Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 23-06-2017
With just a few days left before end of the blessed month of Ramadan, questions have once again been raised about Sadaqatul Fitr with many asking if the amount being distributed to the less fortunate is sufficient.
It’s emerged that the R 22 Sadaqatul Fitr for the Hanafi Mathab (Sha’fi – R 28) calculated for Ramadan 1438 is a lowly sum and cannot be justified when comparing it to extravagant ladened tables of many other Muslims during the blessed day of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Similar questions were raised last year which prompted Radio Islam to seek clarity on the matter to ease the confusion created among the ummah.
Mufti Emran Vawda told Radio Islam a person is free to give any amount of Sadaqatul Fitr he wishes.
“What is stipulated is the minimum. Even in today’s terms a person can have a very basic meal with 22 Rand. It is just that our standards have changed, both rich and poor.”
Mufti Vawda reiterated that these differences should not allow the shari’ah to be attacked.
“Rather encourage people to voluntarily give more. And Allah Ta’ala knows best.”
According to hadith, Sadaqatul Fitr is calculated on one sa’a, which is approximately 2kg of dates, 1.633kg of wheat or 3.266kg of barley.
Zakaah al-Fitr is often referred to as Sadaqtul 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, Zakaah al-Fitr is the name given to charity which is distributed at the end of the fast of Ramadan.
Sadaqatul Fitr is a duty which is Waajib on every Muslim, whether male or female, minor or adult as long as he/she has the means to do so.
Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) narrates that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has made obligatory Sadaqatul Fitr as a means of cleansing the fasts from idle and lewd talk and in order that it provides food for the poorest and destitute. – (Abu Dawud).
Depending on the sighting of the moon, Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to be on the 25th or 26th of June 2017 Insha’Allah.
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