Chapter on Zakat Al-Fitrah

"I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about Zakat al-Fitr. Imam (as) said: 'It is obligatory for the young and the old, the free and the enslaved. For every individual, it is one sa' (measure) of wheat, or one sa' of dates, or one sa' of raisins.'"

"I asked Abu Al-Hasan Al-Ridha (as) about Zakat al-Fitr: how much should be given per head from wheat, barley, dates, and raisins?" Imam (as) replied: "One sa' (measure) according to the sa' of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family)."

"I wrote to Abu Al-Hasan (as) through Abu (a messenger), saying: 'May I be your ransom, our companions have differed regarding the measure of the sa': some say Zakat al-Fitr is based on the Madani sa', while others say it is based on the Iraqi sa'.' Imam (as) wrote back to me: 'The sa' is six ritls (weights) by the Madani measure and nine ritls by the Iraqi measure.' Imam (as) further informed me: 'By weight, it is 1,170 weights (units).'"

Hadith.2064 - Abu Abdullah (as) said: "Whoever cannot find wheat or barley, it is sufficient for him to give in place of it wheat flour, spelt, emmer, or corn."

Hadith.2065 - Muhammad ibn Al-Qasim ibn Al-Fudhayl Al-Basri wrote to Abu Al-Hasan Al-Ridha (as), asking about whether a guardian should pay Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of orphans if they have wealth. Imam (as) replied: "There is no Zakat upon an orphan."

"I asked Abu Abdullah (as): 'A man has nothing for Zakat al-Fitr except enough to pay for himself alone. Should he give it for himself, or should he use it for himself and his family?' Imam (as) replied: 'He should give it to some of his family, and then that person gives it on behalf of another, passing it among themselves, so that it counts as Zakat al-Fitr for all of them collectively.'"

"I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a man who has a guest from among his brethren staying with him when the Day of Eid al-Fitr arrives. Should he pay Zakat al-Fitr on his behalf?" Imam (as) replied: "Yes, Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory for everyone he supports, whether male or female, young or old, free or enslaved."

"There is no harm if a man gives Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of two, three, or even four individuals."

Hadith.2069 - In another narration, it is said: "There is no harm in giving Zakat al-Fitr for yourself and those you support to a single recipient."

"There is no Zakat al-Fitr upon them. Zakat al-Fitr is only obligatory on those who have completed the month (i.e., were present during Month of Ramadan)."

"I wrote to Al-Tayyib Al-Askari (as), asking: 'Is it permissible to give the Zakat al-Fitr for a man's dependents, whether they are ten or fewer or more, to one needy and deserving person?' Imam (as) wrote in reply: 'Yes, do that.'"

Hadith.2072 - Ali ibn Ja'far asked his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) about a mukatab (a slave who has a contract to earn their freedom): "Is Zakat al-Fitr obligatory upon the mukatab or upon the one who wrote the contract of emancipation for him? And is his testimony valid?" Imam (as) replied: "Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory upon him (the mukatab), but his testimony is not valid."

Hadith.2073 - Muhammad ibn Al-Qasim ibn Al-Fudhayl wrote to Abu Al-Hasan Al-Ridha (as), asking: "A slave’s master dies while the slave is away in another town, and the slave has money belonging to his deceased master. When Eid al-Fitr arrives, should the slave pay Zakat al-Fitr for himself from the money of his master, which has now passed to the orphans?" Imam (as) replied: "Yes."

Hadith.2074 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "To give one sa' (measure) of dates for Zakat al-Fitr is more beloved to me than giving one sa' of gold."

"Dates are preferred for Zakat al-Fitr over other items because they are of quicker benefit. When they reach the hands of the recipient, they can immediately eat from them." Imam (as) added: "Zakat was revealed at a time when people did not have much wealth; thus, Zakat al-Fitr was established."

Hadith.2076 - Ishaq ibn Ammar asked Abu Al-Hasan (as) about Zakat al-Fitr. Imam (as) said: "Neighbors have the greatest right to it, and there is no harm in giving its equivalent value in silver."

Hadith.2077 - Ali ibn Yaqtin asked Imam Abu Al-Hasan Al-Awwal (as) about Zakat al-Fitr: "Is it permissible to give it to neighbors or close acquaintances who do not share the same beliefs or who do not acknowledge (the Imamate)?" Imam (as) replied: "There is no harm in that if they are in need."

Abu Abdullah (as) said: "Go and give Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of our household and for the servants. Include all of them and do not leave anyone out. If you leave out even one person, I fear for them the 'fawt' (loss)." I asked: "What is 'fawt'?" Imam (as) replied: "Death."

"I asked Abu Al-Hasan (as) about a man who spends on another man who is not part of his household but for whom he voluntarily provides sustenance and clothing. Is Zakat al-Fitr obligatory on him for that person?" Imam (as) replied: "No, Zakat al-Fitr is only obligatory for one’s dependents, not for such a person." Imam (as) further said: "Dependents include children, servants, a wife, and an umm al-walad (a bondwoman who bore a child for her master)."

"I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about Zakat al-Fitr. Imam (as) said: 'Once you have set it aside, it does not harm you when you give it, whether before or after the prayer.' Imam (as) also said: 'It is obligatory for you to give Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of yourself, your father, your mother, your children, your wife, and your servant.'"

"I asked him about what is obligatory upon a man regarding Zakat al-Fitr for his household. Imam (as) said: 'Give Zakat al-Fitr for everyone you support, whether free or enslaved, young or old, as long as they have reached the time of the prayer (Eid prayer).'"

I asked him about slaves shared among a group of people, whether Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory on them. Imam (as) said: "If each person owns a full share (equivalent to one head), then he must pay Zakat al-Fitr for that share. However, if the number of slaves and owners are equal and they are collectively owned, then they are equal in responsibility, and each must pay Zakat al-Fitr proportionate to their share. But if each person's share is less than a full head, then there is no obligation upon them."

"I sent some dirhams to Abu Al-Hasan Al-Ridha (as) on behalf of myself and others, and I wrote to him informing him that it was for the Zakat al-Fitr of the dependents. Imam (as) wrote back in his own handwriting: 'I have received it.'"

Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "Whoever pays Zakat al-Fitr, Allah (swt) will complete with it whatever is lacking in the Zakat of his wealth."

"Indeed, completing the fast includes giving Zakat, meaning Zakat al-Fitr, just as sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) is part of completing the prayer. For whoever fasts but does not pay the Zakat (al-Fitr), their fast is not accepted if they intentionally neglect it. Similarly, whoever prays but does not send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), their prayer is not complete. Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, has mentioned it (Zakat) before prayer, saying: 'He indeed is successful who purifies himself and remembers the name of his Lord (azj) and prays.' (Surah Al-A'la 87:14-15)