SAEDNEWS:If you are confused or uncertain about whether Zakat al-Fitr is required for an unborn baby, read on to learn more.
Zakat al-Fitr, also known as Fitrana, is one of the religious obligations in Islam. A person who is not poor must pay Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of themselves and everyone financially dependent on them. If a person who is obligated to pay Zakat al-Fitr fails to do so, the obligation does not transfer to their dependents.
Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani stated:
Zakat al-Fitr is not obligatory for an unborn baby.
Ayatollah Hossein Mazaheri stated regarding the Zakat al-Fitr of a baby in the mother's womb:
Payment of Zakat al-Fitr is not obligatory, but it is preferable to pay it for the baby's protection.
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi stated:
Zakat al-Fitr is not obligatory for a fetus in the mother's womb.
According to the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence, if a baby is born before sunset on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, Zakat al-Fitr must be paid on the baby's behalf. However, if the baby is born after sunset on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, Zakat al-Fitr is not obligatory for the baby.
If a person has a child before sunset on Eid al-Fitr, they must pay Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of the child.
If a person has a child after sunset on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, it is not obligatory to pay Zakat al-Fitr for the child. However, it is recommended to pay Zakat al-Fitr for those who become financially dependent on the person between sunset and noon on the day of Eid.
Zakat al-Fitr must be paid on behalf of the child.
For an infant who is breastfed by their mother or a wet nurse, Zakat al-Fitr is the responsibility of the person who pays the mother's or wet nurse's living expenses.
If the infant's expenses are paid from the infant's own assets, Zakat al-Fitr is not obligatory on anyone—not on the infant themselves nor on anyone else.
The rulings regarding Zakat al-Fitr for a fetus and a newborn may differ depending on the Islamic scholar or school of jurisprudence followed. Muslims should refer to the religious authority they follow for guidance on their specific circumstances.
