The difference between the annual zakah (obligatory charity) and the zakat al-fitr (charity given at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan)
Praise God.
Praise be allah
Yes, the obligatory charity (zakah) that constitutes one of the pillars of Islam, is different from that paid at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan (zakat al-fitr).
The first is a fixed percentage that applies only to a certain class of goods:
1 – Cattle (camels, sheep, etc.)
2 – Gold and silver, and currently, paper money.
3 – Tradable goods.
4 – The products of the land, which includes two classes:
to. Harvests and fruits. Scholars unanimously agree that it is obligatory to pay this annual charity on four crops: wheat, barley, dates, and raisins; and they differ from other classes.
b. Buried treasures, that is, riches buried by someone and found by a Muslim.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) narrated in Maymu ‘al-Fataawa (10/25) that Ibn al-Mundhir (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Scholars agree that it is obligatory to pay zakah on nine things: camels, cattle, sheep, gold, silver, wheat, barley, dates and other raisins, if they reach the minimum threshold (nisáb) of each type to which zakah is applied. And they differ from other types of wealth.
The zakah for each of these types of goods is obligatory subject to certain conditions, and according to the wealth it must be given as charity to a specific amount of this wealth.
See Donate Zakat for more information.
This annual charity is one of the five pillars of Islam. Whoever denies it is an unbeliever, and whoever refuses to pay it to the poor is a rebel and a criminal; the Muslim ruler must remove it by force. If he persists in withholding this charity and is protected by his family or tribe, then war must be waged on him until he repays it.
Al-Bukhaari (8) and Muslim (12) narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn’ Umar said: “I have heard that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:“ Islam was built on five things (pillars): witness that there is no divinity other than Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, establish daily prayer, pay zakah, fast in Ramadhan and make the pilgrimage to the Old House (the temple of Mecca) ”.
Al-Bukhaari (25) and Muslim (22) narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: that there is no divinity other than God and that Muhammad is His Messenger, establish prayer and pay zakah. If they do, then they have protected their blood and riches from me except where the law applies, and their accountability is only due to Allah. “
His companions (may Allaah be pleased with them) unanimously agreed to fight those who refuse to pay zakah. Al-Bukhaari (1400) and Muslim (20) narrated that Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed away and Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) he became caliph, some of the Arabs did apostasy and rebelled, and ‘Umar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: How would you fight against these people, when the Messenger of Allaah (who peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said “I have been ordered to insist to the people until they bear witness that there is no divinity other than God. And whoever testifies to this, protect your blood and wealth from me except in cases where Islamic law applies, and your accountability will be with Allah alone ”?”. Then Abu Bákr said: By Allah, I am going to fight against those who try to separate prayer from charity, because charity is a duty of those who have wealth. By Allaah, if they keep a small sheep from what they used to give in the time of Allaah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), I will wage war on them. ” “‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: By Allaah, when I realized that Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) was sure of this, then I knew that was the truth.” Then Abu Bákr said: By Allah, I am going to fight against those who try to separate prayer from charity, because charity is a duty of those who have wealth. By Allaah, if they keep a small sheep from what they used to give in the time of Allaah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), I will wage war on them. ” “‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: By Allaah, when I realized that Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) was sure of this, then I knew that was the truth.” Then Abu Bákr said: By Allah, I am going to fight against those who try to separate prayer from charity, because charity is a duty of those who have wealth. By Allaah, if they keep a small sheep from what they used to give in the time of Allaah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), I will wage war on them. ” “‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: By Allaah, when I realized that Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) was sure of this, then I knew that was the truth.” if they retain a small sheep of what they used to give in the time of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), I will make war on them. ” “‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: By Allaah, when I realized that Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) was sure of this, then I knew that was the truth.” if they retain a small sheep of what they used to give in the time of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), I will make war on them. ” “‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: By Allaah, when I realized that Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) was sure of this, then I knew that was the truth.”
Regarding the obligatory charity that is paid at the end of the month of Ramadan, it is called zakat al-fitr. Scholars unanimously agree that it is mandatory, except those who hold a strange point of view.
See Tárh at-Tazríb, 4/46.
It is less important than the annual charity, both in obligation, amount and status within the law. Zakat al-fitr is not one of the pillars of Islam, and whoever denies it is not considered to be an unbeliever.
Zakat al-Fitr was mentioned in many reports, such as the following:
Al-Bukhaari (1503) and Muslim (984) narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ordered to give zakat al- Fitr, a sa ‘of dates, or barley, for every Muslim, free or slave, man or woman, young or old, and commanded that it should be given before people go out for prayer.
Abu Dawood (1609) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commended zakat al-fitr as a purification for fasting people for any idle or obscene words they might say. as well as to feed the poor. Whoever gives it before the prayer (of the ‘Id), it will be accepted as such, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it will be accepted as an ordinary charity. Classified as good by al-Albani in Sahih Abu Dawood.