It has been a rewarding 29-day spiritual activity, a period of recompense, a period of closeness to Allah, a period of illumination by the Glorious Quran, a  period of re-direction of destinies and possibilities, charity, divine  blessings. It is indeed a memorable period.

As the blessed month winds down, it is important to remember one of our cardinal  responsibilities this month. Zakatul-Fitr. It is obligatory at this time we are bidding farewell to Ramadan. That is why the suffix fitr is attached to it to commemorate the occasion of breaking the fast.

For the umpteenth time, a man has to pay on behalf of himself and his wife even if she has money of her own  and his children and parents if they are  poor, and his daughter if she is married but the marriage has not yet been  consummated. If his son is rich, he does not have to give Zakatul-Fitr on his behalf. A husband has to give Zakatul-Fitr on behalf of a divorced wife whose divorce (talaaq) is not yet final (i.e., she is still in the ‘iddah of a first  or second talaaq), but not in the case of one whose divorce is final.

A son does  not have to give Zakatul-Fitr on behalf of a poor father’s wife because he is not obliged to spend on her.

When giving Zakatul-Fitr, one should start with the closest people first, so he gives it on behalf of himself, then his wife, then his children, then the rest  of his relatives in order of closeness, following the pattern laid out in the  rules governing inheritance.

It should be given on one of the foodstuff which is commonly consumed in the  society. The popular measurement of it is four handful on behalf of one person. If it has to be given in money, although this is not encouraged but the societal demands and circumstances sometimes call for it, it has to be well calculated that the appropriate money measure is given and at the right time and according to the existing price of the desired foodstuff.

I have tried to explain this on this column a few days ago.

Before I end, I seek forgiveness over my inability to touch other areas you would have wished, as well as my inability to reply to all mails, text messages, calls and comments. May Allah forgive us all and accept this as act of  worshipping Him.

While also reminding us that we can keep the spirit of Ramadan alive every day for the next 11 months Insha Allah, on behalf of the Publisher,  the Editor, and the Muslim community in Vanguard Newspaper, we are wishing  you all Eid-l-Mubarak.

Prayer of the day
Allahuma ijhal siyyami fihi bil  istijabah, ijhali li maa tar’dohu, Yaa Ilaahi, ga’sheeni bihi rahmatii,  war’zuqni fihi taofiqah, bihaqi sayyidinna Muhammadin, wa alihi, wa ashabihi  ajmahin  O Allah, on this day, make my fasts worthy of acceptance, make it to be  what pleases You. Our
Lord, cover me with your mercy, grant me in it success and  protection, for the sake of our leader, Muhammad, and his family and all his  companions. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.