SADAQAT-UL-FITR

1. Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is a certain amount of Sadaqat (charity/alms) which is Wajib on (1) every "rich" Muslim and (2) who is alive at the time of the appearance of Subh Saadiq (dawn) on the day of 'Eid-ul-Fitr.

For example, Sadaqat-ul-Fitr will be Wajib on a person who dies after, or a baby who is born before Subh Saadiq.

2. Regarding Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (and Qurbani), a Muslim is considered "rich" when he possesses, in addition to his basic necessities and after deducting his debts, about 90 grams of gold or 630 grams of silver (chaandi) or their equivalent in any form - in cash, dishes, furniture, clothing, etc.

3. Any Muslim who possesses several items such as some gold, silver, money and goods must add them all up and calculate the Nisab. (The Nisab is equivalent to about 90 grams of gold or 630 grams of silver). If by adding all, the value reaches Nisab, then it is obligatory (Wajib) for him to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr, although each item taken separately does not reach the Nisab.

4. When calculating the Nisab for the needs of Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (and Qurbani), the following items considered as basic needs are not taken into consideration:

  1. The house where one lives.
  2. The clothes that one uses.
  3. The effects of his house, furniture, utensils, etc.
  4. The tools that one uses for his work.
  5. The books necessary for the needs of his profession, position, trade, etc.
  6. The means of locomotion, for example, car, bicycle, etc.

5. Three sets of clothes should be able to satisfy the basic needs of a person. So if a person has four, then the 4th should be included when calculating the Nisab. Similarly, a person who owns two means of transportation, e.g. two cars, should include the second car when calculating the Nisab. Similarly, a piece of land that is vacant or under cultivation, a rented or unoccupied house should be included in the Nisab if the owner does not depend on the income from the land or the house for his livelihood.

6. Kitchen utensils are not normally included in the Nisab unless they are made of gold or silver. Gold and silver are always included in the Nisab regardless of the form they may take - jewellery, utensils, coins, etc.

7. Extra dishes that are not used are included in the Nisab.

SADAQAT-UL-FITR AND THE CHILDREN

  1. It is Waajib upon the person who has to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr to also give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for his children.
  2. Except for his own Sadaqat-ul-Fitr, it is not Waajib upon a woman to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for other people even for her own children.
  3. It is not Waajib upon the father to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for his mature children (baaligh) unless they are not of sound mind.

PEOPLE ON WHOM SADAQAT-UL-FITR IS NOT WAJIB

  1. The person who, after deducting his debts, does not possess the value of 90 grams of gold or 630 grams of silver, in any form (money, jewellery, etc.), in addition to his basic necessities is considered poor in Islam. It is not Wajib for him to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr on his behalf and on behalf of his children. However, if his minor children possess Nisab, he must give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr from their own money.
  2. Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is not Wajib for the person who dies before or the baby who is born after Subh Saadiq on the day of 'Eid-ul-Fitr.
  3. Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is not Wajib on the person who has the Nisab and whose debts are greater than the Nisab or whose capital after deducting his debts does not reach the Nisab.

WHEN SHOULD SADAQAT-UL-FITR BE GIVEN

It is mustahab to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr before the Salah of 'Eid-ul-Fitr. However, it is permissible to give it even before the day of 'Eid.

If a person was unable to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr on the day of 'Eid-ul-Fitr or before, he must give it after, even years later, otherwise it will remain as a debt on his head.

TO WHOM SHOULD SADAQAT-UL-FITR BE GIVEN

Sadaqat-ul-Fitr may be given to:

  1. MASAAKIN: People who are extremely poor and who do not have anything.
  2. FUQARA: People who in addition to their basic necessities and after deduction of their debts, have less than the Nisab.
  3. GHAARIMEEN: People who are in debt and who do not have the Nisab after deduction of their debts.
  4. FEE SABEELILLAH: Those who are in the path of Allah, such as poor mujahids (fighters), poor Islamic students or those who are on a Hajj journey and are short of money.
  5. IBN-US-SABEEL: The musaafirs (travellers) who, although very rich and have fortunes at home, are short of money during their journey.

THOSE WHO CANNOT RECEIVE SADAQAT-UL-FITR

It is not permissible to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (and even Zakaat):

  1. To one's ascendants (father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, etc.) and descendants (son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, etc.). If one has done so, Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (or Zakaat) will not be discharged. However, one can give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (and Zakaat) to one's brother, sister, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, etc.
  2. To a non-Muslim.
  3. For the construction of a Masjid or a Madrassah and for kafan and dafan i.e. to incur funeral expenses despite the deceased being poor. In other words, Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (or Zakaat) cannot be given in such a way that no one becomes the owner of it.
  4. To a person who is "rich" from the point of view of Islam and to the minor children of this person.
  5. To Banu Haashim. These are the descendants of Hadhrat Abbaas (Radiyallahu anhu) and Haarith, and those of Abu Taalib through the lineage of Hadhrat 'Ali (Radiyallahu anhu), Hadhrat Ja'far (Radiyallahu anhu) and Hadhrat 'Aqeel (Radiyallahu anhu).

WHAT IS THE RATE OF SADAQAT-UL-FITR?

  1. Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is equivalent to approximately 1638 grams or 3 pounds, 138 grams, i.e. slightly more than 3 ¼ pounds of wheat or wheat flour.
  2. Several Sadaqat-ul-Fitr can be given to one person. Similarly, one Sadaqat-ul-Fitr can be distributed among several people.

[English version of "Sadaqat-oul-Fitr" – Al Haadi – Vol. 1 No. 7]