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There are different views regarding payment of zakat fitrah and zakat on wealth.
For zakat fitrah, you are required to pay it in the country where you will be spending the night of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
For zakat on wealth, you are required to pay it in the country where your wealth has increased.
Even so, this is just a general guidance. If there are complications in fulfilling the payment of zakat in this particular way, it is permitted to pay wherever that is suitable.
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Those who did not fast during Ramadan should try their best to expiate the missed days (qada) before the next Ramadan.
If you are unable to do so, not only do you have to replace the missed fasting days, but you are required to pay fidyah for each day you did not fast.
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Zakat fitrah can be paid from the first night of Ramadan until before the start of Aidilfitri prayer. Some scholars are of the view that payments made after this duration are considered as charity and not zakat fitrah.
According to some Mazhab, such as the Shafi’i Mazhab, an individual who has missed an obligatory religious deed is required to expiate (qada). Therefore, if you did not pay your zakat fitrah, you are required to pay it with the intent of expiation.
However, a believer should be mindful of his religious obligations, and would try to perform them on time and not through expiation.
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It is recommended for you to pay your zakat, be it on your wealth or fitrah, online.
Please refer to the following website for more information:
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Allah s.w.t. has said in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 184: “And if one of you is sick, or on a journey, you will fast the same number of other days later. For those who are capable of fasting (but still do not fast) there is a redemption: feeding a needy man for each day missed. But if anyone does good of his own accord, it is better for him, and fasting is better for you, if only you knew.”
Fidyah means to feed the poor. Food here refers to the staple food of the particular country. In Singapore, the staple food is rice. Muslims in Singapore who are unable to fast are hence required to pay fidyah according to 1 mud of rice for each day that they did not fast. 1 mud is the equivalent of 750 grams.
However, it is up to the individual, whether to pay with money or with staple food.
In Singapore, it might be more practical and beneficial for all parties to pay with money. The beneficiaries can buy their own food with money. Cash is also easier to be moved and stored, while rice requires more space to be stored, has an expiry date, and so on.
According to the Shafi’i Mazhab, the amount of fidyah will increase each year if the missed fasting days are not expiated in time before the following Ramadan.
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Zakat fitrah is not obligatory upon unborn babies. However, it is an obligation if the baby is born before the night of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
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If the helper’s family does not pay for her, then the employer’s family should help pay for her.
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Although the Shafi’i Mazhab stipulates that the amount of fidyah increases with each year that the person does not pay, there are other scholarly views on this issue.
If you are unable to pay the amount of the cumulative fidyah, you are able to follow the opinion of other scholars who are of the view that the amount of fidyah each year is fixed. Therefore, for example, whoever has to pay a total amount of $300, the amount will not increase even if the payment is deferred by several years.
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Payment of fidyah does not suspend your obligation to expiate the days of fasting that you have missed in Ramadan. As long as you are capable of doing so, it is still an obligation upon you to expiate the days.
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Currently, there is no fatwa in Singapore for Zakat on Income. However, if you choose to pay your zakat on income then it can be paid under the category of Zakat on savings
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There are 8 recipients (asnaf) of Zakat as mentioned in Surah al-Taubah (60) :
“Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [Zakat] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.”
Thus, it is clear that orphans and widows are not amongst the recipients entitled to receive Zakat. However, if they fall in any of the category of the above mentioned asnaf, then in that situation they are eligible to receive Zakat.
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It is permissible to give Zakat money to our family members, provided that they are amongst the 8 asnaf and not under our dependents.
Thus, Zakat cannot be given to our parents, children, and wife because it is our responsibility to care for them and Zakat is meant to be given to those who are not under our dependents.
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The scholars differed in their opinions regarding this matter. Imam Abu Hanifah and some of the scholars of the Maliki mazhab were of the opinion that it is not allowed. They argued that the zakat does not achieve its purpose as the wife will indirectly benefit from the zakat given through the payment of nafkah to her. The majority of scholars, on the other hand, state the permissibility of the wife to pay zakat to her husband. In fact, Shafi`i mazhab state it is recommended for a wife to do so.
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In accordance to the shafi`i mazhab, Zakat must be given to the 8 eligible asnaf. However the majority of scholars are of the view that it is permissible to give the Zakat to one asnaf.
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Zakat Fitrah must be paid in Ramadan, before the start of Eidul Fitri prayers. If it is paid after Eidul Fitri prayers, it becomes ordinary charity (sadaqah) and not considered Zakat. The person who has forgotten to pay his Zakat Fitrah should pray to Allah for forgiveness and make a strong intention not to repeat it again in the future by taking the necessary precautions. Should he feel discomfort and the need to pay still, he may do so as sadaqah.
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Zakat is to be paid on the loan that was given to others if it meets the conditions of zakat. Not having that money in possession does not mean that it isn't liable to pay Zakat . The obligation of paying Zakat is applicable to the lender if he is a well-off person and able to pay it off at any time. Zakat is due on the lender every year even if he does not collect his money as this is akin to possessing the money but at the safekeeping of another. However, if the debt is unlikely to be collected then Zakat is due upon collecting it as this is the position of Shafi`i scholars and is the stricter opinion. Nevertheless , Hanafi scholars are of the opinion that zakat is due on such a loan for a haul (one lunar year) when the lender regains its possession and this is more facilitating.
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It is permissible to expedite the payment of zakat before the completion of haul provided that he fulfills the other condition of Zakat such as the fulfilment of the sufficient nisab in his ownership.
The zakat is invalid if the nisab is insufficient.
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Zakat is to be paid on the loan that was given from others if it meets the conditions of zakat.- If it reaches the minimum threshold (nisab) and one full year has passed since you acquired it.
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Yes, Zakat is liable to be paid if the conditions of zakat are met regardless of whether it is in your possession or not. This is tantamount to safekeeping since you have the means to withdraw the money.
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