Only poor, needy deserve Zakat ul-Fitr – Cleric

An Abuja-based cleric, Malam Yahya Al-Yolawi, has advised Muslims to give Zakat ul-Fitr only to the poor and needy.

Al-Yolawi gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Zakat al-Fitr, or the zakat of breaking the fast of Ramadan, is a special obligatory alms paid by all Muslims at the end of the month of Ramadan regardless of age or gender.

The cleric said Prophet Muhammad enjoined the payment of one Sa’a of dates or one Sa’a of barley as Zakat al-Fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave.

He said the purpose of Zakat al-Fitr was to purify the one who has fasted from unacceptable act or speech he might have committed while fasting.

Al-Yolawi also said Zakat al-Fitr helps the poor and the needy, adding that the material of the zakat can be barley, wheat, rice, corn or similar items considered as basic foods for people residing in a particular place or society.

“Zakat al-Fitr has to be paid by the end of Ramadan, either one or two days before Eid or on the day of Eid before the Eid prayer.

“If one pays Zakat al-Fitr before the eid salat, it is considered an accepted zakat, but if he pays it after the salat, it is considered as charity.”

Al-Yolawi encouraged all Muslims to take their wives and children to the eid prayer area, saying that Prophet Muhammad used to take his wives and daughters to the eid ground. (NAN)