On whom is zakat al-fitr obligatory, and is it permissible for me to give it to my poor relatives?
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The questioner : This questioner asks: On whom is zakat al-fitr obligatory? And if I give it to my poor relatives, is that permissible?
The Shaykh : On whom is it obligatory?
Yes, let us clarify. If a person means on whom it is obligatory for him to pay—meaning, on whom is it obligatory to disburse it—then it is obligatory for every Muslim, whether young or old, free or slave, male or female, to pay the fitr on behalf of himself.
As for if he means on whom it is obligatory for them to receive it—meaning, to whom zakat al-fitr is distributed—it is distributed to the poor so that they may be self-sufficient and not have to ask for food on the day of the festival, and so that they may share with the rich in not seeking food on that day. For this reason, Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1827Hasan (Darussalam).
The Shaykh : On whom is it obligatory?
Yes, let us clarify. If a person means on whom it is obligatory for him to pay—meaning, on whom is it obligatory to disburse it—then it is obligatory for every Muslim, whether young or old, free or slave, male or female, to pay the fitr on behalf of himself.
As for if he means on whom it is obligatory for them to receive it—meaning, to whom zakat al-fitr is distributed—it is distributed to the poor so that they may be self-sufficient and not have to ask for food on the day of the festival, and so that they may share with the rich in not seeking food on that day. For this reason, Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: