Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (259): "The Amount of Zakat-ul-Fitr for the Year 1439"

Date Added : 24-05-2018

Resolution No. (259)(12/2018) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"The Amount of Zakat-ul-Fitr for the Year 1439"

Date: 8/Ramadan/1439 AH, corresponding to 24/5/2018 AD.

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

On the above date, the Board reviewed the amount of Zakat-ul-Fitrfor the year (1439 AH), corresponding to (24/5/2018), and after deliberations it decided the following:

Zakat-ul-Fitr is a religious obligation and a manifestation of social solidarity which characterizesour tolerant Sharia; particularly in the blessed month of Ramadan; the month of good deeds and kindness. Therefore, it is an obligation on 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.

Ibn `Umar narrated: "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." {Related by Bukhari}.

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (RAA) narrated: “We used to offer it (Zakat-ul-fitr) during the lifetime of the Prophet as one sa’ of food or one sa' of dates, or one sa' of barley or one sa' of raisins’’ {Agreed upon}.

Therefore, the amount of Zakat-ul-Fitr is one Sa` of food. {Sa` equals 2.5 Kgs.}. In the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the common food is wheat. Therefore, Zakat-ul-Fitr is (2.5 Kgs.) of wheat on every person. It is also permissible to give one Sa` of rice since it is common food. Moreover, it is permissible to give thevalue of this amount in cash.

The Board estimates the value of the Sa` from the common food in Jordan as (1800 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 the duty of every Muslimto observe this ritual (Zakat-ul-Fitr) forit purifies the soul from any indecent act. 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 should give it willingly and kindly.

The Board estimates the ransom (Saum Fidyah) for breaking fastby those unable to fast due to old age or sickness (people exempted from fasting), as (1 JD at the minimum) for each missed day, and whoever wishes to give more shall receive a greater reward from Allah, The Almighty.

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

The Iftaa` Board (2017)

Chairman: Dr Mohammad Al-Khalayleh, Grand Mufti of Jordan

Sheikh Abdulkareem Khasawneh/ Member

Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat/Member

Prof.Abdulnaser Abulbasal/Member

Dr.Moh.Khair Al-Esa/ Member

Dr. Majid Drawsheh/Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Hijawi/Member           

Judge Khalid Woraikat/Member

Dr. Mohammad al-Zou`bi/Member   

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on fasting for those with diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or ulcers?

● A sick person who is completely unable to fast is exempted from fasting and must offer fidyah (feeding a needy person), as Allah Almighty says {what means}: "and [in such cases] it is incumbent upon those who can afford it to make sacrifice by feeding a needy person." [Al-Baqarah/184]. They are not required to make up for the missed fasts.
● A sick person who can fast on some days but not others should fast when able and make up the missed days after Ramadan when possible. No fidyah is required in this case.
● If fasting during the long, hot summer days is too difficult for a sick person, but they can make up the fasts during the shorter, cooler winter days, they should break their fast and make up for it when they are able, without fidyah.

Is fasting obligatory for a child?

Fasting is not obligatory for a child until they reach puberty. Puberty is determined by well-known signs, the most common of which are: nocturnal emission (for both males and females), menstruation (for females), or reaching the age of fifteen lunar years.
A guardian must instruct their children to fast once they reach the age of discernment, which is around seven years old, if they are capable of fasting.

What is the ruling on Zakat al-Fitr?

Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory upon every Muslim for themselves and for those they are financially responsible for, provided they possess wealth that is surplus to their and their family's needs on the night and day of Eid.
Ibn Umar reported: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory—one sa‘ (measure) of dates or one sa‘ of barley—upon every Muslim, whether slave or free, male or female, young or old." [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]
Its estimated amount is approximately 2,500 grams of wheat or rice, and the General Iftaa` Department issues an annual ruling specifying its monetary value.

What is the ruling on a vowed animal sacrifice?

A vowed animal sacrifice is to be distributed amongst the poor and needy, and neither the vow-maker, nor those supported by him are to eat from it.