Abbas(R), the best time to pay our Zakatul Fitr is on the morning of
Eid Day before Eid prayer.
For more information we can see Hadith from: Sahih al-Bukhari
Sahih Muslim Ahmad
an-Nasa`i Abu Dawood
Al-Baihaqee