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:

Assalamualaikum

 

i want to know about fitra, how it should be calculated? and is it necessary to pay there itself where we are working (i.e. in the same country where we are working and not in the home country).

 

one more thing related to UMRA and HAJJ, my grand father is dead and my grand mother is not in healthy position to perform UMRA or HAJJ, can I on behalf on them perform the HAJJ and UMRA with performing my own first.

 

one more thing regarding doing imamat during the NAMAZ (SALAH), is it necessary the imaam should have full beared during doing the imamat or a person with clean shaved or trimmed his beared can do imamat, do this NAMAZ is allowed in ISLAM? this problem happens in our office.

 

pls guide me in the light of QURAN and HADIS for the above questions as soon as possible.

 

your brother and well wisher in ISLAM

sarfaraz

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Hajj umrah badal for another

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Your Question: i want to know about fitra, how it should be calculated?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.579        

Allah's Messenger (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 (saws) 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 zakat-ul-fitr is due for every muslim in one’s household, male or female, young or old.  Although it is permissible for each individual to pay his zakat-ul-fitr himself, it is the responsibility for the head of the household to pay the zakat-ul-fitr for each individual under his care.

 

The minimum 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).

One Saa' is equal to four ‘Mudds’, and one Mudd is equal to the amount held by cupping the two hands together. It is a measure by volume and not by weight.  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 of the 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 believers 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 Question: and is it necessary to pay there itself where we are working (i.e. in the same country where we are working and not in the home country).

Although it is preferred to give the ‘zakat-ul-fitr’ in the society one normally resides in, there is absolutely no obligation or restriction upon the believer who wishes to fulfill his ‘zakat-ul-fitr’ dues in any nation or country of his choice.

 

Your Question: one more thing related to UMRA and HAJJ, my grand father is dead and my grand mother is not in healthy position to perform UMRA or HAJJ, can I on behalf on them perform the HAJJ and UMRA with performing my own first.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.418         Narrated by Ibn Abbas

A woman came to the Prophet (saws) and said, "My mother vowed to perform the Hajj but she died before performing it. Should I perform the Hajj on her behalf?" He (saws) said, "Yes! Perform the Hajj on her behalf.  See, if your mother had been in debt, would you have paid her debt?"  She said, "Yes." He (saws) said, "So you should pay what is for Him, as Allah has more right that one should fulfill one's obligations to Him."

 

The believers are allowed in Shariah to perform the Hajj or the Umra pilgrimage for their loved ones who are deceased, or for their loved ones who are unable to perform the journey to the Sacred House.  If Allah Wills and Pleases to accept their efforts, the Lord Will reward the one who fulfills the rites as well as the one for whom it was intended.

 

Your Question: one more thing regarding doing imamat during the NAMAZ (SALAH), is it necessary the imaam should have full beared during doing the imamat or a person with clean shaved or trimmed his beared can do imamat, do this NAMAZ is allowed in ISLAM? this problem happens in our office.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2527  Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘Striving (Jihad) in the path of Allah is incumbent on you along with every ruler, whether he is pious or impious; the prayer is obligatory on you behind every believer, pious or impious, even if he commits grave sins; the (funeral) prayer is incumbent upon every Muslim, pious and impious, even if he commits major sins.’

 

The having of a beard, or the length of one’s beard has absolutely nothing to do with the eligibility or validity of the ‘imam’ leading the prayers in congregation! The believers can and should pray behind any chosen or appointed ‘Imam’ leading the congregation, even if the ‘imam’ were impious or commits grave sins.

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.663         Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "If the Imam leads the prayer correctly then he and you will receive the rewards; but if he makes a mistake (in the prayer) then you will receive the reward for the prayer and the sin will be his."

 

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

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan