Its Recipients
The recipients of Zakat-ul-Fitr are the same as the recipients of the
general Zakat, except that the poorand the needy have more right to it
than the other people who have a share in it. This is based upon the
Prophet's statement:
Keep them from having to beg on this day. (Al-Bayhaqi and its chain of
narration is weak)
Therefore, it is not given toother than the poor, unlessthere are no
poor people or their poverty is light (i.e.not severe) or the need of
others besides them, who have a share in it, has become severe.
Important Notes:
1. It is permissible for a wealthy woman to pay her Zakah to her
husband, who is poor, however the opposite is not permissible. This is
because the maintenance of the woman is obligatory upon the man and
the maintenance of the man is not obligatory upon the woman.
2. Zakat-ul-Fitr is not required from one who does not possess a day's
worth of food, as Allah does not burden a soul except with what it can
bear.
3. Whoever possesses morethan a day's worth of food and he gives it
(as his Zakat-ul-Fitr), this willsuffice him. This is due toAllah's
statement: So fearAllah as much as you are able. (64:16)
4. It is permissible to give the charity of an individual to a number
of people, distributing it among them, and it is permissible to give
the charity of a number of individuals to one individual, as the
giving of charity is mentioned in the Shari'ah in unrestricted terms.
5. The Zakat-ul-Fitr is obligatory upon the Muslim in the land in
which he resides.
6. It is not permissible to transfer Zakat-ul-Fitr from one land to
another, except if there is a pressing need. Its Situation is the same
as Zakah.
Footnotes
1. The remainder of it states: "So whoever gives it before the prayer
(Salat-ul-'Eid), then it is an accepted Zakah, and whoever gives it
after the prayer ( Salat-ul-'Eid) , then it is charity (Sadaqah) from
the charities."
2. The meaning of Ta'am is millet or corn./
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