Fatwa n°: 563
Category: Fatwas of fasting
The ruling concerning transferring alms of Al-Fitr
(an obligatory charity given to the poor just before Aid Al-Fitr)
The question:
I live in France and I find it difficult to give alms of Al-Fitr in this country. Is it permissible for me to give them in another country than the country where I fasted by entrusting a brother with giving them in Algeria from my own money? May Allah’s benediction be upon you and May Allah reward you with what is best.
The answer:
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till The Day of Resurrection.
Giving alms of Al-Fitr in another country than the country where we have fasted is right if the people of this country do not need these alms, or if the concerned person could not give them in the country of his residence, because he do not know the poor people that deserve them. It is correct to transfer them by himself or someone else and give them to needy Muslims in another country. In case the needy Muslims deserving alms and who live in this country cannot dispense with them, and that this person can recognize them (the needy), the alms should be given in the country where they are obligatory for him, because alms depend on the person himself who is the cause of their obligation, but if the person did the contrary and gave them in another country than the country where he must give them, these alms would have been valid if their conditions are respected, though, he went against what is best.
Remark:
It is worth noticing that it is not permissible to give the alms of Al-Fitr to the needy of other nations but for needy Muslims, in accordance to the hadith of the prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم: “…and a food for the needy”(1), since what appears from this hadith is that the alms of Al-Fitr should be restricted to the needy Muslims.
The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.
Mecca Shawwâl 4th, 1427 H
October 26th, 2006.
(1) Reported by Abu Dâwûd in the chapter of “Zakat”, concerning the alms of Al-Fitr (hadith 1609), Ibn Mâjah in the chapter of “Zakat” on the charity of Al-Fitr (hadith 1827) Al-Hâkim (hadith 1521), Ad-Dâraqutni (hadith 2037), Al-Bayhaqi (hadith 7715) and authenticated by Al-Albâni in “Sahîh Al-Jâmi`”( hadith 3570).