Zakat Al-Fitr

Who must pay it:


Okay, so, Islamic fundamental fail on me! Apparently there's a Zakat due at the end of Ramadan called "Zakat Al-Fitr" and it is obligatory on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave who possesses one sa' (about 3kg) (about 5.5 pounds according to islamicity.com) of dates or barely which is not needed as a basic food for himself or his family for the duration of one day and night. It's  purpose is to purify one who fasts from any indecent act or speech and to help the poor and needy. Every free muslim must pay it for himself, his wife, children and servants. (All from Fiqh us-Sunnah).

This kind of explains the "Zakat Al-Fitr" box that was always outside the soccer field (yes, we do Eid Prayer in an indoor soccer field. We did it in a tennis court once, but that was a bit of a disaster.) on eid prayer.

When to pay it:

So, this little tax is accepted as Zakah for anyone paying it before the Eid Salah (again, that explains the box) and as Sadaqah for anyone paying it after, but it must be paid. If you don't pay it, the scholars agree that it becomes a debt that you must pay, and in fact they go on to say delaying it is similar to delaying a prayer. DON'T DO IT, IT WON'T END WELL. Fortunately, it is permissible to pay this Zakat a day or two before eid, but the scholars differ as to earlier payments:

Abu Hanifah: you can pay before Ramadan
Ash-Shaf'i: at the beginning of Ramadan
Malik and Ahmad: Only a day or two before Eid.

How much to pay:


The amount to be paid is one sa' (about 3 kg, or 5.5 pounds) of dates, barely, rice, wheat or things like this. Fortunately, the Hanafi school allows the donation of money instead. How much money? Well, I imagine it would be enough to pay for the required amount of foodstuffs previously mentioned, but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to add a dollar or two just to be safe. ;)