When Can You Pay Zakat al-Fitr During Ramadan? Here Are the Recommended Times
When to Pay Zakat al-Fitr During Ramadan?
When Are the Recommended Times to Pay Zakat al-Fitr?
What is the Ruling on Paying Zakat al-Fitr After Eid Prayers?
FAQ 1. When can you start paying Zakat al-Fitr? 2. When is the right time to pay Zakat al-Fitr? 3. Is it permissible to pay Zakat al-Fitr after Eid prayers?
Besides fasting, another obligation that Muslims have during Ramadan is paying Zakat al-Fitr. Scholars agree that Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory for both men and women, children and adults, and free people and slaves.
Quoted from the book ‘Catatan Pengingat Zakat Fitrah’ by Hari Ahadi, the basis of this obligation is the statement of Abdullah bin Umar radhiyallahu anhu:
فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ مِن رَمَضَانَ عَلَى الْعَبْدِ وَالْخَرِ، وَالذَّكَرِ وَالْأُنْثَى ، وَالنَّغَيرِ وَالْكَبِيرِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Meaning: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory at the end of Ramadan for slaves, free people, men and women, children and adults, from among the Muslims.” (HR Bukhari no 1503 and Muslim no 984)
Furthermore, according to the explanation in the book ‘Bekal Zakat’ by Firanda Andirja, the majority of scholars are of the opinion that Zakat al-Fitr should be paid in the form of staple food of each region. As for Zakat al-Fitr in the form of money, scholars have differing opinions.
The question is, when can Zakat al-Fitr be paid? Is there a recommended time to fulfill this obligation? Find a brief discussion through the explanation below!
Key Points:
Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory for every Muslim, whether slave or free, male or female, and children or adults.
Zakat al-Fitr must be paid after the end of Ramadan, before Eid prayers. It is permissible to pay it 1-2 days before Ramadan ends. Scholars of the Syafi’iyyah and Hanafiyyah schools even allow payment from the beginning of Ramadan. On the other hand, scholars of the Hanabilah and Malikiyyah schools forbid it.
The recommended time to pay Zakat al-Fitr is in the morning of Eid al-Fitr, before going to Eid prayers.
When to Pay Zakat al-Fitr During Ramadan?
Based on the information in the book ‘Fikih Ringkas Zakat Fitri’ by Sofyan Chalid bin Idham Ruray, scholars have different opinions regarding the permissibility of paying Zakat at the beginning or middle of Ramadan.
Scholars of the Hanafiyyah and Syafi’iyyah schools say that it is permissible to pay Zakat al-Fitr from the beginning or middle of Ramadan. This is because the obligation of Zakat al-Fitr is due to fasting. Some Hanafiyyah scholars even allow Zakat al-Fitr to be paid before Ramadan begins.
On the other hand, scholars of the Malikiyah and Hanabilah schools forbid it. Scholars who hold the second opinion argue that Zakat al-Fitr is due to the end of Ramadan fasting. Therefore, fulfilling it at the beginning or middle of Ramadan is not permitted.
If you follow the authentic hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari and Muslim, Zakat al-Fitr must be paid at sunset at the end of Ramadan until before Eid prayers. The basis for this is the hadith of Ibn Umar which has been quoted above.
Another time during Ramadan when it is permissible to pay Zakat al-Fitr based on the hadith is 1 to 2 days before the end of the month of fasting. Ibn Umar radhiyallahu ’anhu said:
وَكَانُوا يُعْطُونَ قَبْلَ الفِطْرِ بِيَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ
Meaning: “They used to pay Zakat al-Fitr 1 or 2 days before breaking the fast (end of Ramadan).” (HR Bukhari)
Wallahu a’lam bish-shawab.
When is the Recommended Time to Pay Zakat al-Fitr?
The best time to pay Zakat al-Fitr is in the morning before Eid prayers are performed. This information is obtained from the explanation of Ibn Umar radhiyallahu anhu:
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَمَرَ بِزَكَاةِ الفِطْرِ قَبْلَ خُرُوجِ النَّاسِ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ
Meaning: “The Messenger of Allah ordered to pay Zakat al-Fitr before people go out to prayer.” (HR Bukhari no 1509 and Muslim no 986)
What is the Ruling on Paying Zakat al-Fitr After Eid Prayers?
Delaying the payment of Zakat al-Fitr until after Eid prayers is a prohibited matter. According to the view of Syafi’iyyah scholars, this makes a Muslim sinful. However, Zakat al-Fitr must still be paid because it is considered a debt.
Quoted from the official website of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) of South Sulawesi, Zakat al-Fitr which is paid after Eid prayers does not have full reward. In fact, Imam al-Baijuri said that the reward is like ordinary charity.
The basis for this opinion is the hadith:
مَنْ أَدَّاهَا قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ، فَهِيَ زَكَاةً مَقْبُولَةٌ ، وَمَنْ أَدَّاهَا بَعْدَ الصَّلَاةِ، فَهِيَ صَدَقَةٌ مِنَ الصَّدَقَاتِ
Meaning: “Whoever pays it before Eid prayers, then it is accepted Zakat. And whoever pays it after Eid prayers, then it is just ordinary charity.” (HR Abu Dawud no 1427)
On the other hand, the majority of Hanafiyyah scholars are of the opinion that Zakat al-Fitr which is paid after the time has passed is still valid. It is also not considered as qadha or compensation as in the opinion of Syafi’iyyah scholars.
Imam Malik is of the opinion that it is not a problem if Zakat al-Fitr is delayed until the day of Eid al-Fitr. However, the Zakat must still be paid. A Muslim will be sinful if he delays the payment of Zakat al-Fitr without a valid reason.
Thus, a brief discussion about the time to pay Zakat al-Fitr during Ramadan. Hopefully, the answer helps!
FAQ
- When can you start paying Zakat al-Fitr?
Based on the hadith, Zakat al-Fitr can be paid 1-2 days before the end of Ramadan. On the other hand, scholars of the Syafi’iyyah and Hanafiyyah schools allow the payment of Zakat al-Fitr from the beginning of Ramadan.
- When is the right time to pay Zakat al-Fitr?
The best time is in the morning of Eid al-Fitr, before Muslims go to perform Eid prayers.
- Is it permissible to pay Zakat al-Fitr after Eid prayers?
The basic rule is that it is forbidden unless there is a valid reason according to Sharia. In fact, in the hadith of Abu Dawud, Zakat al-Fitr after Eid prayers is no different from ordinary charity.
(anm/apl)