Sadqa-e-Fitr

THE Most Gracious and the Most Merciful Allah has, in His infinite Mercy, fixed a Sadqa (sacrifice) over His bondsmen. After the expiry of Ramadhan and on the rejoicing of breaking the fast (or returning to normalcy), it should be paid as a mark of gratitude. Fitr stands for "return to normalcy," and the Sadqa so paid is called Sadqa-e-Fitr. The Eid that comes after the month of Ramadan is known as Eid-ul-Fitr, or the "Joy of returning normalcy."
According to Arabic authors the word "Sadaqa" is derived from the verb Sadaqa, "to speak the truth," which is explained by pointing to the fact that the giving of alms by a Muslim is a witness to the truthfulness of his religion. Its proper sense is, therefore, voluntary or spontaneous almsgiving, or what we call "charity."
Arabic authors, however, use the word Sadaqa in two different senses. In the first it is frequently employed as a synonym of Zakat, which is obligatory, and of which the amount is fixed. It is so used in the holy Quran [Surah Tauba, Verses 58, 103]. It is so used also in the Muwatta of Malik Ibn Anas (RA), in which, in the Kitab al-Zakat, Sadaqa is substituted for Zakat.
He does this apparently when it is a case of Zakat upon quadrupeds, but also in other cases. In Bukhari, on the other hand, Sadaqa seems to be used for Zakat quite indiscriminately, and the two words are used simultaneously as synonyms. Imam Bukhari uses Zakat where Imam Malik uses Sadaqa; he says "There is no Sadaqa on less than five dhwad of she-camels" in the same form as Imam Malik, yet speaks of the Sadaqat al-Fitr where Malik uses the usual Zakat al-Fitr.
The proper use of the word Sadaqa is, however, as has been said, in the sense of voluntary almsgiving. Ibn al-Arabi defines the Sadaqa as "voluntary Sadaqa is an act of worship arising from free choice mixed with authority; and if it be not so then it is not voluntary Sadaqa, for the man makes it obligatory upon himself, just as Allah makes mercy obligatory upon Himself towards those who repent, and corrects those who do ill in ignorance."
Sadqa-e-Fitr is the alms given on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr. It is Wajib on every free Muslim when he owns property to the value of Nisab. The Nisab of Zakat and Nisab of Sadqa-e-Fitr are the same, e.g. 54 tolas and 2 mashas of silver or 7 tola 8.5 mashas of gold, or its price.
But there is a difference between the Nisab of Zakat and Nisab of Sadqa-e-Fitr. For, Zakat becomes Farz, or obligatory, when a person owns a certain quantity of silver, gold or merchandise. But for Sadqa-e-Fitr being Wajib, all his possessions are taken into account. It is necessary for both the Nisabs to be free from all sorts of burdens of debts and in excess of real personal requirements.
So, if a person has extra clothes other than those clothes used by him, or has some extra utensils of copper, brass, china clay etc., or has an occupied house, or some other property or goods, exceeding his real and personal requirements, and the value of these things equals or exceeds the order of the Nisab, no Zakat is Farz on that, but Sadqa-e-Fitr will be Wajib. The condition of a one-year duration is also not necessary over the Nisab of Sadqa-e-Fitr. The payment of Sadqa-e-Fitr becomes Wajib even if one becomes possessor of the Nisab the same day.
The payment of Sadqa-e-Fitr is Wajib on every person in possession of Nisab. He should pay it from his own side and on behalf of his minor children. But if the minors have their own property, it should be paid from that.
It is sometimes claimed that Sadqa-e-Fitr is not Wajib on a person who could not or did not fast in the month of Ramadhan. It is a wrong conception. Sadqa-e-Fitr is Wajib on every individual who holds Nisab, whether he fasts or not.
Sadqa-e-Fitr becomes Wajib on Eid day, just after the Subh-e-Sadiq. If a child is born before Subh-e-Sadiq, it shall be paid on behalf of the child. On the other hand, if a person dies before Subh-e-Sadiq, no Sadqa-e-Fitr will be paid from his property.
Sadqa-e-Fitr or Sadaqatu'l-Fitr should be distributed to the poor on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr before the congregational prayers are said. But one may also pay it off during the month of Ramadhan. It can also be distributed after the prayers. It will, however, remain due in his name till it is paid off.
It must not, however, be distributed with arrogance or annoyance. The holy Quran has cautioned us in unequivocal terms: "Kind speech and pardon are better than almsgiving followed by annoyance, for Allah is rich and clement."
All kinds of foodgrains (or their price) may be paid as Sadqa-e-Fitr. If wheat, (or its flour) is given, it should be 3.5 Ibs per head. If any other foodgrain is given then that should be equal to the price of 3.5 lbs of wheat. If it is given in cash it should be equal to the price of 3.5 Ibs of wheat. This year's Fitra has been fixed at Tk. 66 per head for Dhaka and its adjoining areas.
Sadqa-e-Fitr may be given to those persons to whom Zakat may be given. It may be given to many a needy person. On the other hand, Sadqa-e-Fitr of many persons can also be given to only one beggar or needy person.
The persons, who themselves are in possession of the Nisab of Sadqa-e-Fitr, are not allowed to take it from any other person. The descendants of the holy Prophet (pbuh) are also not allowed to accept it. Abd al-Muttalib bin Rabia reported the holy Prophet (pbuh) as saying: "These Sadaqat are only people's impurities (an atonement for their sins), and they are not lawful for Muhammad or Muhammad's family. (Muslim transmitted it.)

Syed Ashraf Ali is former DG of Islamic Foundation Bangladesh.