Zakat al-Fitr

Does zakat al-fitr vary from one year to the other?

As-Salamu`alykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. My question is about paying zakat-ul-fitr as money. What is the Shari'ah evidence that one can pay zakat-ul-fitr as money. I heard that zakat-ul-fitr needs to be given to people of one’s town or country, so if we live in the US we can't send it to Ethiopia or Iraq or elsewhere. Is this true? And please, can you tell me how much should I pay for zakat-ul-fitr this year as money?

Concerning Zakat Al-Fitr, if one was to fast one-third of Ramadan in a certain country and intended to fast the rest of the month and celebrate `Eid in another country, then in which of the two countries is he to pay the Zakah?

Dear scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. If a Muslim man is married to a Christian woman and they have children, should he pay Zakat Al-Fitr for her? Jazakum Allah khayran.

As-Salaamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatullah. I am a student but I have a part-time job. Is it Fard (obligatory) upon me to pay Zakah? I was told that it is not Fard upon women because while they are unmarried, the head of the family (i.e. the father) pays Zakah on behalf of everyone in the family, and when they are married their husbands pay on their behalf. I was also told that if a woman’s father does not pay any Zakah at all, then she still will not be accountable for it. Is this true? Also is everyone liable to pay Zakat-ul Fitr? If so, how much do we give and in what form (money or food)? Jazakum Allahu Khairan.

Dear Sheikh, thank you very much for your interesting site. Could you please tell me about the significance of Zakah and charity (sadaqah) in Islam. How do these two things represent a form of showing gratitude to Allah?

Does the amount of zakat al-fitr vary in estimation from one year to the other?

Is zakat al-fitr obligatory on fasting persons only? If not, is it also obligatory on those who do not fast in Ramadan, whether they have excuses for this or not?

Respected scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. My grandmother wanted to know if Zakat Al-Fitr can be given in the name of a dead, e.g. her parents. Jazakum Allahu kayran.

Last Ramadan I paid zakat al-fitr on the first day of Ramadan, but a friend of mine told me that this is not lawful in Islam and that I have to pay it again. May you give me the viewpoint of Islam in this regard?

Respected scholars, As-salamu `alaykum. For a long time, I used to pay the value of zakat al-fitr, which is a saa` (about 2.176 kg) of the food mentioned in the Prophetic hadith for myself and my family in money. I usually send this money to the poor kindred, relatives and neighbors in the occupied territories inPalestine. I was quite sure that this act is permissible, relying on many fatwas I heard from you and from many other scholars such as Sheikh `Abdullah ibn Zayd Al-Mahmud, the chief of the Shari`ah Courts in Qatar.However, one day while I was listening to the radio, I heard one of the sheikhs state that paying the value of zakat al-fitr in cash is not permissible in any case; and if anyone does so, his zakat is invalid because it is contrary to the Sunnah. Moreover, the sheikh launched a severe attack on scholars who permitted paying it in money and accused them of being contradictory to the texts of Shari`ah.Frankly, I became confused after hearing this fatwa, especially after I heard a hadith that states "Fasting in the month of Ramadan lies suspended between the earth and heaven; it is only raised (to heaven) by zakat al-fitr." This means that the fasting of my family lies suspended all during these years and was not accepted! Then what is the value of our acts of worship if we perform them while they will be invalid or unaccepted, as the sheikh said? What should the layman Muslim do when the scholars differ over a certain fatwa?I hope you disburden my mind and the minds of millions who pay the value of zakat al-fitr in cash. Jazakum Allahu khayran.

Respected scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. Can Zakat Al-Fitr be paid for other than the poor and the needy?another question is: Do you consider the low-income families in North America as compatible to the definition of faqir and miskin in Islamic Shari`ah? I mean, if a family can live, eat, and drink but with very limited resources, will it be eligible for Zakah? Jazakum Allahu khayran.

Al-Salam alykom wa rhamatallah wabarakatu,  I have a questions if you could please answere it for me I will be very greatfull, first I live in the US and for the last eid (of this year) my familly and I had major financial issues, and we couldn't pay zakat al-Eid al iftar I heard that if you give after Eid then it is consederd sadaka, I was wondering if I could still pay it or do I just have to wait for next year inshallah?