GUIDING PRINCIPLES ON THE PAYMENT OF ZAKATUL-FITR FOR MUSLIMS BY SHAYKH MASHOOD DAGBO
As we are winding down the fast in the blessed month of Ramadhān 1446/2025, the Chief Imam of Government Girls’ Day Secondary School, Okesuna, Amilengbe, Ilorin; Shaykh Imam Mashood Dagbo advised the Muslim faithful to pay their Zakatul-Fitr on themselves and their dependants, a Saa’ ( one bow) of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) equivalent to four (Mudus) of common food in the locality or twelve (12) tin cups of grains or 2.5 kilogrammes of grains or half paint rubber of popular food per each head. The Chief Imam, who is also the Anchor of a programme “At-Tibyān” on SBS FM 96.9, Oloje, Ilorin in his Friday’s Sermon referred to Zakatul-Fitr as Sadaqatul-Fitr and Zakatur-Ru’uus, meaning; Charity given at the end of the fast of Ramadhān, Alms at the break of fast of Ramadhān and Charity given on each head. The Chief Imam who doubled as Mufassir (Exegete) at the Alhaji Sulyman Master Mosque, Foma Babalaje, Irewolede Community, Ilorin South Layout Abayawo Quarters defined Zakatul-Fitr as the compulsory alms given out on male or female, young or old and freeborn or slave by the head of family when the fast in the month of Ramadhān is coming to an end upon each of his dependent to the poor and needy to placate them for the coming of Idul-Fitr and celebrate the festivity without asking for food.
The Imam of National Institute for Cultural Orientation, North Central Zonal Office at Federal Secretariat Complex, Fate, Ilorin emphasized that Zakatul-Fitr was instituted in Islam purposely for the two major reasons; to nullify the minor sins committed by the faithfuls during Ramadhān fast and to alleviate the pains of the poor and needy to have a joyous celebration of Idul-Fitr without begging for what to eat. The Exegete further explained that Zakatul-Fitr is a compulsory upon every fasting Muslim who can afford to eat comfortably in their houses for a day or two, to give out to the needy to be happy and celebrate the Idul-Fitr joyously with their families too. The Imam established that there are two periods to be given out the Zakatul-Fitr; Waqit Jawaaz (Period of Necessity), that’s when the month of Ramadhān is about to finish by a day or two, while Waqit Fadhīlah (Period of Honour) is the morning of Idul-Fitr before going to the praying ground. The Chief Imam warned further that, generally Zakatul-Fitr is best given out before the Idul-Fitr prayer and such gesture would be taken as actual Zakatul-Fitr, while whoever gives his own after prayer would be considered as ordinary alms.
The Chief Imam of GGDSS, Okesuna listed some of the food to be taken out as Zakatul-Fitr in our locality to include; Rice, Beans, Semivita, Yam Flour, Garri, maize, guinea corn etc. The Imam noted that given out maize and guinea corn be better done two days to Idul-Fitr, so that the beneficiaries can turn it to food of their choice and also emphasized that Zakatul-Fitr can be monetized to give beneficiaries an opportunity to buy whatever he/she wants. Indeed, the Imam who is also a Marriage Counselor, Educationist, Cultural expert and Public Presenter/Analyst advised the Muslim faithful to always prepare for Zakatul-Fitr whenever Ramadhān fast starts, just the same manners they prepared for their children’s clothes and shoes for the celebration of Idul-Fitr. The Anchor of “At-Tibyān” on SBS FM 96.9, Ilorin hinted that a wife who is wealthy can help to give her husband money to buy the food as the head if the family and present it to the poor or needy. He also emphasized that Zakatul-Fitr shall be given only by those who can afford it, though it can be taken on credit, so far, it would be paid soonest without a hitch. The Imam further said that Zakatul-Fitr must be given in the city in which a faithful fasts in, except if it has a legal excuse to take it out.
The Chief Imam based his explanation on the verses of al-Qur’an as quoted in Suratul-A’la:
“He indeed shall be successful who purifies himself # And magnifies the name of his Lord and prays” Qur’an Chapter 87: 14-15
The Mufassir, who is a regular quoter of Hadith reliably centred his Wisdom on the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and also established his explanation around it as he highlighted the lessons therein. The Hadith and its lessons are as follows:
Ibn ‘Umar reported (RA): The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, obligated payment of charity at the end of Ramadhān, a portion of dates or barely, upon slave and freeman, male and female, young and old among the Muslims. The Prophet ordered it to be given before people go out for ‘Id prayer”.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1503 & Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 986
While the lessons and jurisprudence of Hadith are as given thus by the Imam:
1. The Hadith establishes the obligation of Zakatul-Fitr on every capable fasting Muslims to give out common food of the community to the poor and needy at the end of Ramadhān fast before going to praying ground
2. Hadith stipulates that Zakatul-Fitr is compulsory upon fasting Muslims; male, female, young, old, free or slave.
3. Hadith further said that Zakatul-Fitr is to give common foods in every locality to the needy and poor, such as dates, barley as it was what common during the period of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), but presently today in our communities in Nigeria, the common foods are: Garri, Semovita, Rice, Beans, Maize, Guinea Corn, Wheat, Yam Flour etc. However, whoever is capable of giving out Rice, must not give out Garri.
