Fitrah should not be sent outside the town

Fitrah should not be sent outside the town one resides in if there are deserving people in that town.

“Felicitous is he who purifies himself, celebrates the Name of his Lord, and prays.” (87:14)
“For your fast to be accepted, give zakaat.” (Imam as-Sadiq, as)

According to the Shariah, Fitra becomes incumbent when the new moon of Shawwal is sighted. This is known as Zakat of Fitra, which is Wajib on every Baligh person.
If you have a guest with you, who has arrived at your house before sunset on the eve of Eid ul Fitr, then his/her Fitra is WAJIB upon you.

As per law 1999 of Ayatullah Seestani’s ‘Islamic laws’: “At the time of sunset on Eid ul Fitr, whoever is adult and sane and is neither unconscious, nor poor, or the slave of another, he should give, on his own behalf as well as on behalf of all those who are his dependents, about three kilos per head of wheat or barley or dates or raisins or rice of millet etc. It is also sufficient if he pays the price of one of these items in case”

Some Important Question i am adding here:
WHEN DOES FITRAH BECOME WAJIB? The Fitrah becomes wajib (obligatory) after the sunset on the eve of Eidul Fitr. It should be kept aside and paid on Eidul Fitr before Eid prayers or before midday for those who do not say their Eid prayers. It is essential to have an obligatory intention (niyyat) of paying Fitrah for God’s pleasure only.

WHAT HAPPENS IF FITRAH IS NOT PAID ON TIME? If one does not pay or set aside the Fitrah within the due time, he should give the Fitrah later, on the basis of precaution, without making the niyyah of adaa or qadhaaa but only Qurbatan Ilallah.

CAN WE GIVE FITRAH IN ADVANCE? Giving Fitrah before the eve of Eidul Fitr is not permissible. However, if you wish to send Fitrah earlier so that it reaches the needy on Eid day, then send it out as a temporary loan to the needy and then change your intention to Fitrah on the eve of Eid.

WHO IS SUPPOSED TO PAY THE FITRA? It is obligatory to pay Fitrah on every Muslim who is mature (baligh), sane, financially able, and conscious on the eve of Eidul Fitr. Fitrah should also be paid on behalf of all dependants (e.g. wife, children) whom one supports financially.

DO WE PAY FITRAH FOR OUR GUESTS? If you invite another person to your house on the eve of Eidul Fitr an d if the guest arrives at your place before sunset ten it is obligatory for you to pay his/her Fitrah. If a person arrives uninvited then it is precautionary obligatory (per Ayatullah As-Sistani) to pay his/her Fitrah. The Late Ayatullah Sayyid al-Khui was of the opinion that it is recommended for the host to pay Fitrah of an uninvited guest.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE GUEST ARRIVES AFTER THE SUNSET ON EID NIGHT? In this case, the guest will pay his/her own Fitrah and it is not obligatory on the host to pay the Fitrah for the guest.

HOW MUCH FITRA SHOULD WE PAY? Fitrah for a person is given on a weight of three kilograms (one sa’a) on any food commodity like wheat, barley, rice, millet, raisins or dates. Some scholars (e.g. Ayatullah As-Sistani) are of the opinion that the item that is not staple food in your place should not be given in Fitrah.

CAN WE GIVE CASH VALUE OF ANY COMMODITY MENITONED ABOVE? Yes, cash value in lieu of any foodstuff mentioned can be given as Fitrah. So, for example, if the price of basmati rice is $2.50 per kg, then the cash value of Fitrah on rice per person would be $7.50.

TO WHOM SHOULD WE GIVE THE FITRAH? It is given to the needy who are unable to meet their own or their dependants annual living expenses, nor do they have the means to do so through earning. According to some scholars (e.g. Ayatollah As-Sistani) such a needy person must be a Shi’ah Ithna Asheri.

WHO CANNOT BE GIVEN THE FITRAH? A needy person who consumes alcohol, does not say his daily prayers (salaat), commits sins openly, or who is known to use the Fitrah in sinful ways does not deserve the Fitrah.

Disposal of Fitra.

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL RULES THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF?

Following are some important rules:

1. Fitrah should not be sent outside the town one resides in if there are deserving people in that town.
2. Fitrah from a non-Sayyid cannot be given to a needy Sayyid; the reverse is permissible
3. A needy should be given at least one Fitrah.
4. Amongst the needy, relatives should be preferred over others when giving Fitrah; next in line are neighbors and then the learned.

CAN WE GIVE FITRAH IN ADVANCE? Giving Fitrah before the eve of Eidul Fitr is not permissible. However, if you wish to send Fitrah earlier so that it reaches the needy on Eid day, then send it out as a temporary loan to the needy and then change your intention to Fitrah on the eve of Eid.

FITRA CAN BE GIVEN TO:
Any Shia Ithna Asheri who is poor; but preference has been
given to:
a. Needy blood relations;
b. Needy neighbours;
c. Needy scholars.
3. It is Wajib to give Fitra to the needy in your hometown first.
It is not necessary to tell that the money given to the needy is of
Fitra.
Note: if there are deserving people in that town and you want to pay it online. Visit.and pay by using Paypal or Credit card.
S.M.MAsoom
www.alqaem.org
www.alqaim.info/project