May Allah SWT shower all the mu’mineen with His utmost blessings during the month of His Divine banquet of compassion and forgiveness.
According to our narrations, payment of zakaat al-fitra at the end of blessed month of Ramadhan is a condition for our fasting to be accepted by Allah. It is narrated from the Holy Prophet (saw):
“The fasts of the month of Ramadhan [remain] hanging between the sky and the Earth, [whereby] they are not raised [for Allah SWT’s acceptance] except by paying zakaat al-fitra.”
In the current situation, with many mu’mineen opting to pay zakaat al-fitra electronically, the Islamic Education Department of The World Federation consulted with the office of His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Sayyed ‘Ali Sistani (May Allah SWT prolong his age), and received the following guidelines:
Method of paying zakaat al-fitra electronically through a charity organization:
• When transferring the funds, it is permissible to intend it as zakaat al-fitra even if paying before Eid day; although the recommended precaution is for the dutybound to transfer the payment with the intention of it being a loan to the organization such as The World Federation. Then on the day of Eid, WF would pay it on behalf of the dutybound with the niyyah of the payment being zakaat al-fitra.
• The dutybound person (mukallaf) seeking to pay zakaat al-fitra through the organization must appoint the person or persons in it, who responsible for zakaat al-fitra matters – as his / her representative (wakil) for paying the fitrah payment on his / her behalf to the deserving needy.
• For clarity purposes, the dutybound person should make the following intention (niyyah):
“I am appointing the person or persons responsible for zakaat al-fitra matters of such and such organization (e.g. local jamaat, Regional Federation, or The World Federation of KSIMC) to pay zakaat al-fitra to the deserving needy on my behalf in accordance with shar’i rules, qurbatan ilallah.”
It is preferable this transfer be made as soon as possible (well before Eid night) so that The World Federation and its representatives can distribute zakaat al-fitra to the deserving needy in good time.
The World Federation (and its appointed agents) will ensure that all shar’i requirements are adhered to and that due diligence is carried out whilst distributing zakaat al-fitra in line with the rulings of our Maraji’. This includes ensuring that the appropriate intention is made at the time of segregating the zakaat al-fitra funds and at the time of its disbursement.
For the detailed rulings on zakaat al-fitra, please refer to: http://lnk.worldfed.org/fitrah
May Allah SWT accept all your deeds and fasts during this holy month, and bless us with the satisfaction and duas of the Imam of our Time (May Allah SWT hasten his reappearance).
