Q 3: Is it obligatory on
a host to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr (obligatory charity paid before the Festival of Breaking the Fast) on behalf of his guests who spend the whole of Ramadan at the host's home?
Is it obligatory to pay Zakah on behalf of a woman, whose marriage is not consummated, bearing in mind that she is still at her father's home? What is the meaning of the Hadith reading:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded the payment of Zakat-ul-Fitr for every Muslim whether minor or old, free or slave.
(Related by
Al-Daraqutny
on the authority of
Ibn `Umar
and was ranked as good by
Al-Albany)
May Allah bless you. As-salamu `alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you.)
A:
A Muslim may pay Zakat-ul-Fitr on behalf of the guest whom he supported during Ramadan if he was informed of that and the guest agreed before the payment. However, it is better for the guest to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr on his own behalf from his own money for it is he who is addressed by the Prophet's (peace be upon him) order.
Zakat-ul-Fitr on behalf of the wife whose marriage is not yet consummated has the same ruling as that of expenditure; as the husband is not required to pay her expenses until she comes to his home. The same applies to Zakat-ul-Fitr.The meaning of the Hadith mentioned above is that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) ordered Muslims to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr on behalf of their dependants.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.