The Difference Between Zakaah (Alms Giving) On Wealth And Zakaat Al-fitr (End Of Ramadan)
Islamic Rulings -
Living Shariah Verdicts
Islamic Questions & AnswersIs the zakaah that is enjoined on Muslims and
is one of the five pillars something other than the
zakaah of Ramadaan?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Yes, the zakaah that is one of the five pillars of
Islam is something other than the zakaah that must be
paid at the end of Ramadaan (zakaat al-fitr).
The former is zakaah on wealth which is only
obligatory on certain kinds of wealth, viz.:
1- An'aam livestock (camels, cattle and sheep)
2- Gold and silver and, nowadays, paper currency
3- Trade goods
4- What is produced by the earth, which includes two
things:
a. Crops and fruits. The scholars are unanimously
agreed that it is obligatory to pay zakaah on four
kinds: wheat, barley, dates and raisins; they differed
with regard to other kinds.
b. Rikaaz (buried treasure), i.e., wealth of the
kuffaar buried in the ground that is found by a
Muslim.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on
him) narrated in Majmoo' al-Fataawa (25/10) that Ibn
al-Mundhir (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The scholars are unanimously agreed that zakaah is
obligatory on nine things: camels, cattle, sheep,
gold, silver, wheat, barley, dates and raisins, if
they reach the nisaab (minimum threshold) for each
type at which zakaah becomes due. They differed with
regard to other types of wealth.
Zakaah for each of these kinds of wealth is obligatory
subject to certain conditions, and a specific amount
of the wealth must be given as defined by sharee'ah.
See the questions on zakaah on this site for more
information.
This zakaah (zakaah on wealth) is one of the five
pillars of Islam. Whoever denies it is a kaafir and
whoever withholds it is a rebellious evildoer; the
Muslim ruler must take it from him by force. If he
persists in withholding it and is protected by his
tribe then he must be fought until he pays it.
Al-Bukhaari (8) and Muslim (12) narrated that
‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar said: I heard the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
say: "Islam is built on five (pillars): bearing
witness that there is no god except Allaah,
establishing regular prayer, paying zakaah, fasting
Ramadaan and going on Pilgrimage to the House."
Al-Bukhaari (25) and Muslim (22) narrated from Ibn
‘Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "I have been
enjoined to fight the people until they bear witness
that there is no god except Allaah and that Muhammad
is the Messenger of Allaah, and they establish regular
prayer and pay zakaah. If they do that, then they have
protected their blood and wealth from me except in
cases where Islamic laws apply, and their reckoning
will be with Allaah.
The Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) were
unanimously agreed on fighting those who withheld
zakaah. Al-Bukhaari (1400) and Muslim (20) narrated
that Abu Hurayrah (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) became caliph,
and some of the Arabs disbelieved and apostatized,
‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: ‘How
could you fight the people, when the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said, "I have been enjoined to fight the people until
they bear witness that there is no god except Allaah.
Whoever says that has protected his blood and wealth
from me except in cases where Islamic laws apply, and
their reckoning will be with Allaah"?' Then Abu Bakr
said: ‘By Allaah, I will fight those who separate
prayer and zakaah, for zakaah is what is due on
wealth. By Allaah, if they withhold from me a small
sheep that they used to give to the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), I
will fight them for withholding it.' ‘Umar (may Allaah
be pleased with him) said: ‘By Allaah, when I realized
that Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) was
confident about this idea, then I knew that this was
the truth.'"
With regard to the zakaah that is obligatory at the
end of Ramadaan, this is Zakaat al-Fitr. The scholars
are unanimously agreed that it is obligatory, except
those who held odd views.
See Tarh al-Tathreeb, 4/46.
It is less important than the zakaah of wealth with
regard to obligation and status. Zakaat al-Fitr is not
one of the pillars of Islam, and the one who denies it
is not a kaafir.
Zakaat al-Fitr was mentioned in many ahaadeeth, 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) enjoined zakaat al-fitr, a saa' of dates, or
a saa' of barley, for every Muslim, slave or free,
male or female, young or old, and he enjoined that it
be given before the people go out to the prayer.
Abu Dawood (1609) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) enjoined zakaat al-fitr as a purification
for those who fasted from idle or obscene talk, and so
as to feed the poor. Whoever gives it before the
prayer, it is accepted zakaah and whoever gives it
after the prayer, it is ordinary charity. Classed as
hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
See question no. 12459 for more details.
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