Q: Who is it obligatory upon?
Answer:
(1) It’s obligatory upon every Muslim (male, female, young, old, free, or slave)
(2) Who has more than his and his dependents’ needs on Eid day and it’s night.
Q: If I am in debt do I have to give Zakatul Fitr?
Answer:
You have to pay unless the creditor is demanding their money now, and you will have nothing left to give Zakat ul Fitr.
Q: Do I give Zakatul Fitr only for myself?
Answer:
You pay for yourself and those dependent upon you.
Q: What if I’m unable to give Zakat ul Fitr for anyone else?
Answer:
If you are unable you start with yourself, then your wife, then your children, then your parents (and you start with your mother than your father).
Q: Is Zakatul Fitr given on behalf of the fetus?
Answer:
It is preferred to give Zakat ul Fitr on behalf of the fetus as it used to be done by Uthmaan (may Allah be pleased with him) but it’s not obligatory.
Q: When does Zakatul Fitr become obligatory?
Answer:
It becomes obligatory when the sunsets and the new moon is sighted.
Q: Can I give it out before the time of obligation?
Answer:
You can give it out a day or two days early but as for earlier than two days, it will not be accepted because it is not known from the Salaf.
Q: When is the best time to give it out?
Answer:
The best time is on Eid day before the prayer.
Q: What if I give Zakatul Fitr on Eid day after the prayer?
Answer:
If you delay it till after the Eid prayer it will be Sadaqah.
Q: What if I delay it till the next day?
Answer:
This is considered making up for Zakatul Fitr and you will be sinful for delaying it.
Q: What is the amount given out as Zakatul Fitr?
Answer:
A صاع sā’ of staple food that is eaten by the people of the land. E.g. Wheat, barley, dates, raisins etc.
Q: What is a صاع Sā’?
Answer:
It is just under three kilograms and if you give out three kilograms you will be on the safe side.
Q: Can I give the value in money instead of staple food?
Answer:
Giving the value in money is not accepted because it in opposition to the command of the prophet (peace be upon him).
Q: Who do I give my Zakat ul Fitr to?
Answer:
It is given to the poor and needy.
Q: Do I give my Zakat ul Fitr to one poor person or a group of poor people?
Answer:
You can give the Zakat ul Fitr of many people to one poor person.
You can also split the Zakat ul Fitr of one person and give it to multiple poor people. (But you have to tell the poor person it is not a full صاع Sā’, so they don’t give it out on behalf of themselves thinking it’s a full صاع Sā’.)
Q: Can I give my Zakat ul Fitr to poor people in a different locality?
Answer:
What is better and preferred is that it’s given to the poor people of the locality you are in however if there is a need to send it elsewhere it can be done.
This is a summary of the speech of the scholars regarding Zakat ul Fitr.
1) Taken from the official website of the scholar Ibn Bāz.
2) Majmo’ Fatawa of Ibn Uthaymeen, Volume 20, pages 391-397
3) The explanation of Zaad Al-Mustaqni’ of Salih Al-Fawzan, Volume 2, pages 283-30
