Zakat al-Fitr is not obligatory for the fetus in the womb, and some rulings concerning the fetus.
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The Shaykh : Now, is the alms obligatory for the pregnancy in the womb?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : No, it is not obligatory for the pregnancy in the womb. However, if he gives it on its behalf, there is no harm. And if he does not give it, there is no harm either. If he gives it, that is better and voluntary. If he does not give it, he owes nothing, because until now it has not been counted among the living. For this reason, if this fetus is born dead, it does not inherit; it does not inherit. But if this fetus is born dead, is it washed and prayed over? If it has reached four months, it is washed, shrouded, prayed over, and buried in the Muslim cemeteries. If it is born before four months, it is not washed, not shrouded, not prayed over, and not buried in the cemetery; it is buried in any place, because it was not a human being who will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection. It is not resurrected unless the soul is breathed into it. Before that, it is a piece of flesh. Now, if this fetus is born, is it named?
The questioner : There is a distinction in this.
The Shaykh : There is a detail here as well. If the soul has been breathed into it, we name it; otherwise, we do not. Now, there is a final point.
The questioner : Rice.
The Shaykh : Rice, and what is in it?
The questioner : People give it as zakah.
The Shaykh : Now, I am asking you.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : No, it is not obligatory for the pregnancy in the womb. However, if he gives it on its behalf, there is no harm. And if he does not give it, there is no harm either. If he gives it, that is better and voluntary. If he does not give it, he owes nothing, because until now it has not been counted among the living. For this reason, if this fetus is born dead, it does not inherit; it does not inherit. But if this fetus is born dead, is it washed and prayed over? If it has reached four months, it is washed, shrouded, prayed over, and buried in the Muslim cemeteries. If it is born before four months, it is not washed, not shrouded, not prayed over, and not buried in the cemetery; it is buried in any place, because it was not a human being who will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection. It is not resurrected unless the soul is breathed into it. Before that, it is a piece of flesh. Now, if this fetus is born, is it named?
The questioner : There is a distinction in this.
The Shaykh : There is a detail here as well. If the soul has been breathed into it, we name it; otherwise, we do not. Now, there is a final point.
The questioner : Rice.
The Shaykh : Rice, and what is in it?
The questioner : People give it as zakah.
The Shaykh : Now, I am asking you.