The Ruling of Zakatul Fitr

Excerpts from the ‘Jurisprudence of Worship’
By Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn Uthaymeen رحمه الله تعالى

Question: Oh Noble Shaykh, What is the ruling of Zakatul Fitr?

Answer: Zakatul Fitr is an obligation, the Prophet ﷺ imposed it as an obligation as stated by Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما: “Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ made it incumbent on all slaves or free Muslims, male or female, to pay one Sa’a of dates or barley as Zakat-ul-Fitr.”¹ (In every sa’a there are 4 amdad (4 mudd). One mudd- is a handful for a regular sized man and it is roughly equivalent to 510 grams. So one sa’a is roughly 2040 grams of wheat however this can be different depending on what is being measured as it is a measurement of volume not of weight).

So if one were to give out dirhams (silver coins) or clothes or furnishings or utensils, verily it is not correct for it to be his (Zakatul) Fitr. Even if it was more expensive than a Sa’a of food. Meaning, verily it is not permissible to give out the value of it (Zakatul Fitr).

Jurisprudence of Worship- Fatwa Regarding Sáum (Fasting). By Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih ibn Uthaymeen (pg. 298)

¹Related by Bukhari – The Book of Zakāh – Number [1504] and related by Muslim – The Book of Zakāh – Number [984]

Translated by: Abu Uwāis, Muhammad Abdullahi Elmi