Zakatul-Fitr: How it is done
It has become a practice among Muslims to offer their Zakat in the month of Ramadan. This is generally done to increase one's blessings.
Zakatul-Fitr is not simply the calculation of your dues on your assets. Its scope and implication transcend what we must do in the case of the fourth pillar of Islam.
However, we should remember that Zakah becomes due, one year after a person's wealth reaches the value of Nisab (minimum amount) and according to most scholars, his wealth has to remain above that Nisab level throughout the course of the year. This means he must be free from all indebtedness and liabilities. Again it is done annually at a predetermined period.
So, it is impossible for the whole Ummah to have reached the obligation of paying Zakah, at the beginning or end of Ramadan. We should be clear in our minds that this type of Zakah is not tied in with the month of Ramadan.
An individual can bring forward his Zakah due date, in order to take advantage of the multi-fold blessings of Ramadan. In fact, to make it easy on the recipients whose needs have to be met, one might chose Ramadan for the extra Sadaqa he gives out. Zakatul-Fitr is only payable at the end of Ramadan. It is done with staple food consumable in a particular area. In this part of the world, grains such as rice, millet or foods like garri, beans etc are given as charity.
Every free Muslim must pay Zakatul-Fitr for himself, his wife, children, and servants. It is only obligatory for those who have more than what is required to give as zakat-ul-fitr. If you have more than one mudu of staple food in your house, then it is obligatory upon you to give others who don't have.
In essence, the rationale behind it is to make others happy during the festive period; it purifies the fasting Muslim from any shortcoming during the fast. And since every Muslim needs this, it is therefore obligatory on him whether rich or poor. Put succinctly, for anyone who has more than a mudu of staple food or excess of what he can take for a day at home is qualified to give fitrah. The person paying must pay on behalf of his dependant, such as wife, children, house help, etc while the dependants are exempted.
Zakatul-Fitr becomes obligatory with the coming of the night of the 'Eid (i.e. the night before the 1st of Shawwal). It could start from the time of fajr on the day of the 'Eid until just before the prayer.
Prayer of the day
Allahuma ar-zuquni fihi fadhala lailatul Qadri, wa swayirr umuri fihi minal usuri ilaal-yussuri. Allahumo inaka afuuwu, tuibul-afwa faa afuwa nii.
O Allah, on this day, bestow on me the blessings of Laylatul Qadr, change my affairs from being difficult to being easy. O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness.
So forgive me.
Rabbana 'atina mil-ladunka Rahmataw wa hayya lana min amrina rashada
Our Lord! Bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way! [18:10]
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Engr.Sulthan
