SAEDNEWS: As you may know, there are specific religious rulings regarding Zakat al-Fitr for Sayyids. In this article, we will explore the rules and guidelines for Zakat al-Fitr applicable to Sayyids.
According to Saednews, At the end of the month of Ramadan, when Eid al-Fitr arrives, Muslims are required to pay a form of alms known as Zakat al-Fitr (Fitrana) to the poor, provided they are not poor themselves and are able to afford it.
There are specific rulings regarding Zakat al-Fitr for Sayyids (descendants of the Prophet Muhammad). The following explains the relevant rules.
Question: If a Sayyid spends the night before Eid al-Fitr as a dependent of a non-Sayyid host, should the Zakat al-Fitr for that Sayyid be given to a Sayyid or a non-Sayyid?
Answer: According to the opinions of most senior Shia religious authorities, a person who is not a Sayyid cannot give their Zakat al-Fitr to a Sayyid, even if the Sayyid is their dependent. A poor Sayyid also cannot receive Zakat al-Fitr from a non-Sayyid.
Note:
The criterion for determining whether Zakat al-Fitr may be given to a Sayyid is the identity of the person paying it, not whether the recipient is their dependent. Zakat al-Fitr is an obligatory form of charity. However, there is no religious objection to giving voluntary charity to a poor Sayyid.
A Sayyid cannot receive zakat from a non-Sayyid. However, if the khums and other religious funds are insufficient to cover their living expenses and they have no choice but to seek zakat, they may receive zakat from a non-Sayyid. As a recommended precaution, if possible, they should accept only the amount necessary to cover their daily expenses.
(Ruling 1955 — Imam Khomeini's Book of Islamic Laws)
Ruling 2009: A person who is not a Sayyid cannot give Zakat al-Fitr to a Sayyid. Even if a Sayyid is their dependent, they cannot give that person's Zakat al-Fitr to another Sayyid.
According to Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi: A person who is a Sayyid cannot receive Zakat al-Fitr from a non-Sayyid.
Question: If the husband is a Sayyid and his wife is not, or vice versa, can they give their Zakat al-Fitr to poor Sayyids? Must a Sayyid give their Zakat al-Fitr exclusively to Sayyids, or may they also give it to poor non-Sayyids?
Answer 1: If the husband is a Sayyid, there is no religious objection.
Answer 2: It is not obligatory for a Sayyid to give Zakat al-Fitr exclusively to Sayyids. Giving it to poor non-Sayyids is also permissible.
Note:
According to the ruling above, if the husband is a Sayyid and his wife is not, the husband is responsible for paying the Zakat al-Fitr of his household members who are his dependents. Therefore, he may give his own Zakat al-Fitr, as well as his wife's and that of other non-Sayyid dependents, to a poor Sayyid.
Question: Can Zakat al-Fitr be given to poor Sayyids?
Answer: Non-Sayyids cannot give their Zakat al-Fitr to Sayyids.
Zakat al-Fitr paid by a Sayyid may be given to eligible poor Sayyids or non-Sayyids. However, Zakat al-Fitr paid by a non-Sayyid cannot ordinarily be given to a Sayyid. A poor Sayyid is likewise not permitted to receive Zakat al-Fitr from a non-Sayyid, except under the specific conditions mentioned in the relevant religious rulings.
