Sadaqatul Fitr in the holy month of Ramadan
Fitra is an Arabic word, which in Islam is known as Zakat ul-Fitr or Sadaqat ul-Fitr.
Zakat ul-Fitr is the charity distributed by fasting people to the poor and needy on the occasion of Eid- ul Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims.
It is obligatory for all eligible Muslims, men and women, free and slave, children and old, young and elderly, to pay Zakat.
It is known from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that Zakat is a specific amount of money or wealth that is given to a person who is eligible for Zakat in a specific manner.
Before Zakat became obligatory, Sadaqah ul-Fitr was ordered. It remains as obligatory today as it was before.
According to Abu Hanif (RA), paying Fitra is obligatory. As soon as the fast ends, it becomes obligatory to pay Sadaqat-ul Fitr.
It is obligatory on all Muslims, regardless of whether they are free or free men or women. Now the head of the household must also pay their Fitr.
For a married woman, her husband will pay the Sadaqah ul-Fitr. If she is unmarried, she will pay it herself if she is able to do so. Otherwise, her guardian will have to pay it.
However, in a hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that even the poor and needy should pay fitra. Because, whatever he gives, Allah will return more than his amount.
But it is not obligatory, it is voluntary. It is a matter of self-sacrifice of the servant in the hope of receiving more reward.
This year the Islamic Foundation has set the minimum amount of fitra at 60 taka.
But according to the hadith, it is supposed to be much higher. So we will try to give more than 60 taka.
Whoever pays Zakat al-Fitr before the Eid prayer will have it accepted by Allah as obligatory Zakat or charity.
And whoever pays it after the Eid prayer will have it considered as a general charity.
From the above hadith, it is understood that the correct time to pay Sadaqah al-Fitr is before the Eid prayer.
The significance of this is that the needy people should not be deprived of the joy and happiness of Eid due to poverty.
If Sadaqatul Fitr is given well before Eid, they will spend the money on various needs. It will provide them with a little good food on Eid Day.