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Fatwa CenterRuling on paying zakah Al-Fitr in extra
Question
Can I pay zakah Al-Fitr for my wife, kids, and myself in an amount that is bigger than the one prescribed? Should I pay zakah on gold (jewelry) from my own money or from my wife’s money? I would like to inform you that my wife and I receive equal salaries.
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.
As far as zakah Al-Fitr is concerned, what is mandatory on a Muslim is to provide a saa‘ of food. The Muslim pays zakah Al-Fitr for himself and everybody who he is responsible to support according to the Sharee'ah. The Muslim can, however, pay more than that which he is required to pay; this is an extra good effort. Allaah, the Exalted, says: {…And whoever volunteers good – then indeed, Allaah is appreciative and Knowing.} [Quran 2: 158] This is the adopted view of the majority of the Muslim scholars concerning this issue. However, the Maliki scholars deem it disliked that the Muslim provides more than the prescribed amount, and they consider such a behavior as an innovation in religion.
In his commentary on Mukhtasar Khaleel, Ash-Shaykh Ad-Dardeer says:
"It is recommended not to provide more than a saa’; rather, it is disliked to do so. This is because the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, defined the exact amount that is to be paid and, therefore, paying extra should be a disliked innovation in the religion. This is just like saying extra tasbeeh after the thirty three times (after prayers)."
Zakah on gold or else is due on the one who owns the property on which it is due. There is nothing wrong if zakah is paid by someone who does not own the property provided that the one who pays and the one on whose behalf the payment was made both agree to that. That being said, your wife may pay your zakah, and you may pay the zakah of your wife.
Allaah Knows best.
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