The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No. 1720- In giving zakāt of fiṭrah, the criterion is not one’s personal food, rather, it is the food which is common in that area or town. Therefore, one who always has rice may give wheat as fiṭrah.

Issue No. 1721- In zakāt of fiṭrah one can give money instead of the commodity. For example, he can calculate and find out how much three kilos of wheat cost and give its value to an indigent person as fiṭrah. However, it should be noted that the criterion is the retail price in the free market not the wholesale price or the official price. In other words, one should pay the amount that if the poor person wants to buy the same commodity from the market with the money which is given to him, he should be able to buy it.

Issue No. 1722- Wheat or any other thing given as fiṭrah, should not be mixed with dust or the like. In case however, the quantity of the thing mixed with it is so small that it may be ignored, there is no problem in it.

Issue No. 1723- Zakāt of fiṭrah cannot be given from a defective commodity. However, if that commodity is reckoned to be the food of the majority of people in that area, there is no problem in it.

Issue No. 1724- If a person has to pay the fiṭrah of a number of persons, it is not necessary for him to pay all from the same commodity. For example, he can give wheat for some of them and barley for others.

Issue No. 1725- One should give fiṭrah on Eid day. Therefore, if a person offers Eid al-Fitr prayer, he should give fiṭrah before Eid prayer, but if he does not offer Eid prayer, he can delay it till ẓuhr time of the day of Eid.

Issue No. 1727- If a person does not give zakāt of fiṭrah when it becomes obligatory, and does not set it aside either, he should give it later, on the basis of recommended precaution, with the intention of fulfilling what is due on him [i.e., without making the intention of adā or qaḍā].

Issue No. 1728- If a person sets aside fiṭrah, he cannot replace it with some other property, rather, he should give the same as fiṭrah.

Issue No. 1729- If the property set apart for fiṭrah perishes, in case a poor person was available but one has neglected in giving fiṭrah, he should give its substitute. In case, a poor person was not available, and he had not neglected in finding one, he is not responsible (to give its substitute).

Issue No. 1731- It is obligatory precaution that zakāt of fiṭrah should be spent in the same place. Therefore, unless no deserving person is available there, one cannot send it to his relatives who are living in another town. In case he transfers the fiṭrah to another place, while deserving people are available there in his own town and it perishes, he is responsible for it. However, the Mujtahid or his representative may give permission for the fiṭrah to be transferred to another area or city considering the benefits of the needy.

Issue No. 1732- As it was stated earlier, zakāt of fiṭrah cannot, based on obligatory precaution, be spent for anyone other than the poor and the destitute. Similarly, it cannot be used for setting up factories to give their benefits to the needy. However, providing the needy people with a capital enough to enable them to manage their lives is permissible.

Issue No. 1733- Ḥajj (pilgrimage) means visiting the Ka‘bah, and performing acts which are called ‘ḥajj rituals’ and it is obligatory on a person once in his lifetime, provided that he fulfills the following conditions:1- Being mature.2- Being sane3- By performing ḥajj, one does not neglect an important obligatory duty or does not commit an important sin.4- Capability of performing ḥajj (istiṭā‘ah¬), and this depends on a number of factors:a. He should possess provisions and means of transport or should have enough property with which to possess these things.b. There should be no obstacle or fear of harm to one's life, honor or property on the way to Makkah. If the way is closed or there is fear of harm, it is not obligatory on him to perform ḥajj. In case, however, he can reach Makkah by another route, it is necessary that he should go to Makkah via that route even though it may be a longer one.c. He should be physically capable enough to perform the rites of ḥajj.d. He should have enough time to reach Makkah and perform the rituals of ḥajj.e. He should possess sufficient means to meet the expenses of those whose maintenance is obligatory upon him according to the religion or common view (‘urf).f. Possessing the property or business and work through which he shall be able to run his life upon return.