Does Zakat al-Fitr have to be distributed locally – 2

Reference: Fataawa fee Ahkam az-Zakaat- p318/#241

Question: The noble Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saaleh al-Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the ruling of transferring Zakaatul-Fitr from its place of obligation [1]?

Response: There is a difference of opinion amongst the scholars in this issue. That which is well-known in the Hanbali Madhab is that it is not permissible to transfer Zakaat from its place of obligation unless there isn’t anyone in that place qualified to receive it. In this case, it is to be distributed in the closest land to it. Based upon this, if he is in a land where poor people reside he should not distribute it in any other place, because the people of his land are more deserving of it than others.

As for the case where no poor people exist in his locality, there is no harm in transferring it to another land. Likewise, according to the correct opinion, [there is no harm] if there is a benefit in transferring it; such as transferring it to people who are more in need of it than the people of his area. However, Zakaatul-Fitr is not like the Zakaat of wealth, because the Zakaat of wealth has a broader time range [for its distribution]. As for Zaakatul-Fitr it has a specific time to be distributed starting two days before the ‘Eed up until the ‘Eed prayer. And Allaah knows best.

 

Footnote

[1] i.e. the locality of the person obliged to distribute/pay Zakaatul-Fitr.


حكم نقل زكاة الفطر عن محل وجوبها – 2

المرجع: فتاوى في أحكام الزكاة، ص318 – العلامة محمد بن صالح العثيمين

السؤال: سئل فضيلة الشيخ – رحمه الله تعالى – : عن حكم نقل زكاة الفطر عن محل وجوبها؟

الجواب: فأجاب فضيلته بقوله: هذه المسألة فيها خلاف بين العلماء فالمشهور من مذهب الحنابلة أنه لا يجوز نقل الزكاة عن محل وجوبها, إلا إذا لم يكن في المحل أهل لها, فإنها نفرق في أقرب البلاد إليه, وعلى هذا إذا كان في بلد فيه فقراء فإنه لا يوزعها في بلد آخر سواه؛ لأن أهل بلده أحق من غيرهم. أما لو لم يكن عنده فقراء فإنه لا حرج أن ينقلها إلى بلاد أخرى, وكذلك على القول الراجح إذا كان في نقلها مصلحة, مثل أن ينقلها إلى أناس أشد حاجة من أهل بلده لكن زكاة الفطر ليست كزكاة المال, لأن زكاة المال وقتها أوسع, أما زكاة الفطر فهي مخصوصة قبل العيد بيومين إلى صلاة العيد, والله أعلم

- from Philadelphia, USA. He is a graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having graduated from the Institute of Arabic Language, the Faculty of Hadeeth, PGDip in Da'wah and Masters in 'Aqeedah; He is currently pursuing his PhD in 'Aqeedah. In addition, he has been appointed by Royal Decree to teach in the Prophet's Masjid in Madeenah.

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