Fitrana – Zakat al-Fitr is a small amount of charity given before the eid prayer. It can be given either directly before the prayer or a few days in advance but it must be given.

The amount of Fitrana that is obligatory is £5 per person (applicable to children as well as adults). Zakat al-Fitr is often referred to as Sadaqah al-Fitr. The word Fitr means the same as “Iftar”, breaking a fast and it comes from the same root word as Futoor which means breakfast. Thus, Islamically, Zakat al-Fitr is the name given to charity which is distributed at the end of the fast of Ramadan. Sadaqah al-Fitr is a duty which is Wajib (obligatory) on every Muslim, whether male or female, minor or adult as long as he/she has the means to do so.

The proof that this form of charity is compulsory can be found in the Sunnah (tradition of the Prophet, peace be upon him) whereby Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) made Zakah al-Fitr compulsory on every slave, freeman, male, female, young and old among the Muslims; one Saa` (a traditional Arabic measure of weight) of dried dates or one Saa` of barley. Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 339, Number 579

The main purpose of Zakah al-Fitr is to provide those who fasted with the means of making up for their errors during the month of fasting. Zakah al-Fitr also provides the poor with a means with which they can celebrate the festival of breaking the fast (`Eid al-Fitr) along with the rest of the Muslims.

Islamic scholars are in agreement that the cash equivalent of this measure of foodstuff may be paid instead. Although many people wait until the morning of ‘Eid al-Fitr (the celebration of the breaking of fast) to make this payment, it may be made well in advance so that it may be distributed to the poor and needy who are entitled in time for them to partake in the celebrations. This is especially true when entrusting a charitable organisation to distribute the payment on one’s behalf.

Sadaqa or Saddka (plural sadaqat) means “voluntary charity”. This concept encompasses any act of giving out of compassion, love, friendship (fraternity) or generosity.

Hadith on Sadaqah

A man called Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.):”We used to sacrifice Atirah in pre-Islamic days during Rajab; so what do you command us?” He said: “Sacrifice for the sake of Allah in any month whatever; obey Allah, Most High, and feed (the people).” (Abu-Dawood : 2824)

“Sadaqa extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire.” (Tirmidhi : 2541)

“Sadaqa appeases the Lord’s anger and averts an evil death.” (Tirmidhi : 1909)

“Give the Sadaqa without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” (Tirmidhi: 1887)

“The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his Sadaqa.” (Tirmidhi: 1925)

A woman said: “Apostle of Allah, my mother suddenly died; if it had not happened, she would have given Sadaqa (charity) and donated (something). Will it suffice if I give Sadaqa on her behalf?” Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Yes, give Sadaqa on her behalf.” (Abu-Dawood: 2875)

Abu Hurairah reported: Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Every day the sun rises, charity (sadaqa) is due on every joint of a person. Administering justice between two people is a charity; and assisting a man to mount his beast, or helping him load his luggage on it is a charity; and a good word is a charity; and every step that you take (towards a masjid) for salat is a charity; and removing harmful things from the road is a charity.” (From Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

In Sahih Muslim, it is reported on the authority of Aisha that Muhammad said, “Everyone of the children of Adam has been created with three hundred and sixty joints; so he who declares the Greatness of Allah (i.e, saying “Allahu akbar”), praises Allah (“Alhamdulillah”), declares Allah to be one (“La ilaha ilallah”), glorifies Allah (“Subhan’Allah”), and seeks forgiveness from Allah (“Astaghfirullah”), and removes a stone or thorn or bone from people’s path, and enjoins good and forbids evil, to the number of those three hundred and sixty, will come upon the evening that day having rescued himself from jahannam.“

Quran on Sadaqah

“Have you seen the one who denies the Religion? Such is he who repulses the orphan, and who does not urge others to feed the poor. Woe to worshippers, who are absent-minded to their prayer, those who make a show (of piety), and refuse to render small acts of kindness (towards others).” (Al-Ma`un 107: 1-7)

“And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which We have bestowed on you, before Death should come to any of you and he should say, “O my Lord! Why didst Thou not give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good.” But to no soul will Allah grant respite when the time appointed (for it) has come; and Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do.” (Al-Munafiqun 63: 10-11)

Sadaqa should be given solely out of love for God, out of the desire to do good to His creation, as the Quran says about the righteous:”They give food, out of love for Him (Allah), to the poor, the orphan, and the slave, saying: We feed you only for Allah’s pleasure – we desire from you neither reward nor thanks.” (Qur’an 76:8,9)

Giving Sadaqa will not diminish a Muslim’s wealth. It serves as expiation for sins and yields rewards in the next life. Allah says: “For those who give in charity, men and women, and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit), and they shall have (besides) a liberal reward.” (Qur’an 57:18).
How much should be given as Sadaqa?

