Zakat Fitrah Online or Direct, Which is More Important and in Accordance with Sharia?

JAKARTA - Paying zakat fitrah is an obligation for every Muslim who is able and has enough food on the holiday. This worship is carried out as a form of purification after fasting Ramadan as well as a form of concern for others.

In the digital era, zakat fitrah payments can be made directly in the form of staple food or cash, or online through bank transfers and digital wallets.

Then, which is more important? In the hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, it is mentioned that the Prophet SAW ordered zakat fitrah as much as one sha' of dates or wheat for every Muslim, whether male or female, small or large, and ordered to be fulfilled before the Eid al-Fitr prayer.

This provision confirms that zakat fitrah must be paid on time so that it is valid as zakat, not just a regular charity. The Qur'an in QS. Al-Baqarah verse 43 also emphasizes the obligation to pay zakat as part of the main commandment in Islam.

Based on the guidance of the hadith, zakat fitrah in the time of the Prophet was given in the form of staple food. If converted today, it is equivalent to about 2.5 to 3 kilograms of rice or food materials commonly consumed by the local community.

The Shafi'i and Maliki schools of thought argue that zakat fitrah should still be given in the form of food because it is more in line with the sunnah and ensures that the consumption needs of the poor are met on the day of the holiday.

In terms of fiqh, the Shafi'i and Maliki schools of thought argue that zakat fitrah is more important in the form of staple food because it is in accordance with the practice of the Prophet. The provision of rice or staple food is considered to ensure that the needs of mustahik consumption are met on the day of Eid.

Meanwhile, the Hanafi School of Law allows payment in the form of money if it is considered more beneficial for the recipient.

In Indonesia, the Indonesian Ulama Council and the National Zakat Agency allow the payment of zakat fitrah in the form of money as long as its value is equivalent to the prevailing staple food price. This policy provides convenience for the community without eliminating the provisions of sharia regarding the time and accuracy of distribution.

Dompet Dhuafa Representative Ahmad Juwaini as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dompet Dhuafa Republika Foundation said that online zakat services were provided to help people fulfill their obligations in a timely manner.

"We ensure that every zakat fund that is disbursed through the official platform is managed in a trustworthy manner and distributed to the entitled recipients in accordance with sharia," he said.

He added that the use of technology allows the distribution of zakat to be carried out more effectively and recorded.

"Digital systems help the process of collection and distribution to be faster, more transparent, and more targeted, so that the benefits of zakat can be felt optimally," he explained.

Both direct and online payments are equally valid as long as they meet the provisions of syariat and are carried out before the Idulfitri prayer. Giving in the form of staple food is closer to the sunnah, while payment through official institutions is a practical solution that still maintains the value of worship and usefulness for the recipient.