Sadaqah-e-Fitr is Kaffarah for useless speech

Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas رضی اللہ عنہ has stated, ‘The Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم declared Sadaqah-e-Fitr Wajib so that it would cleanse (our) fasts from useless and immoral speech and that it would provide the poor with food.’

(Sunan Abi Dawud, pp. 158, vol. 2, Hadiš 1609)

Fasts remain suspended

Sayyiduna Anas Bin Malik رضی اللہ عنہ has stated that the Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم has said, ‘Man’s fast remains suspended (i.e. hanging) between the earth and sky unless Sadaqah-e-Fitr is paid.’

(Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, pp. 253, vol. 8, Hadiš 24124)

Amount of Sadaqah-e-Fitr

1.920 Kilograms of wheat or its flour or the money equivalent to the value of this much wheat is the amount of one Sadaqah-e-Fitr.

Sixteen Madani pearls of FiTrah:

1. Paying Sadaqah-e-Fitr is Wajib for every such Muslim man and woman who is a Sahib-e-Nisab provided that the bare necessities of life (Hajat-e-Asliyyah) are excluded from their Nisab (wealth, possessions).

(Fatawa ‘Alamgiri, pp. 191, vol. 1)

2. A Sahib-e-Nisab is the one who possesses 7.5 Tolas of gold or 52.5 Tolas of silver or the money or goods equivalent to 52.5 Tolas of silver (excluding bare necessities). Note that one Tola is equivalent to 11.664 grams.

3. Sanity and puberty are not the conditions for Sadaqah-e-Fitr to become Wajib. If even a child or an insane person is Sahib-e-Niab, their guardians should pay (the Sadaqah-e-Fitr) from their wealth on their behalf.

(Rad-dul-Muhtar, pp. 312, vol. 3)

Though there is the same amount of Niab for Sadaqah-e-Fitr as for Zakah (as stated above), there is no such condition for Sadaqah-e-Fitr as increase in wealth and the passing of a whole year. Likewise, if there are such things that are surplus to requirements (for example, such domestic things that are not used daily) and, if their value reaches the level of Nisab, Sadaqah-e-Fitr will be Wajib on account of these things.

(Waqar-ul-Fatawa, pp. 385, vol. 2) This difference between the Nisab of Zakah and that of Sadaqah-e-Fitr depends upon the condition of a person.

4. In addition to paying his own Sadaqah-e-Fitr, it is also Wajib for a Sahib-e-Nisab man to pay Sadaqah-e-Fitr on behalf of his young children (who are minors). If he has any insane child, he has to pay on behalf of that child as well, even if the insane child has reached puberty. However, if the insane child or young children are Sahib-e-Niab, the Sadaqah may be paid from their own wealth.

(Fatawa ‘Alamgiri, pp. 192, vol. 1)

5. It is not Wajib for a Sahib-e-Nisab man to pay the Fitrah for his wife, parents, younger brothers and sisters and other relatives.

(Fatawa ‘Alamgiri, pp. 193, vol. 1)

6. In case of father’s demise, it is Wajib for the grandfather to pay the Sadaqah-e-Fitr for his poor and orphan grandsons and granddaughters.

(Durr-e-Mukhtar, Rad-dul-MuEtar, pp. 315, vol. 2)

7. It is not Wajib for a mother to pay Sadaqah-e-Fitr on behalf of her young children.

(Rad-dul-MuEtar, pp. 315, vol. 3)

8. It is not Wajib for a father to pay the Sadaqah-e-Fitr for his sane and adult offspring.

(Durr-e-Mukhtar, Rad-dul-Muhtar, pp. 317, vol. 3)

9. If somebody did not fast in Ramadan either due to any valid exemption or, Allah عزوجل forbid, without a valid reason, Sadaqah-e-Fitr will still be Wajib for him provided he is a Sahib-e-Nisab.

(Rad-dul-Muhtar, pp. 315, vol. 3)

10. Sadaqah-e-Fitr will be valid if a man pays it on behalf of his wife or adult offspring (whose necessities like food, clothing etc. he is responsible for) even without their permission. However, if he is not responsible for their necessities, for example, he has a married son who lives in his own home along with his family and affords his expenses himself (food, clothing etc.), then paying Fitrah on behalf of such offspring without his permission will not be valid.

11. If a wife pays her husband’s Fitrah without his order, it will be invalid.

(Bahar-e-Shari’at, pp. 69, part 5)

12. Sadaqah-e-Fitr is Wajib for every such Muslim who is Sahib-e-Nisab at the time of Sub -e-Sadiq (dawn) on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr. If someone becomes Sahib-e-Nisab after Sub -e-Sadiq it is not Wajib for him to pay the Fitrah.

(Fatawa ‘Alamgiri, pp. 192, vol. 1)

13. Though the preferable time for paying Sadaqah-e-Fitr is that it be paid on Eid after Sub -e-Sadiq before offering Eid alah, if it is paid on the night of Eid (before Sub -e-Sadiq) or any day during Ramadan or even before Ramadan it will still be valid. All these cases are permissible.

(Fatawa ‘Alamgiri, pp. 192, vol. 1)

14. If the day of Eid passed and somebody did not pay the Fitrah, the Fitrah will not lapse on this account. Fitrah will be considered valid whenever it is paid in the whole life.

15. Sadaqah-e-Fitr can be spent only where Zakah can be spent. In other words, Fitrah can be given to only those whom Zakah can be given to.

(Fatawa ‘Alamgiri, pp. 194, vol. 1)

16. It is not permissible to give Sadaqah-e-Fitr to the honourable descendants of the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم