Eid and Zakat ul-Fitr

Since 2012-12-23
 


These are permissible as long as they stay within the acceptable bounds of Islam. anas said: «when the prophet peace be upon him came to madinah, they had two days for amusement. the prophet peace be upon him has exchanged these days for two better days: the day of breaking the fast and the day of sacrifice .» [An-Nisa'i and authenticated by Al-Albani]

رواه النسائي وصححه الألباني



The prophet peace be upon him used to take his wives and daughters to the two eids. umm atiyah said: «we were ordered to go out with the single and menstruating women to the two eids in order to witness the good and the supplications of the muslims. the menstruating women though would stay away from the prayer area.» [Al-Bukhari and muslim]

البخاري ومسلم واللفظ لمسلم



The prophet peace be upon him used to go to the prayer area by walking. jaber narrated: «on the days of eid, the prophet peace be upon him would go to the prayer area by one route and come back by another route.» [Al-Bukhari]

البخاري



Since eid al-fitr is the day on which muslims break their ramadhan fast, it is preferable to eat before going to the eid prayer. it is a sunnah of the prophet peace be upon him to eat an odd number of dates before going to pray salat al-eid. anas reported: «the prophet peace be upon him would not go out on the day of eid al-fitr without eating an odd number of dates.» [Al-Bukhari]

البخاري



It is preferred to make ghusl (take a bath), wear one's best clothes and, for men, to wear perfume before going to salat al-eid.

“[The Prophet] (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to wear a red cloak on Eid.” [Al-Albani]

الألباني



Takbeer starts from the night of eid's eve until the imam comes out to start the prayer. allah says: {you should complete the prescribed period and then you should glorify allah (i.e., say takbeer) for having guided you so that you may be grateful to him.} [Al-Baqarah 2:185]

البقرة:١٨٥

Transliteration: Wa Litukmilū Al-Iddata Wa Litukabbirū Allāha Alá Mā Hadākum Wa Laallakum Tashkurūna

the form of takbeer is related by 'umar and ibn masud: "allahu akbar, allahu akbar, la illaha illallah. allahu akbar. allahu akbar wa lillahil-hamd."



It has been narrated that when the prophet's companions met each other on the eid day, they would say to each other: "may allah accept from us and from you." [Al-Albani]

الألباني



Zakat al fitr is an obligatory charity on every muslim at the end of the month of ramadan. ibn 'umar said: «the prophet peace be upon him enjoined the payment of one sa'a of dates or one sa'a of barley as zakat al-fitr on every muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave.» [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

البخاري ومسلم ولفظ للبخاري

The purpose of zakat al-fitr is to purify the one who has fasted from any type of indecent act or speech he might have committed while fasting. it also helps the poor and the needy. ibn abbas said: «the messenger of allah peace be upon him enjoined zakat al-fitr on the one who fasts to shield him from any indecent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for the needy.» [Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah]

صحيح أبي داود وابن ماجه




As the first hadith indicated, the amount of zakat al-fitr is one sa'a. sa'a is a volume measure corresponding approximately to the volume of 5 lb of good wheat. the material of zakat can be either dates, barley, wheat, rice, corn or similar items considered as basic foods. abu saeed said: «we used to give for zakat al-fitr on behalf of every child, aged person, free man or slave during the lifetime of the messenger of allah peace be upon him one sa'a of food, or one sa'a of dried yogurt, or one sa'a of barley, or one sa'a of dates, or one sa'a of raisins.» [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
 

البخاري ومسلم واللفظ للبخاري



Zakat al-fitr has to be paid by the end of ramadhan. there are two times to pay akat al-fitr. either one or two days before eid as 'umar used to do, or the day of eid before the eid prayer. ibn umar reported that the prophet peace be upon him ordered them to pay zakat al-fitr before they go out to perform the eid prayer. if zakat al-fitr is paid after the eid prayer, it will only be considered as regular charity. the prophet peace be upon him said: «if one pays zakat al-fitr before the salat, it is considered an accepted zakat, if he pays it after the salat, it is considered an ordinary charity." [Abu Dawud]

صحيح أبي داود

Zakat al-fitr is to be given to the same eight categories or people as in the other types of zakat. some scholars say that the poor and the needy are the most deserving ones since the prophet peace be upon him said that it had "...the purpose of providing food for the needy.»

صحيح أبي داود