4. Hadith extends the rules of Zakatul-Fitr by establishing the conditions guiding its payment and that the person giving it out must be Muslim, freeman and who has capacity to do so.
5. Hadith establishes golden reasons and modalities of giving out Zakatul-Fitr according to the Hadith given below:
Ibn Abbas reported (RA): The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, obligated Zakatul-Fitr as purification of the fasting person from vain talk and misbehaviour as food for the poor. Whoever pays it before the ‘Idul-Fitr prayer, it is accepted as Zakat. Whoever pays it after the Eid prayer, it is part of voluntary charity”.
Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1609
Hadith indicates this:
A. It is instituted for us to purify all our minor sins such as; vain talks, misbehaviour, unintended lies etc during Ramadhān fast
B. It gives out to poor and needy who must be Muslims to gladden their minds towards celebrating Īdul-Fitr in happiness and to stop them from asking for what to eat on ‘Īdul-Fitr
C. It must be given out before going to the praying ground or by a day or two days before ‘Īdul-Fitr
D. And whoever gives his/her Zakatul-Fitr out after ‘Īd Prayer, such payment is not accepted as Zakatul-Fitr but as an ordinary alms
6. Hadith specifies the measurement of Zakatul-Fitr to be one Sa’a which is equivalent to 4 Muds, calculated to be 12 cups (Milk Tin) or 2.5kg – 3kg of common foods of the community as earlier stated on every head/member of the nuclear family as well as others who are dependents upon whom is giving it out. Even some scholars are of opinion that it can be monetized in order to give the needy an opportunity to buy an ear whenever he/she wants. However, if grains such as Maize, Guinea Corn and the likes are giving out, it is encouraged to accompany it with some cash to ease its processes for the beneficiaries
7. The jurisprudence of the Hadith heralds that whoever is capable but doesn’t pay, his/her fasting will hang between the Sky and Earth
8. Hadith inducates that Islam allows to add to the stipulated measurement of Zakatul-Fitr, even one can accompany the food stuff with money to get other ingredients needed or help with other needs of the beneficiaries
Prayers:
O Allah! As You have preserved us to be winding down the Ramadhān fast 1446/2025, may You accept all our acts of worship in it as Ibaadah from us, give us same opportunity to witness many more Ramadhāns on earth in good faith , sound health, blessed wealth, prosperity and good ending.
O Allah! By the blessings You adorned the Holy month of Ramadhān with as we have observed last Friday in Ramadhān 1446, adorn us with the blessings You attached to Ramadhān and particularly the last ten days of Ramadhān to relieve us of agony in the land and welcome us to Your Great Succour. We believe It is Only You Who can rescue us from hardship increasing on a daily basis from struggling to providing basic needs for our families.
O Allah! direct our leaders right to be kind and lenient with the ruled in order to take us away from languishing in hardship.
O Allah! feed us, protect us from indulging in Your prohibition and deliver us safely to Your Care. O Allah, avert us the test of trials, protect us and members of our families from evils of Shaytan and governance, greedy hoarders and protect Muslims from all worrying lands, especially our brothers and sisters in Gaza and Hamas from the cruelty of Israelites.
O Allah; pardon us and bestow paradise on us, save all Muslims from the calamities of our time and restore to the world and Nigeria in particular, back to normal from insecurity, hunger, banditry, kidnapping, war and other social evils rampaging the world. Amin
Good Evening, Jumu’ah Mubaarakah & Ramadan Mubaarak مساء السعيد و جمعة مباركة ورمضلن مبارك
@ Imam Yusuf Mashood Dagbo, Chief Imam, GGDSS Central Mosque, Okesuna; Anchor, At-Tibyān on SBS FM & Director, YUMAD Consults, specializes in educational consultancy, Cultural Orientation, Marriage Counselling, Event Organization, Public Presentation etc. Contact: dagbomashood@gmail.com (08035215264) (29th Ramadhān,1446AH/29th March, 2025CE
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