Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(188): "The Amount of Zakat-Ul-Fitr for the Year 1434"

Date Added : 17-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(188)(7/2013) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"The Amount of Zakat-Ul-Fitr for the Year 1434"

Date: 25/8/1434 AH, corresponding to 4/7/2013 AD.

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

On the above given date, the Board reviewed the amount of Zakat-Ul-Fitr for the year 14334 AH.

 After researching and deliberating, it decided the following:

Zakat-Ul-Fitr is one of the obligations of Islam as indicated by the following Hadith: "Allah's Messenger (PBUH) made it incumbent on all the slave or free Muslims, male or female, to pay one Sa' of dates or barley as Zakat-ul-Fitr." {Bukhari}.

Zakat-Ul-Fitr embodies social solidarity that characterizes our tolerant Sharia; particularly, in the blessed month of  Ramadan; the month of goodness and kindness. Therefore, it is obligatory upon every Muslim who owns extra provisions beyond his need as well as the need of everyone in his family on the day and night of  Ed-Ul-Fitr. In other words, one father should pay for himself and for whom he supports, even for his baby who is born before the sunset of the last day of Ramadan as well as his poor parents whom he supports.

Therefore, the amount of Zakat-Ul-Fitr is one sa` of food; the sa` equals (2.5 Kgs.), given by a Muslim from what the people of his country eat the most. In the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the common food is wheat; therefore, Zakat-Ul-Fitr is (2.5 Kgs.) of wheat on every Muslim person. It is also permissible to give one sa` of rice since it is more useful to the poor and easier to provide by the giver. Moreover, it is permissible to give the value of this amount in currency.

The Board estimates the value of the sa` from the common food in Jordan as (1500 F.), and whoever wishes to pay more  shall have a greater reward from Allah, The Almighty.

The preferred time for giving Zakat-Ul-Fitr is between the sunset of the last day of Ramadan and the E`ed prayer. It is also permissible to give it from the beginning of Ramadan.

Nowadays, it is imperative that Muslims observe this ritual (Zakat-ul-Fitr) since it purifies the soul of the giver. Therefore, it must be given on behalf of the child, who isn`t obliged to fast, as well as the sick who is unable to fast. Ibn ’Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) enjoined Zakat-ul-fitr on the one who fasts (i.e. fasted during the month of Ramadan) to purify him from any indecent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for the needy.“ {Abu Dawood}. Giving it to the poor makes them self-sufficient on the day of E`ed; therefore , a Muslim must give it willingly and kindly.

We pray that Allah, The Almighty, Accepts our acts of devotion and Forgives our sins. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, The Grand Mufti of Jordan, Sheikh AbdulKareem al-Khasawneh

Prof. Abdulnasser Abulbasal / Member

Sheikh Sae`id Hijjawi / Member

Dr. Wasif al-Bakhri / Member

Prof. Mohammad al-Qhodat / Member

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh / Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Esa / Member

Dr. Mohammad  al-Z`obi / Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What are the conditions governing the portion that must be distributed to the poor from a voluntary uḍḥiyyah (sacrificial offering)?

 
 
 
 
 
 

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The following conditions apply to the portion distributed to the poor from the sacrificial animal:
First: It must be meat — it isn`t valid to give the poor organs or offal such as the liver.
Second: It must be given raw — cooked meat does not fulfil the requirement.
Third: It must amount to no less than half a kilogram. And Allah Almighty knows best.

Is Fajr (dawn) Sunnah a confirmed one?

All praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds                                                                                                                                                                                  Of course, it is a confirmed Sunna which the Prophet (PBUH) used to offer in a regular basis. And Allah Knows Best.

Is fidyah required for someone who breaks their fast due to a valid excuse?

● If the excuse is permanent, such as a chronic illness with no hope of recovery or old age, then fidyah is required. This means feeding one needy person for each missed fasting day.
● However, if the excuse is temporary, such as menstruation, postnatal bleeding, or a temporary illness, then only making up the missed fasts (qada) is required, and fidyah does not apply.

What is the ruling on giving Zakat al-Fitr in cash?

The default ruling is that Zakat al-Fitr should be given as the staple food of the land. In Jordan, for example, the staple food is wheat or rice, and the amount of Zakat al-Fitr is 2,500 grams per person. It is easy to give this amount of rice to the poor and needy, and this is the correct ruling according to all Islamic schools of thought.
However, Hanafi scholars have permitted giving Zakat al-Fitr as monetary value, considering it more beneficial for the poor and easier for the giver.