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Fatwa CenterFor several years their father did not pay Zakat Al-Fitr on their behalf
Question
I am a teenager girl and I have a job. I discovered that my father has not given Zakaat Al-Fitr on my behalf as well as my brothers’ behalf for ten years. Are we held blameworthy for this? Should I pay it for myself or what?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
If it was obligatory for your father to give Zakat Al-Fitr on your behalf because you had nothing to give thereof, then he, not you, would be guilty, provided that he knew the Sharee‘ah ruling. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {Every soul, for what it has earned, will be retained.} [Quran 74: 38]
This Zakat Al-Fitr, which must have been paid all these past years, is a debt that your father has to pay. He is required to hasten to give it even if you later became able to give it because it was obligatory upon him.
The evidence supporting the obligation of giving it for the past years is the Hadeeth in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, says: "The debt of Allaah is worthier of being paid back." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Besides, Zakat Al-Fitr is the poor people's right and they did not receive it, hence, it has become similar to any other debt.
If you want to support your father and give Zakat Al-Fitr on behalf of yourselves, then this will be permissible provided that you tell him about this before you pay it so that he can make his intention, which is a prerequisite for all deeds to be accepted. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Those among you who have become required to give Zakat Al-Fitr, for possessing its amount surplus to his/her needs during the night and the day of ‘Eed must hasten and give it due to the previously mentioned evidence.
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