How to calculate Zakat-ul-fitr?

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

how you calculate the fitra? and how i calculate my zakat and did i distribute my zakat money to the needy people i know? 

 

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Answer:

 

How to calculate Zakat-ul-fitr?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol,  no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Your comment: how you calculate the fitra?

We assume that you mean ‘zakat-ul-fitr’ when you say ‘fitra’.   The minimum amount that one must give as ‘zakat-ul-fitr’ is determined by the following narration of the Messenger of Allah (saws):

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.579        

Allah's Apostle (saws) enjoined the payment of one Sa' of dates or one Sa' of barley as Zakat-ul-Fitr on every Muslim slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he ordered that it be paid before the people went out to offer the 'Id prayer.

 

Al-Bukhari and Muslim relate that: "The Prophet(saws)  enjoined the payment of one sa' of dates or one sa' of barley as zakat ul-fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave."

 

Al-Baihaqi and ad-Daraqutni relate: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) enjoined the zakat ul-fitr,  and also said: 'Free them (the poor) from want on this day.'"

 

The required amount of zakat ul-fitr is one sa' of wheat, barley, raisins, dry cottage cheese (aqit), rice, corn, or similar items considered as basic foods (qut).   Abu Hanifah made it permissible to set aside, as a zakat ul-fitr, an equivalent value and also said that if the payer pays in wheat, one-half of a sa' would be sufficient.  Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported: "We used to give on behalf of every child, old person, freeman, and slave during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (saws), one sa' of food, or one sa' of dried cottage cheese, or one sa' of barley, or one sa' of dates, or one sa' of raisins as zakat ul-fitr.   Abu Sa'id contended: "I would continue to give as I used to give, namely, one sa' as long as I live."  This is related by most hadith narrators.  At-Tirmidhi remarks: "Some of the scholars gave one sa' from every charitable item [which is accepted as a sound practice]."  Ash-Shaf'i and Ishaq sustain this view but some other scholars gave one sa' from every charitable item except wheat, of which only half a sa' would be sufficient. This is the saying of Sufyan, Ibn al-Mubarak, and the scholars of Kufah.

 

One Saa' is equal to four (4) Mudd, and one (1) Mudd is equal to the amount held by cupping the two hands together. It is a measure by volume not by weight.  As the amount would differ if we compare the value of one saa' of dates to one saa' of barley for example.    Since a saa' of barley is approximately $2.00, while a saa' of dates ranges -according to quality from $1.50 - $60.00!;  the scholars are unanimous in their opinion that the minimum amount per person as zakat-ul-fitr in this day and age is about $2.50.

 

If is preferable (and some scholars say mandatory) to give the zakat-ul-fitr as food to the poor and needy of the society.   But if one is not able to personally give out the food as zakat-ul-fitr,  it is permissible to give the equivalent amount to an organization who collects the zakat-ul-fitr;  and they in turn will purchase the food on your behalf and give it to the poor and needy.

 

Your comment: how i calculate my zakat and did i distribute my zakat money to the needy people i know? 

Zakat is the tax levied by Allah Subhanah and the right of the poor believers on the wealth of the rich believers of the society.  The rate of the normal zakat is 2.5% of the person’s excess wealth or net worth, which has been in his possession for a period of one year.

Zakat can be paid out to any of the following eight deservants as ordained by Allah in the Glorious Quran:

Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 60: Zakat Collections are for the needy, and the indigent, and for those who are employed to collect them, and for those whose hearts are to be won over, and for the ransoming of slaves, and for helping the debtors, and the way of Allah, and for the hospitality of the way-farers.

 

The needy

The indigent

To those who are employed to collect them (by the Islamic State)

To those whose hearts are to be won over (to the non-muslims who are contemplating accepting Islam)

For the ransoming of slaves

To help one who is in debt

In the Way of Allah

For the hospitality of way-farers

 

If you pay your zakat dues to the poor and needy that you know (and especially if they are from among your poor relatives),  then that is better than giving it to someone whom you do not know…. As your poor relatives have a bigger right on you than the others.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your Brother in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 

 

 
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