Sadaqat-ul-Fitr

Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is a Sadaqah (charity) of a certain amount of food or its equivalent that becomes Wajib at the time of Subh Saadiq on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.

This Sadaqah is obligatory on a Muslim who is mature and has the means. In this context, a person who has the means, refers to a person who possesses 200 dirham or 620 to 630 grams of silver or their equivalent in cash or in anything which is more than his basic needs and necessities. 

When a person has this value or more, he is considered as a person who has the means. A person must have a house to live in, few clothes to wear, some personal properties/belongings and furnitures in the house. These are his necessities. Similarly, the tools that a person uses for his job are his necessities. Besides that, a means of transport is also a necessity for a person. 

In addition to these things, if a person has in his possession the value that has been mentioned above, he must give Sadaqah on behalf of himself and his minor children.

A person who has debt

In principle, a person who has debt does not have to give Sadaqah. When he does not have to give Sadaqah, it means that he does not have to give it on behalf of his minor children also. However, if after deducting his debt, he still has this value or more in his possession, then in this case he must give Sadaqah. It is best to give Sadaqah before going for Eid Salah. If he gives out his Sadaqah at the beginning of Ramadhan, this is also valid. Nonetheless, if he could not give it on the day of Eid, it will remain a debt on his shoulders. Whatever the case be, he must still give it out.

[English version of "Sadaqat-ul-Fitr" – Al Jamiat – Vol.2 No.12]