The legitimacy of Zakat al-Fitr is based on the Quran, the Sunnah and the consensus opinion of the scholars.

Regarding the Qur'an, the Tabi'i, Akrama ibn Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, said: "A man should give his zakat al-fitr before his prayer on the day of the feast, for Allah Almighty says: "Successful is he who remains pure, and invokes the name of his Lord and prays." (Surah Al-A'la: verse 14) Ibn Khuzaima also reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about this verse...and said: "It was revealed regarding zakat al-fitr." (Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: Volume 4, page 90).

As for the Sunnah, Sahih al-Bukhari: Book of Zakat, Chapter of the Obligation of Sadaqa al-Fitr (2/130): Number 1503, and Sahih Muslim: Book of Zakat, Chapter of Zakat al-Fitr on the Muslims (2/677): Number 12-984; from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed Zakat al-Fitr in Ramadan: "A Sa' of dates or barley for the free and the slave, the man and the woman, the boy and the girl among the Muslims and it should be paid before the prayer of the people."

As for consensus, Ibn Mundhir said in Kitab Al-Ijma' by Ibn Mundhir (p. 47): "There is a consensus that Zakat Al-Fitr is an obligation," and Al-Bayhaqi said in Al-Majmu' by An-Nawawi (6/104): "There is a consensus among the scholars on the obligation of Zakat Al-Fitr"

The ruling is: It is obligatory for every Muslim, male or female, young or old, as mentioned in the above hadith.

It was prescribed for two fundamental reasons:

- Individual benefit: It purifies the fasting person from faults that may occur during fasting, and zakat has its origin in purification. Allah says: "Take an alms tax from their wealth so that you may purify and purify them." (Quran 9:103)

- Social benefit: It provides food for the needy and frees them from begging on the day of Eid al-Fitr to spread joy and happiness.

Abu Dawud reported from Ibn Abbas (Sunnan Abi Dawud: Chapter Zakat: Chapter Zakat al-Fitr: (2/111) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed Zakat al-Fitr as purification for the fasting person from indecency and filth and as food for the needy. Whoever pays it before the prayer, it is accepted as zakat; whoever pays it afterwards, it is regarded as general charity.

The time and due date of Zakat al-Fitr:

As for when it is due, there are different opinions. Some scholars say that it is due at sunset on the last day of Ramadan, while others say that it is due at sunrise on the day of Eid al-Fitr.

As far as the time of payment is concerned, there are three types:

a) The preferred period for payment is between the Fajr prayer on the day of Eid al-Fitr and the Eid prayer.

b) The permissible period for payment is one or three days before Eid. Imam Malik narrated from Nafi that Abdullah bin Umar said, "He used to send the Zakat al-Fitr to the one who collected it, two or three days before the festival of Fitr." (Malik's Muwatta: Book of Zakat: Chapter on the timing of sending Zakat al-Fitr: (1/285; Number: 55).

c) The time for the additional payment is after the Eid prayer, and it does not expire until the time has elapsed. As mentioned in the previous hadith: "... whoever spends it before the prayer, it will be accepted as zakat for him, and whoever spends it after the prayer, it will be regarded as general charity."

What comes out is mainly the dominant food in the country, for example in Morocco this is mainly hard wheat flour, but also soft wheat flour, which is called "frina". There is no harm if someone only eats barley, because it depends on what is the dominant food in the country. It is permissible to pay zakat from the grains themselves, the flour and the bread.

In terms of quantity, one Sa' (unit of measurement) is equivalent to four Mud (unit of measurement), i.e. four handfuls. The actual quantity in kilograms varies depending on the type of grain such as wheat, barley, rice, etc. It is known that the weight of grains varies; some are lighter, some are heavier and some are medium. The weight of a Sa' varies even within the same type of grain; the new crop is heavier than the old crop. So if a person is careful and takes out an excess, it is better.

The quantity varies depending on the hard and soft wheat flour (Frina) and is around 2.5 kilograms for hard wheat flour and Frina and 1.75 kilograms for barley flour. From flour, the quantity is 2.25 kilograms for hard wheat flour and frina and 1.5 kilograms for barley flour. The amount of bread made from hard and soft wheat flour (frina) is 18 large loaves or 36 small loaves. The quantity of bread made from barley flour is 12 large loaves.

Who is obliged and who is entitled to receive zakat?

For whom it is mandatory:

Every Muslim is obliged to pay zakat from himself and to pay it from those who are financially dependent on him, such as his wife, children and parents. It is also permissible to pay zakat from domestic servants, and it is permissible to pay it on behalf of others.

The conditions that must be fulfilled for Zakat al-Fitr to be due on a person are as follows:

1. the person must be free, as slaves are not obliged to pay zakat al-fitr.

2. the person must be a Muslim, as Zakat al-Fitr is not required of non-Muslims.

3. the person must be able to pay zakat al-fitr at the right time, even if he has to borrow the money from someone to pay off his debt.

4 Zakat al-Fitr is expected of every Muslim who is financially independent. Parents must also pay Zakat al-Fitr for their minor children, while adult children must pay their own Zakat al-Fitr if they have their own income.

5 Zakat al-Fitr must also be paid for relatives who are financially supported, such as needy parents, needy adult children and unmarried daughters, regardless of whether they are minors or not. Zakat al-Fitr is paid by the husband for his wife, and it is also paid for the father's wife.

Who is entitled to receive zakat:

Only poor or needy Muslims are entitled to zakat. The poor person is the one who cannot guarantee his daily bread, and generally he is a laborer who works in an unsecured job where he can find work one day and not on other days (daily wage laborer). The indigent is the one who is not able to meet his daily needs and he is more needy than the poor. An employee or worker who earns a monthly salary through his work that covers his living expenses is not considered poor or needy.

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The issue of Zakat Al-Fitr in cash:

There is disagreement among the scholars about the jurisprudence of issuing Zakat Al-Fitr in cash, and there are two opinions:

The first opinion is that it is not permissible, and that is the opinion of the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools of jurisprudence. Their evidence is that there is no clear mention of it and that one should adhere to what has been mentioned and that the issue should be in the form of grains.

The second opinion is that it is permissible to pay zakat al-fitr in cash, either generally or under certain conditions. This is the opinion of the Hanafis, and Imam al-Bukhari reported a number of hadiths and traditions on this in his book Al-Adab al-Mufrad. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani commented on these traditions in his work "Al-Fath" and said that Ibn Rushd was of the opinion that al-Bukhari agreed with the Hanafis in this matter, although he often differed from them. Likewise Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz and Hasan al-Basri and others of the same opinion, Abu Shaybah reports on this in his work "Musannaf".

Consequently, both options can be accepted, although the opinion of the Maliki school of law is not easy to implement in practice. Therefore, the other opinions should also be considered and applied in our community until Allah, the Exalted, allows otherwise.

The exact amount of Zakat al-Fitr in Germany for the year 2023 depends on several factors such as the current market price of food. Based on my estimation, the amount is 10€ per person and can be paid to us.