Srinagar- Days after Kashmir Grand Mufti Nasir-ul Islam said that 65 rupees have been fixed as the Zakat-ul-Fitr per person this Ramazan, major Shia bodies announced that a person has to donate three kilograms of the basic staple food (rice in case of Kashmir valley) as Zakat-ul- Fitr or equivalent amount of money.
Zakat ul-Fitr is compulsory upon every self-supporting adult Muslim who has food in excess of their needs, on behalf of themselves and their dependents at the end of the month of Ramazan.
Anjuman-e-Sharie Shiayan, Ittihadul Muslimeen and Shia Association said Zakat-ul-Fitr has to be three kilograms of the basic staple food a believer consumes throughout the year.
It depends on the type of major item of food consumed by the believer during the year. This may be rice, wheat, barley, etc. In weight, it should be at least three kilograms of food per person. It is also permissible to pay cash of equivalent value, Shia clergy said.
Aga Syed Hadi Al-Mousavi Al-Safavi said that three kilograms of rice has to be donated as Sadaqat-ul- Fitr.
According to Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari, it can be done in two ways: “either three kgs of rice is to be donated or cash equivalent to its market value so that a poor person can buy it in the market.”
However, Masroor said that the concept of Zakat is different in Shia fiqh.
“We do not pay Zakat for anything and everything. Zakat is obligatory on specific items such as gold, silver and cattle when they are possessed beyond a certain quantity. In eatery items it is obligatory to pay on wheat, dates, cattle and raisins and other items.
In Kashmir, every family has gold as a household item but it is not possessed in bulk and it does not surpass the limit and usually does not qualify for Zakat.
“We need to keep in mind that poor people are again exempted from paying Zakat”
“In case of Shias, the fitra is higher than that of the Ahlul Sunnah. A poor man should be able to purchase three kgs of rice in the market” said Agha Hadi.
Aga Syed Hassan al Mousavi al Safvi also said that Fitra has to be a staple food.
“It can be donated in two ways, either the three kilograms of food item or the amount with which one can buy it” he said.
When contacted, Shia Association president Maulana Imran Reza Ansari said the association will release the details on Sadaqat-ul-Fitr in a couple of days.
“There is a consensus that it has to be three kgs of staple food, however, we will reveal all major details in the coming days” Ansari said.
According to Shia fiqh Zakat-ul-fitr must be paid by the head of the family on behalf of his dependents, including servants, and/or dependent relatives who are fed in his house. If a Muslim or even a non-Muslim guest arrives at someone’s house after sunset of the night preceding the Eid-ul-Fitr and dines with his host, it is incumbent on the latter to pay for the former’s fitra.
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