Eid Crescent Update 🌙, Prayer Schedule + Pay Zakat al-Fitr!
Eid Mubarak!
Salaam Alaykum,
I pray you have had a blessed month of Ramadan, and want to wish you and your families an Eid Mubarak!
For members of our community that follow local moonsighting reports, in accordance with the Moon-Sighting Committee of the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America, as expected, Wednesday, April 10th will be the first day of the Month of Shawaal for the entire region of North America, and thus the day of Eid al-Fitr. This determination is based on the fact that there were multiple verified sightings of the crescent moon by the naked eye at sunset on Tuesday, April 9th.Â
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*Please RSVP below, fill our the visitor access form and utilize the link below to pay Zakat al-Fitr*
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**Zakat al-Fitr is a specific charity tied to the month of Ramadan. Below Shaykh Faiyaz Jaffer and Imam Khalid Latif offer insight on Zakat al-Fitr as per the Shia and Sunni traditions respectively.Â
The IC will be referring its members to assist local families in our community who are in need through the Zakat Fund of NYC at https://www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/ramadan\_relief\_fund\_2024 for your zakat al-fitr distribution.** Â
Imam Khalid Latif on Zakat al-Fitr according to the Sunni Tradition
Zakat al-Fitr is an obligatory charity a person gives upon the completion of Ramadan for his or herself if single, and if not, for their spouses, children and family members under their care. Its purpose is to bring relief to the underserved and to purify the person who gives it of any mistakes incurred while fasting.
Imam al-Waq said, Zakat al-Fitr amends the mistakes made while fasting, as the two prostrations at the end of prayer amend the mistakes made while praying.
While it is commendable to give Zakat al-Fitr the morning of Eid, it is acceptable to give it a few days before to ease institutional stress, and to ensure it reaches those in need by Eid day. The recommended cash donation is based on the measurements established by Prophet (sa) for barley and rice. Today those measurements equal ten to twelve dollars. For that reason many Fiqh Councils have stated that Zakat al-Fitr this year is in that range; however, if a person wants to give more, it is good, especially in cities where costs are higher.Â
Shaykh Faiyaz Jaffer on Zakat al-Fitr according to the Shia Tradition
Zakat al-Fitrah is an obligatory tax on the individual who is sane, an adult (physically mature), and financially capable. This type of Zakat should be set aside on the eve of Eid al-Fitr and be paid on the day itself, which marks the first day of the month of Shawwal. It may also be paid earlier to a delegated person/organization, who will take the appropriate steps to distribute it during the obligated time period.
The sum must be paid on a persons behalf as well as on behalf of all those who are his dependents. This would also include any guests who are staying overnight during the eve of Eid al-Fitr, under the care of the person. (For instance, I will pay on behalf of myself, my wife, and my two children, and any guest who stay at my home on the night of Eid until the morning).Â
For every individual, the minimum given must be enough to feed one miskeen (needy person), which is the equivalent of 6.6 pounds of a popular basic food commodity such as rice or wheat (flour), as opposed to a cooked full meal. Therefore, the Dollar amount given is the estimated equivalent value of 6.6 pounds of the basic food commodity. On the day of Eid, the zakat will be distributed to the poor.
The monetary value of Zakat al-Fitr has been determined at $10.