Grand Mufti and Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced that Zakat al-Fitr in the form of cash is not permissible in Islam and should be given in the form of Food.
NOTE!
- Zakat and Zakat al-Fitr are different.
- Zakat is something you pay based on the assets while Zakat al-Fitr is mandatory for every Muslim before Eid al-Fitr Salah.
- Zakat amount changes based on the number of assets you have, while Zakat al-Fitr is based on a fixed amount.
While talking to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) the sheik said “Contrary to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)’s Sunnah and his rightly guided caliphs would give it in the form of food.”
“Zakat al-Fitr should be given from the food stock of Muslims, such as rice, raisins, wheat, and other things. It is mandatory for a Muslim in the place where the sunset of the last day of Ramadan is there, so it should be given a day or two before Eid al-Fitr”
Grand Mufti
He further informed that Zakat al-Fitr should be given regardless of status and age, and is mandatory for every household member.
This fatwa sparked a great debate among several scholars around the world, such as many scholars have permitted giving Zakat al-Fitr in the form of cash as it is the most efficient way to help the poor.
Like Egyptian Fatwa House which had approved the payment of Zakat al-Fitr in the form of cash.
