Mufti Online — Madrasah Ta'leemuddeen

Difference between zakaah, fitrah and sadaqah

· 15 Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 1434 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

I am listening to a lecture here at work and just determined or realised that there is a difference between zakaat, fitrah and sadaqah and I realised that I don't think I pay zakat? I feel so ashamed now as I was so ignorant to this and I would like to rectify this immediately. I tried to Google zakaat now but its a bit confusing. So if I may, can Mufti explain to me the difference between the 3 and how do I calculate zakaat and when I must pay it. Your guidance and assistance is greatly appreciated.

Answer

Sadaqah is optional charity that can be given at any time to any destitute or any righteous course.

Fitrah is approx. 3.2 kg of grains, such as wheat etc. or its equivalent in cash that is given to a poor Muslim at the end of Ramadhaan.

Zakaat is 2.5 percent of wealth that is taken out yearly from the wealth of a person who is the owner of nisaab.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَاللَّـهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿التوبة: ٦٠﴾

عن عدي بن حاتم قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم ما منكم من رجل إلا سيكلمه ربه يوم القيامة وليس بينه ترجمان فينظر أيمن منه فلا يرى شيئا إلا شيئا قدمه ثم ينظر أشأم منه فلا يرى شيئا إلا شيئا قدمه ثم ينظر تلقاء وجهه فتستقبله النار قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم من استطاع منكم أن يقي وجهه حر النار ولو بشق تمرة فليفعل (ترمذي #2415)

Answered by
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
View original Compare with other Darul Iftas
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Mufti Online — Madrasah Ta'leemuddeen. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, please ask a Mufti. Report an issue

For corrections or mistakes, please email us at fatawasa786@gmail.com.

Source: Mufti Online — Madrasah Ta'leemuddeen — https://muftionline.co.za/node/3686
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/muftionline-3686

People also ask

What is the difference between lillah, sadaqah and zakaat?

“If you intend to give Nafl Sadaqah (optional charity), you may give it to anyone. However, if it is Zakat, then it must be given only to those who are eligible to receive it.”

Camperdown · 228 fatawa from 6 Darul Iftas on this

What the Darul Iftas say
How much is sadaqatul fitr and when is it paid?

“1) It will not be permissible to use Zakaat money as a loan to buy items for Sadaqatul Fitr. All Zakaat that is collected is an Amaanat in their hands and it will not be permissible to utilize the money for anything else besides…”

Azaadville · 98 fatawa from 6 Darul Iftas on this

What the Darul Iftas say

Related fatawa