SPIRITUALITY
Can They Celebrate With Us?
Only if we do what is required of us
With no mask and not enough clothing to protect him from the cold breeze, the underage beggar rummaged the municipality dustbin for leftovers. Both he and his mother were fasting — it’s something they practice throughout the year. He hoped to find half-eaten chickpea fritters or fruit discarded by passersby on the way home from work. As the sun began to sink into the crimson horizon, he became more desperate to find food for iftar. To his utter surprise and delight, a traffic policeman handed him a bag of samosas, kebabs, puffed rice, and dates. The boy sprinted home with an energy matched only by Usain Bolt!
This scenario is neither unfamiliar nor uncommon in Muslim communities worldwide. We can choose to turn a blind eye to the beggar’s situation or we can follow the traffic policeman’s example. With Eid-al-Fitr right around the corner, many families are wondering if they can join in the celebration this year. The pandemic has robbed countless breadwinners of a fixed income, forcing their dependents into a plight that is embarrassing to talk about. The last week of Ramadan is an opportunity to help them out of their misery. So, what can we do?
By fulfilling our duty to Allah, we can help at least one family that is struggling financially this Eid-al-Fitr. This duty is called sadaqat-al-fitr (also known as zakat-al-fitr).
What is sadaqat-al-fitr?
An obligation on every Muslim, sadaqat-al-fitr is a charity given to destitute Muslims to help them celebrate Eid-al-Fitr. An hour (or a day) before the Eid-al-Fitr prayer, a fixed amount of food is given to those who can’t afford a square meal. The legislated quantity is 1 sa’a, which is roughly 3 kg.
Narrated by Ibn Umar: Allah’s Apostle enjoined the payment of 1 sa’a of dates or 1 sa’a of barley as zakat-al-fitr on every Muslim — slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he ordered that it be paid before the people went out to offer the Eid prayer.
~ Hadith 579, Book 25, Volume 2, Sahih Bukhari
While the hadith mentions dates and barley, the staple of the country we are living in will also suffice. For example, a sa’a of rice, wheat, or lentils will count as sadaqat-al-fitr.
Narrated Abu Saeed al-Khudri: We used to give 1 sa’a of meal, 1 sa’a of barley, 1 sa’a of dates, 1 sa’a of cottage cheese, or 1 sa’a of raisins (dried grapes) as zakat-al-fitr.
~ Hadith 582, Book 25, Volume 2, Sahih Bukhari
In some Muslim communities, it is common practice to include cheese, butter, and vermicelli with the food parcels. The variety allows the recipient’s family to enjoy a wholesome meal.
When is sadaqat-al-fitr due?
To allow the beneficiary (and his family) to enjoy the food on the day of Eid-al-Fitr, we must pay sadaqat-al-fitr before Eid-al-Fitr prayer starts. After the prayer begins, sadaqat-al-fitr is no longer acceptable.
Narrated Ibn Umar: The Prophet ordered the people to pay zakat-al-fitr before going to the Eid prayer.
~ Hadith 585, Book 25, Volume 2, Sahih Bukhari
It can also be paid a day before Eid-al-Fitr if this is convenient for the one paying it. It is not recommended to pay it more than a day before Eid-al-Fitr because this defeats the purpose of sadaqat-al-fitr.
How is sadaqat-al-fitr calculated?
Example: A man has a wife, a child, and elderly parents. There are 5 members in this family. Therefore, the man has to pay 5 sa’a (= 1 sa’a X 5 people) of food as sadaqat-al-fitr.
Note: Each member of the family is liable to pay 1 sa’a of food, but the earning member pays it on their behalf.
Conclusion
The payment of sadaqat-al-fitr is compulsory for every Muslim, including minors. The head of the family is responsible for paying it for himself and on behalf of his wife, children, and other dependents.
Narrated Ibn Umar: Allah’s Apostle has made sadaqat-al-fitr obligatory (and it was) either 1 sa’a of barley or 1 sa’a of dates (and its payment was obligatory) on young and old people, and on free men as well as on slaves.
~ Hadith 588, Book 25, Volume 2, Sahih Bukhari
If it is impossible for us to pay it directly due to the pandemic, we should search for a reliable Muslim charity in our locality. Some nonprofit organizations are offering to deliver sadaqat-al-fitr to underprivileged Muslims in remote areas. If we donate enough money to buy 1 sa’a of food per head to the charity, they can deliver the food to a needy Muslim family on our behalf.
Hopefully, the street beggar and the children of parents who lost their jobs to the pandemic will smile on Eid-al-Fitr because we fulfilled an important obligation. We ask Allah to accept it from us.
