Question
Assalamualaikum wbt, Datuk. I have a few questions regarding zakat and would like some clarification. How does zakat apply to a daughter who is working but still unmarried? Is she still under her father’s responsibility? Is it her father’s duty to pay zakat on her behalf? Or is she allowed to pay zakat on her own with her father’s permission? Or is it the daughter’s own obligation to pay zakat on herself? I seek clarification on this matter.
Answer
Alhamdulillah, praise and gratitude to Allah for the countless blessings and gifts bestowed upon us all. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW, his family, his companions, and those who follow in his footsteps until the Day of Judgement.
Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam that has been obligated by Allah SWT upon Muslims. Allah SWT requires Muslims to pay zakat if certain conditions are met, taking from the wealthy and giving to the poor to purify their wealth. Allah SWT says:
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Maksudnya: “Ambillah (sebahagian) daripada harta mereka menjadi sedekah (zakat), supaya dengannya engkau membersihkan mereka (daripad dosa) dan mensucikan mereka (daripada akhlak yang buruk); dan doakanlah untuk mereka, kerana sesungguhnya doamu itu menjadi ketenteraman buat mereka. Dan (ingatlah) Allah Maha Mendengar, lagi Maha Mengetahui.” [Surah At-Taubah: 103]
Syeikh Dr. Wahbah Zuhaili menyatakan di dalam kitabnya bahawa para fuqaha’ berpendapat sedekah yang dimaksudkan di dalam ayat di atas adalah zakat yang diwajibkan kepada seluruh umat manusia. [Lihat Tafsir al-Wasit, 1/913]
Zakat fitrah is one type of zakat that Muslims are required to pay annually. It was made obligatory in the second year of Hijrah when fasting in Ramadan was also mandated. From Ibn Umar R.Anhuma, he said:
فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَكَاةَ الفِطْرِ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ عَلَى العَبْدِ وَالحُرِّ، وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى، وَالصَّغِيرِ وَالكَبِيرِ مِنَ المُسْلِمِينَ، وَأَمَرَ بِهَا أَنْ تُؤَدَّى قَبْلَ خُرُوجِ النَّاسِ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ
Maksudnya: “Rasulullah SAW mewajibkan pelaksanaan zakat fitrah dengan segantang tamar, atau segantang barli ke atas hamba dan orang yang merdeka, lelaki dan perempuan, yang muda dan yang tua, daripada kalangan Muslimin, dan baginda menyuruh agar ditunaikan sebelum manusia keluar menuju solat (Hari Raya).” [Riwayat al-Bukhari (1503)]
Imam al-Nawawi menyatakan: Di sisi ulama mazhab Imam al-Syafie, pendapat yang paling sahih tentang penentuan kadar dan jenis zakat fitrah adalah mengikut غالب قوت البلد (jenis makanan ruji bagi majoriti penduduk). [Lihat al-Majmu` Syarh al-Muhazzab, 6/132]
Syeikh Muhammad al-Zuhaili menyatakan: Zakat Fitrah telah ditetapkan kadarnya, wajib dikeluarkan ketika matahari terbenam pada hari terakhir bulan Ramadhan, dengan syarat-syarat yang ditetapkan, bagi setiap mukallaf dan orang yang dibawah tanggungan nafkahnya. [Lihat al-Muktamad fi al-Fiqh al-Syafi’e, 2/95]
The mandatory conditions for fulfilling zakat fitrah are as follows:
1. Islam: It is also obligatory for those who have apostatized after converting to Islam.
2. Timing: The time for obligation has indeed been set, which is at sunset on the last day of Ramadan.
3. Ability: Being capable of paying zakat fitrah at the obligatory time. If one's ability arises after the appointed time, then zakat is not required. [Ibid, 2/98]
Fulfilling Zakat Fitrah
Zakat fitrah diwajibkan ke atas dirinya sendiri, dan setiap orang yang wajib diberi nafkah olehnya. Mereka itu termasuklah isterinya, usul dan furu’ (keturunannya) daripada lelaki atau perempuan dengan syarat mereka ini tergolong dalam golongan fakir miskin. [Lihat al-Mausu’ah al-Fiqhiyah al-Kuwaitiyah, 23/339]
If a person financially supports someone due to marriage (spouse, children), kinship (parents, siblings), or servitude (servant), it is obligatory for them to also pay the zakat fitrah for those under their care. The principle states:
كُلُّ مَن تَلْزَمُهُ نَفْقَةُ غَيْرِهِ تَلْزَمُهُ فِطْرَتُهُ
Meaning: Anyone who is obligated to support someone must also fulfill the zakat fitrah for their dependents. [Refer to Taqrirat al-Sadidah, p. 419]
Therefore, in general, it is obligatory for the usul (financial supporter) to pay zakat on behalf of his daughter. However, this is subject to three obligatory conditions:
1. The usul is financially capable.
2. The furu' (children) are still young and have not reached puberty.
Furu` ialah seorang yang faqir tidak mampu berkerja. [Lihat al-Muktamad fi al-Fiqh al-Syafi’e, 4/288-289]
Thus, if a daughter does not meet these obligatory conditions, her father is not required to support her and, subsequently, to pay zakat fitrah on her behalf.
Working Women Paying Zakat
Based on the above question, therefore, in the above case, we lean towards the view that a woman is required to pay her own zakat fitrah if she is capable, especially if she is already working and has her own income. However, if her father wishes to pay zakat fitrah for his daughter, it is permissible, but with the condition that he obtains permission from his daughter.
Sheikh Muhammad Zuhaili in his book states that it is not permissible for someone to pay zakat fitrah on behalf of another person (non-relative) without obtaining their permission. It is invalid if performed without permission. This is because zakat fitrah is a form of worship and will not be fulfilled unless there is consent from the person. However, if permission is obtained, the zakat fitrah is considered fulfilled. [Ibid, 2/102]
From a legal perspective, zakat fitrah is valid if paid directly to the eligible recipients (asnaf) or through a representative. It is necessary to have the intention while giving it to asnaf or the representative, using statements such as: "This is my obligatory zakat from my wealth; this is my obligatory charity from my wealth; this is my zakat from my wealth as prescribed." This distinguishes it from voluntary charity, vows, and expiation. [Ibid, 2/127-128]
Finally, may this brief explanation provide us with a better understanding to live a more fulfilling daily life. Ameen.
Wallahua`lam.
Source:
https://maktabahalbakri.com/1258-zakat-wanita-yang-belum-berkahwin/