Sadaqa-tul-Fitr not paid prior to Eid Salah

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

   What do the scholars of Islam and the Muftis of the mighty Shari'ah say about the following matter: If a person did not pay Sadaqa-tul-Fitr on the day of Eid, before the Eid Salah, and many days have passed, then what is the ruling? Also, please shed light on whether he will be sinful due to delaying its payment.

Bint Abdur Rahman (New Karachi)

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

   As soon as subh-e-sadiq enters on the day of Eid, Sadaqa-tul-Fitr becomes mandatory (wājib) for eligible people, who meet the financial threshold(Nisab). The actual payment can be made at any point in one’s life, although it is better and a sunnah to pay it on the day of Eid before Eid salah. Hence, if a person did not pay it before Eid Salah, it is not forgiven,he must still pay it, even if after a long time has elapsed. Rather, the ruling is that he must fulfil this Wajib act. Whenever he pays it during his lifetime, it will be deemed as “fulfilled on time,” (adāʾ) and not  qaḍāʾ. Nonetheless, although he will not be sinful for delaying the payment, it is makrūh tanzīhī  (disliked) and better to avoid.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Written by: Mufti Fuzail Raza Attari