Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has made Sadaqat-ul-Fitr obligatory, (and it was), either one Sa' of barley or one Sa' of dates (and its payment was obligatory) on young and old people, and on free men as well as on slaves.
Obligatory Charity Tax (Zakat)
Sahih al-Bukhari 1512
Textual Analysis
The hadith establishes Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (Zakat al-Fitr) as a compulsory act of worship, not merely recommended. The phrase "made obligatory" (farada) indicates its binding nature upon every Muslim.
The measure specified is one Sa', equivalent to approximately 2.176 kilograms or 3.5 liters in contemporary measurement, based on the Prophet's Sa' container.
Scope of Obligation
The obligation encompasses all social categories: young and old, free and enslaved. This demonstrates the comprehensive nature of this purification, ensuring every Muslim participates in this communal act of worship.
Scholars interpret "young and old" to mean every Muslim, regardless of age, while guardians are responsible for payment on behalf of minors and dependents.
Permissible Commodities
Barley and dates represent the staple foods of Medina at that time. Classical scholars extend this to include the staple foods of any region, such as wheat, rice, corn, or other common nourishment.
The wisdom behind using food staples ensures the charity directly addresses the essential needs of the poor during Eid celebration.
Timing and Purpose
This charity must be paid before the Eid prayer, purifying the fasting person from any indecent acts or speech during Ramadan and providing food for the needy to celebrate Eid.
Ibn Abbas reported: "The Messenger of Allah made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory to purify the fasting person from idle talk and obscenities, and to feed the poor."