Zakat al-Fitr

According to the fatwas of the Grand Religious Authorities: Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Sistani, and Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi (may Allah prolong their blessings):

Fatāwā presented without citing a differing opinion or a specific reference are the common rulings shared by all of the three respected Marāji‘. In cases where the ruling of one Marjaʿ differs from that of the other two, it is indicated in a footnote under the same number, mentioning the Marjaʿ by name.

Those upon whom the payment of Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory

1. A person who, at sunset on the night of Eid al-Fitr, is mature (bāligh), sane, conscious, and not poor nor the slave of another, must give Zakat al-Fitr for himself and for those who are considered his dependents. For each person, he must give one ṣāʿ (approximately three kilograms) of wheat, barley, dates, raisins, rice, corn, or similar food items to a person who is entitled to receive it. It is also sufficient if he gives its monetary equivalent instead of the food.

Ayatollah Sistani: As an obligatory precaution, one should not give food that is not commonly used in his city, even if it is wheat, barley, dates, or raisins.

1. A person must pay the Fitr for those who are considered his dependents at sunset on the night of Eid al-Fitr, whether they are young or old, Muslim or non-Muslim, whether providing their expenses is obligatory upon him or not, and whether they are in his city or another city.
2. A person whose Zakat al-Fitr must be paid by someone else is not obliged to pay his own Fitr.
3. If a person whose Fitr is obligatory upon another pays it himself, the obligation does not fall from the one upon whom it was originally obligatory.

Time of Paying Zakat al-Fitr

1. After the month of Shawwal is confirmed, a person may pay the Zakat al-Fitr or set it aside.
   A person who intends to perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer, based on obligatory precaution, must pay or set aside the Fitr before the prayer.

However, if a person does not perform the Eid prayer, he may delay it until noon on the day of Eid al-Fitr.

2. If a person sets aside some of his property with the intention of Fitr, but does not give it to a deserving person before noon on the day of Eid, the obligatory precaution is that whenever he gives it later, he should renew the intention of Zakat al-Fitr.

Ayatollah Sistani: Delaying it is permissible if there is a reasonable purpose for the delay.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi: If a person does not have access to a poor person, he may separate an amount from his property with the intention of Fitr and keep it aside for a specific needy person or for any eligible recipient. Whenever he gives it, he must make the intention of Fitr.

3. If, at the time when Zakat al-Fitr becomes obligatory, a person neither pays it nor sets it aside, the obligatory precaution is that he should later give it without intending either performance (adāʾ) or make-up (qaḍāʾ).

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi: The precaution is that later he should give it with the intention of what is due upon him (mā fī al-dhimmah), meaning without specifying whether it is adāʾ or qaḍāʾ.

Use of Zakat al-Fitr

1. As an obligatory precaution, less than one ṣāʿ (or its value) should not be given to a poor person. However, it is permissible to give several ṣāʿs to one poor person, even up to the amount sufficient for his yearly expenses. Yet, as an obligatory precaution, more than the expenses of one year should not be given to a poor person, and the poor person should also not take more than that amount.

Ayatollah Sistani: It is a recommended precaution not to give less than one ṣāʿ to a single poor person, unless it does not reach all the poor people who have gathered. However, giving more than one ṣāʿ is not problematic.

1. In Zakat al-Fitr, it is not necessary for the recipient to be just (‘ādil). However, based on precaution, it should not be given to someone who openly commits major sins.
2. Spending Zakat al-Fitr for the propagation of religious teachings is permissible, but the precaution is that it should be given to a poor person.

Ayatollah Sistani: Based on obligatory precaution, Zakat al-Fitr must be given only to poor Shia Muslims who meet the conditions required for recipients of Zakat on wealth.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi: Based on obligatory precaution, Zakat al-Fitr cannot be spent on anything other than the poor and the needy.

Zakat al-Fitr for Sayyids

Non-Sayyids (those who are not descendants of the Prophet) cannot give their Zakat al-Fitr to poor Sayyids, and if they do so, it will not be considered valid.

In this matter, the criterion is the head of the household (the person responsible for paying the Fitr on behalf of the family).

Zakat al-Fitr of a Guest

A guest who comes to a person’s house only on the night of Eid al-Fitr does not have his Zakat al-Fitr become obligatory upon the host.

Zakat al-Fitr of a Woman Who Is Not Supported by Her Husband

If a woman is considered a dependent of her husband, then the husband must pay the Zakat al-Fitr for both himself and his wife, provided he has the financial ability.

However, if the woman is not considered dependent on her husband or on anyone else, then she must pay her own Zakat al-Fitr.

Giving Zakat al-Fitr to Those Whose Maintenance Is Obligatory

If the children are poor, the father and mother must provide for their necessary living expenses. Therefore, it is not permissible to give them anything from Zakat al-Fitr to cover their living costs. However, there is no problem in giving it to them to repay a debt or for needs that the father is not obligated to provide