• Sadaqatul Fitr (or Fitrah) is Waajib (compulsory) upon all Muslims - male, female and children who on the Day of Eidul Fitr are owners of the Nisaab of Zakaat, i.e. approximately R147 which is the current price of 19,6875 troy ounces of silver. (Hanafi Mazhab). According to the Shafi Mazhab, Fitrah becomes obligatory, if one has sufficient food for one’s household for one day and one night (twenty four hours). Thus, even if one is not the owner of the Zakaat Nisaab value, Fitrah will yet be compulsory according to the Shafi Mazhab.
• According to the Hanafi Mazhab, the Fitrah becomes Waajib when the Day of Fitr dawns with the commencement of Fajr time. Therefore, if someone died before entry of Fajir on the Day of Eid, Fitrah will not be paid out of his (the deceased’s) estate, since this Fitrah is not Waajib on him. And, if a child is born before the rising of Fajr, Fitrah will be paid on his behalf. If the child is born after the entry of Fajr (on the Day of Eid), Fitrah is not Waajib on his behalf.
• According to the Shaafi Mazhab, Fitrah becomes incumbent with the commencement of the Night of Eidul Fitr, i.e. immediately the sun sets on the last day of Ramadhaan. Thus if someone dies after sunset on the last day of Ramadhaan (i.e. the first night of Shawwaal) Fitrah shall be paid out of his And, Fitrah will not be Waajib upon a child born after sunset of the last day of Ramadhaan.
• According to the Hanafi Mazhab, the father has to pay the Fitrah on behalf of his under-age children, i.e. those who have not attained the age of puberty.
• According to the Hanafi Mazhab, it is not obligatory upon the husband to pay Fitrah on behalf of his wife. If she is the owner of Nisaab, she shall have to pay her own Fitrah.
• According to the Shafi Mazhab, it is obligatory upon the man to pay the Fitrah on behalf of his minor children as well as his
• If a minor is the owner of wealth to the amount of Nisaab, then payment of Fitrah on behalf of the minor could be made from out of his (minor’s) wealth. This is according to both Hanafi and Shaafi Mazhab.
• The Fitrah should preferably be paid before the Eid Salaat.
• It is not permissible to delay the payment of Fitrah later than the Day of Eid. However, if it was not paid on the Day of Eid or before, the obligation remains and the Fitrah will have to be paid.
• It is permissible to pay the Fitrah in advance at any time during the month of Ramadhaan. This is according to both Hanafi and Shafi Mazhab. However, according to the Hanafi Mazhab, the Fitrah could be paid even before Ramadhaan whereas according to the Shafi Mazhab, payment of Fitrah before Ramadhaan is not valid.
• Sadaqatul Fitr is Waajib upon all those who fasted as well as those who did not fast for some reason or other. This is according to both Hanafi and Shafi Mazhab.
• The approximate amount for Fitra today is R1, 50^,
• The Fitrah can only be paid to “the poor” - those who are entitled to accept Zakaat.
• Fitrah cannot be utilized in any charitable purpose other than the poor. Therefore, if Fitrah monies are accumulated and then spent on some other charitable cause, the Fitrah obligation of the Fitrah-payers will not be discharged.

RASULULLAH (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) SAID: “THE FAST REMAINS SUSPENDED BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH UNTIL THE FITRAH IS PAID.”

This Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) illustrates the importance of the Fitrah and its direct bearing on the acceptance of our Saum (Fasting). The Fast is only presented for acceptance by Allah Ta’ala when the obligation of Fitrah is correctly discharged. The Muslim public should therefore be very scrupulous when effecting payment of the Fitrah. If the Fitrah is misused or wrongly distributed by the representatives of the public, the public will still be responsible for its (Fitra’s) fulfilment. The Mujlisul Ulama, therefore, advises all Muslims to rather distribute their Fitrah themselves. Find some poor in your locality and hand your Fitrah to them. If, however, you are unable to do so, then get in touch with the Mujlisul Ulama Zakaat Fund of South Africa, P.O. Box 3393, Port Elizabeth, and we shall assist you in the correct Islamic disbursement of your Fitrah.