For One Who Fasted In One Country And Celebrated Eid In Another
Question: Concerning zakaatul-fitr, if one was tojast one-third of Ramadhaan in a certain country and intended to fast the rest of the month and celebrate Eid in another country, then in which of the two countries is he to pay the zakaah?
Answer by Sheikh Yussuf Al-Qaradawi:
The Muslim is to pay zakaatul-fitr in the country that he is in on the first night of Shawwal. This is because the reason for the zakaah is not 'siyaarn', but its reason is 'eating' which is why it is named zakaatul-fitr [literally the zakaah of eating]. This is why if a person dies before Maghrib on the last day of Ramadhaan, zakaatul-fitr is not obligatory upon him even if he fasted all the other days of Ramadhaan. And if a child is born after Maghrib on the last day of Ramadhaan, meaning the first night of the entrance of Shawwal, it would be obligatory to pay zakaatul-fitr on his behalf. This is unanimously agreed upon. Zakaatul-Fitr is zakaah that is connected to the Eid and is there so it can spread happiness and so that it can include the poor and indigent. Which is why there is a hadeeth: “Make them rich on this day.”
