ISLAMABAD: Religious leaders and Islamic scholars from all schools of thought have urged Muslims to pay Fitrana before Eid-ul-Fitr for getting the poor and needy Muslims of the society onboard in the happiness of Eid.
The minimum amount of Sadqa-e-Fitr or Fitrana to be paid before Eid-ul-Fitr has been fixed at Rs 100 this year, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman told APP Friday.
According to the market price of 2.25 kilograms of flour, the amount for Fitrana this year has been calculated at Rs100.
He said those who wanted to pay Fitrana equal to the price of barley and Khajoor (dates) should pay Rs 320 and Rs 1,600 respectively.
The most deserving people for Sadqa-e-Fitr are close relatives, followed by neighbours and the poor. A Muslim must pay Sadqa-e-Fitr on behalf of himself, his wife, children and dependents. In accordance with Islam, Fitrana similar to other obligations is mandatory for every Muslim who has the capacity to pay.
Shedding light on the status of Fitrana in Sharia laws, a religious scholar Hafiz Sagheer Ahmed said Fitrana was different from Zakat in the manner of its measurement and distribution.
He said it was imposed on per head as 2.5 kilograms of wheat in the family, while Zakat is mandatory only on assets of a Muslim.
He further said the objective of Fitrana was to get the poor Muslims on board in the festivity of Eid, while the purpose of Zakat was wellbeing of Muslims throughout the year.
Giving an example, he said if there were seven people in a family, the 2.5 kilograms of wheat per head would become 17.5 kilograms of wheat; and the family would pay the amount equal to the 17.5 kilograms of raw wheat to the poor.
Khateeb Markazi Asna Ashari Masjad G/6/2 Allama Akhtar Abbas Quami said that during current year Fitrana Rs 160 had been fixed for Fiqa-e-Jafaria.
He said,it would be better for a person to give this an amount to most deserving person living around him.
He was of view that professional beggars should be avoided for giving Fitrana.
