Paying zakat fitrah in the month of Ramadan is obligatory. However, some Muslims still do not understand when the time to pay zakat fitrah is. Most also still think that paying zakat fitrah is allowed anytime as long as it is still in the month of Ramadan. In fact, there is an official time to pay zakat fitrah! When is it? Let’s look at the full explanation below.
Zakat Fitrah
Zakat fitrah was first prescribed in the second year of the Hijri calendar, in the month of Sha’ban to be precise. Since then, zakat fitrah has been a compulsory expenditure for every Muslim in the month of Ramadan. This zakat is given as a sign of gratitude to Allah for completing the fast.
In addition to making the poor happy on Eid al-Fitr, zakat fitrah is also intended to cleanse the small sins that a person commits while fasting in Ramadan, so that the person returns to the state of fitrah (purity) as he was when he was born.
The hadith narrated by Ibn Umar ra is the foundation of this sharia. The scholars also agree that zakat fitrah is obligatory.
“The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined zakat al-fitr for the month of Ramadan, the amount of one saa‘ of dates or one saa’ of wheat, for every free Muslim, male or female, slave or free.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim)
Zakat al-fitr is obligatory for every Muslim. Whether free or slave, male or female, adult or child, rich or poor, as long as they can meet their needs on the night and day of Eid al-Fitr.
A man pays zakat for himself and the people for whom he is responsible. Meanwhile, a wife pays zakat fitrah for herself or by her husband.
Babies in the womb are not subject to the zakat fitrah obligation. However, if a baby is born before sunset on the last day of Ramadan, the baby is subject to the zakat fitrah obligation. Likewise, if a parent dies after sunset on the last day of Ramadan, zakat fitrah must also be paid.
So, when is the correct time to pay zakat fitrah? Is it permissible to pay it from the onset of the month of Ramadan?
Read also: Differences in Calculating Zakat Fitrah and Zakat Mal
5 Times to Pay Zakat Fitrah
In general, the times for paying zakat fitrah are divided into five.
1. Mandatory Time
The mandatory time is when a Muslim is in part of the month of Ramadan and part of the month of Shawwal. When is that? Namely, on the night of Eid al-Fitr, after breaking the fast for the last time in the month of Ramadan.
The majority of scholars are of the opinion that the time for the obligatory payment of zakat al-fitr is from the setting of the last sun in the month of Ramadan or at the beginning of the night of Eid al-Fitr. Because, that is the time referred to as the time of fitrah. The determination of the beginning of fitrah begins in the entire holy month of Ramadan and there is no fasting after sunset on the night of Eid al-Fitr, because fasting ends with the setting of the sun.
In the book Qawl al-Jadid, Imam Shafi’i, Ahmad, Ishaq, Thawri, and Imam Hanbali argue, “Zakat al-fitr is obligatory because of the setting of the sun on the last day of Ramadan, because zakat al-fitr is obligatory to purify the fasting person. Meanwhile, fasting ends with the setting of the sun (on Eid night), because that is when it is time to break the Ramadan fast, which is why zakat fitrah is obligatory”.
2. Jawaz Time
Jawaz time or permissible time, which is from the beginning of the month of Ramadan. With that said, make sure that the person receiving zakat fitrah is in a mustahik (entitled to receive zakat) and has a resident status at the required time. If at the required time the person given zakat fitrah is in a state of sufficiency or is a traveler, then the muzaki is obliged to issue zakat fitrah again.
According to the Shafi’i school of thought, it is permissible to prioritize the payment of zakat al-fitr at the beginning of Ramadan. This is because zakat al-fitr is required for two reasons, namely fasting in the month of Ramadan and breaking the fast after Ramadan. If a person finds one of these two reasons, then he may prioritize the payment of zakat al-fitr. This is the same as paying zakat al-mal after reaching the nisab, but before the end of the year.
3. Afdal Time
The afdal time or main time to pay zakat fitrah is after dawn on Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal) until before Eid prayer.
Abu Ḥanifah and his followers, Imam Layth, Abu Thawr and Imam Malik are of the opinion that the afdal time for paying zakat fitrah is at dawn on Eid al-Fitr. This is because zakat fitrah is an act of worship related to the holy day of Eid, not the night before. For this reason, fasting on Eid is also prohibited.
The scholars also agree that the afdal time to pay zakat fitrah is on Eid al-Fitr, that is, before going to the place of prayer for Eid prayer. In the book al-Mughni, this time is termed as a mustahab time or a recommended time to get more virtue, but it does not mean it is obligatory.
4. Makruh Time
The makruh time to pay zakat fitrah is after performing the Eid prayer until sunset on the first day of Shawwal, except for waiting for the person who is entitled to receive it.
Ḥanafī scholars allow Muslims to postpone paying zakat fitrah until after the Eid prayer. The reason is that, according to them, there is a meaning of mutual assistance in zakat fitrah, so that whenever zakat is paid, the desired goal is still achieved.
5. Prohibited Time
The haram time for paying zakat fitrah is deliberately delaying payment until sunset on the 1st day of Shawwal. Postponement is allowed only if there is an excuse, for example, not finding a person who is entitled to receive zakat in the nearest area.
The Shafi’i school of thought forbids the payment of zakat al-fitr on Eid after the Eid prayer without any excuse, such as the loss of property during the night, or the failure to find the mustahiq, or the incomplete distribution of zakat al-fitr to suffice the mustahiq so that they do not beg on Eid al-Fitr.
If a friend deliberately delays the payment of zakat al-fitr without an excuse, then you have disobeyed and are obliged to pay the zakat al-fitr, because it is no longer within the required time.
Based on the above explanation, we can conclude that the time required to pay zakat fitrah is from sunset on the night of Eid al-Fitr until the time for Eid prayer arrives. However, there is no prohibition on paying zakat fitrah before that time, as long as it is still within the months of Ramadan.
Read also: Paying Zakat on your income when you’re already paid, is it obligatory?
For friends who want to pay zakat fitrah easily, you can do it through Dompet Dhuafa on the digital channel Dompet Dhuafa or the Dompet Dhuafa application (download here iOS | Android). The zakat fitrah that you pay will be distributed through the Zakat Fitrah Distribution Program to remote areas of the country. Later, Dompet Dhuafa will distribute the zakat fitrah to remote areas of the country, especially 3T areas. Not only paying zakat fitrah, through this program you have also helped empower local rice farmers! (RQA)