“The rich should give according to their resources and the poor according to their.” (Quran 9:79)
How it should be given?

Openly or secretly [2:271][/2:271]
Can be given directly to FUQARAA [2:271][/2:271]
Can be given to an authority who can distribute to the deserving [9:58; 9:103][/9:58;]

Some differences between Zakat and Sadaqa:

1. Zakat is obligatory while Sadaqa is supererogatory or voluntary. The money for the purpose of Zakat can be taken by force by the authorities while for Sadaqa, this is not the case.

2. Zakat must be managed by a central authority while Sadaqa may be given individually or through authorities.

3. Sadaqa is usually for exigencies or a sudden unforeseen crisis while Zakat is a continuous program aimed at providing the resources for the physical and personal development of the people.

4. For Zakat, no categories of people have been mentioned in the Quran to whom it is for.

[it is for the general physical and personal development of all][/it]. For Sadaqa, the categories of people whom it is for is mentioned.

5. In a bid to establish an economic system based upon the Quranic teachings, Sadaqa may be a measure much prevalent in the transitory stage while Zakat will be the main hallmark of the maturity of such a system when all will be provided what they need for their physical and personal development.

6. To affect Zakat, an Islamic authority may levy fixed taxes of different sorts changeable according to the economic state of the nation but for Sadaqa, there is no fixed amount.
Lillah

In Arabic the phrase “lillah” is composed of the preposition, “li”, and proper noun “Allah”. The preposition li can take one of three different meanings based on the construction of a sentence and the context in which the phrase appears. The proper noun “Allah” literally stands for “The God” and is meant to address the One and the Only God in which Muslims believe. In actual fact Zakat and Sadaqa are also types of Lillah because this contribution is also made to acquire the pleasure of Allah. On the other hand, because the Masaarif of Zakat and Nafl Sadaqa are different, that is why funds are usually collected under two labels:

• Zakat and Sadaqa (i.e. Sadaqatul Fitr and Fidya)
• Lillah (Nafl Sadaqa)

The second type of funds can be utilised in any good cause, i.e. the construction of a Masjid, school or paying the salaries of the teacher, Imam, Muazzin, etc. and also to fulfil the needs of the poor. One can also donate these funds to a destitute Muslim but it cannot be donated to a rich Muslim.

By making intention of Sadaqa one automatically makes intention of Lillah and will receive the reward of Sadaqa.

A person suffering from an illness, and it is such an illness that makes fasting impossible, or such fasting would contribute to greater deterioration of health — in such circumstances a person would be excused from fasting and would have to give fidya to a miskeen. (Derived from ayah which was covered)

Who is a Miskeen

A miskeen is a poor person. A poor person is defined in Islam as that individual whose finances does not have a total asset worth reaching the nisab.
Is their a time limit for making up a fast ?

Although there is no time limit to making up a fast, it is best for a person to make up for their missed fasts (salah, etc) as soon as they have recovered from an illness. Should an individual not have recovered from an illness, then they would merely have to give what is called the fidya.
What constitutes fidya?

One form of calculation for fidya is in accordance to the measurement of 1.632 kilograms of wheat or its dollar value in equivalence as observed in regular stores (market place.) One need not give the total fidya amount to a single poor person. One can spread it out in such a manner that each poor person gets to consume the value in equivalence of the 1.632 kilograms of wheat. This is the best manner to dispense the fidya. It does not mean that one MUST give only wheat; one can give its equivalence of monetary value to a poor person as well. For example, a dinner of similar or higher value of the wheat amount described above can also be given. This Ramadan 2016 the Fidya is £180 in total for 30 days at a rate of £6 per day that is missed.