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One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother,

As-Salaam Alaykum! Please check and avise on the difference between Zakat Al-Fiter and Zakat Al-Mal?

Thank You!

Eid Mubarak / Eid Kareem!

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Answer:

Difference between zakah and fitr

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Ref: Zakat al-Maal

‘Zakat-al-Maal’ refers to the annual obligatory charity which every believing man, woman, or child who is blessed with sustenance above the prescribed ‘nisaab’ is obligated to pay. This ‘Zakat’ is considered to be one of the five inviolable pillars of Islam.

Ref: Zakat ul-Fitr

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.579

Allah's Messenger (saws) enjoined the payment of one Sa' of dates or one Sa' of barley as Zakat-ul-Fitr on every Muslim: slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he ordered that it be paid before the people went out to offer the Eid prayer.

Al-Baihaqi and ad-Daraqutni relate: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) enjoined the zakat ul-fitr, and also said: 'Free them (the poor) from want on this day.'"

Because the payment of ‘zakat-ul-fitr’ is determined by the weight of food, it is possible that the exact amount might differ slightly from country to country based on the cost of that food in their country…..but in most nations it is calculated to be between US$5.00 to US$6.00 per person in the family and household.

Zakat ul-fitr was made obligatory by the Noble Prophet (saws) unto the beleivers in the month of Sha'ban in the second year of the Hijrah. Its purpose is to purify one who fasts from any indecent act or speech one might have done during their fasts, and to help free the poor and needy from want for at least this one blessed Day of Eid. This view is based upon the hadith reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and ad-Daraqutni from Ibn 'Abbas. The Messenger of Allah (saws) enjoined zakat ul-fitr on the one who fasts to shield one's self from any indecent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for the needy. It is accepted as ‘zakah’ for the person who pays it before the Eid salah, and it is ‘sadaqah’ for the one who pays it after the salah.

Zakat-ul-Fitr is a nominal charity which every believer is obliged to pay once a year, at the end of the month of Ramadan, unto the poor and needy believers in the society so that they are made free from want for at least this one blessed day of Eid.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan