4 September 2010 / ,
Zakat al-Fitr is a charity obligatory upon every Muslim who is self-supporting, if s/he has one saa’ (four times the amount held in the two hands of a man of average build) or more food than s/he needs for themself and their family on the day and night of Eid al-Fitr.
The Prophet Muhammad reportedly enjoined Zakat al-Fitr upon all Muslims, slave and free, male and female, young and old, to encourage support of those less well off and to circulate wealth within society. He commanded that it be paid before people went out to pray the Eid prayer. The charity can be give in the form of staple foods such as rice and barley, as well as in money -- which has become a common practice. In Turkey, the Zakat al-Fitr is TL 7 this year. Islamic scholars recommend that Muslims seek out zakat recipients on their own and deliver the food or monetary aid in person as opposed to donating through a charity. Poor Muslims should be given priority in Zakat al-Fitr, but it is also permissible to send it to the poor of another land whose people are in greater need.
