Believing that unmarried men are not liable to pay zakaatul-fitr
The first error is that zakaatal-fitr is not obligatory on unmarried. The muslim gives it for himself and for those whom he cares for, young or old, male or female, free or slave. Also Ibn Umar said Allaahﾒs messenger (salallahu alayhi wa salam) obligated zakaatal-fitr [for Ramadan upon the people] (Bukhari and Muslim)
Paying zakaatul-fitr on non-Muslim relatives
zakaatal-fitr is mandatory only on every muslim on his behalf and all the people his in charge of, due to hadeeth of Ibn Umar (RA) Allaahﾒs messenger (salallahu alayhi wa salam) ordered sadaqatul-fitr on behalf of the young and the old, and the free and slave whom you provide for. (Ad-daraqutni and Al-Baihaqui Hasan) it is therefore not to be paid on a non-muslim even if he lives under one's roof.
Giving zakaatul-fitr in money instead of staple food
zakaatal-fitr has to be giving in the form of food. That is the practice of Allaah's messenger (salallahu alayhi wa salam) and the sahabah. Ibn Umar (RA) said: The prophet made incumbent on every male or female, free man or slave, the payment of one saa of dates or barley as sadaqatul-fitr (or said sadaqa Ramadan) the people then subtitled half saa of wheat for that. Ibn Umar used to give dates (as sadaqatul-fitr). Once there was scarcity of dates in Medinah and Ibn Umar gave barley. And Ibn Umar used to give sadaqatul-fitr to every young and old person, Ibn Umar used to give sadaqatul-fitr to those who had been officially appointed for its collection. People used to give sadaqatul-fitr even a day or two before the Eid. [Bukhari]
It is narrated from Ibn Abbaas (RA) that The prophet (salallahu alayhi wa salam) used to say: He who brings wheat, it will be accepted from him, whoever brings barley it will be accepted from him, whoever brings dates it will be accepted from him, whoever brings rye it will be accepted from him, and whoever brings raisins it will be accepted from him, and I think He said: whoever brings (barley) gruel it will be accepted from him. [Ibn Khuzaimah with a sahih isnad].
Delaying giving zakaatul-fitr until after Eid
zakaatal-fitr has to be given to the poor before Eid prayer, Ibn Abbaas repoted that Allaahﾒs messenger (salallahu alayhi wa salam) enjoined zakaatal-fitr on the one who fasts to shield oneself from any independent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for the poor. It is accepted as Zakaat from the person who pays it before Eid salaah, and it is mere sadaqah for the one who pays it after salaah. [Abu Dawud, An-Nasaﾒi, Ibn Majaa: Hasan]
It can be given a day or two before Eid as well and [Shaikh Ali Hasan and Shaikh Salim Al-Hilali say:] it is from the sunnah and there should be a person with whom it is gathered just as the prophet entrusted Abu Hurayrah (RA) who said: Allaah's messenger entrusted me to look after the zakaat of Ramadan [Bukhari]
Also, Ibn Umar (RA) used to give some of it to those who collect it and they were those whom the Imam sent to collect it, and that was a day or before Eidul-fitr. It is reported by Ibn Khuzaimah by the way of AbdulWarith from Ayoob: I said: When did Ibn Umar use to give the saa? He said; When the collectors had finished, I said; When did the collectors finish? He said a day or two before the day of Fitr. As for its wisdom, it has been prescribed by the wise legislator as a purification for those who fasted, from loose and indecent talk and to feed the poor muslims so that they have enough provision for that day as is shown by previous haadeeth of Ibn Abaass (RA). The coordinator appropriating the zakaat It is an error and a breach of trust not for the Imam or any other person involved in the collection and redistribution of zakaatal-fitr to usurp it and convert it to personal use. Allah says: Verily Allah commands that you should render back trust to those, to whom they are due.(Q4[Nisaa]:58)
Recipent of excess zakaatul-fitr refusing to give out as well
Occassionally, recipient would recieve zakaatal-fitr in excess of his need and the need of his dependants but stil, l he would hoard it believing since he is a recipient, he is absorb from giving out. This is one the most common errors regarding zakaatal-fitr. The condition qualifying a person to give zakaatal-fitr is having in excess of what one requires as for a whole day sustenance for himself and his dependants.
Expecting to see unfounded signs on the night
It is part of the belief of some people that a person will see a light in the sky on Laylat al-Qadr. Some even expect to see trees and other inanimatebowing down in reverence of the night. All of these are far fetched and are not part of the signs mentioned by the Prophet. And a sound report from the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) indicates that the sign of Laylat al-Qadr is that the sun rises on the following morning with no visible rays. (Muslim)
The Sahaabah (RA) used to recognize the night only by the signs mentioned by the Prophet. However, not seeing these signs does not mean that one will not gain its reward, if one spends that night in prayer out of faith and the hope of reward. The Muslim should strive to seek it in the last ten nights of Ramadaan, as enjoined by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), hoping to earn reward. If it so happens that a person spends this night in prayer out of faith and seeking reward, then he will gain its reward, even if he does not know that that was Laylat al-Qadr. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Whoever spends the night of Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and seeking reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven." (Bukhari)
Marking Laylat al-Qadr with socializing at formal ceremony
From the errors that is prevalent is turning nights of the last ten days into social jamboree and fund raising functions. This is contrary to the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). What is established is that the last ten nights are invested in devotions. Such devotions include:
Praying Qiyaam
It is recommended to make a long Qiyaam prayer during the nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many hadeeths, such as the following: Abu Tharr (RA) relates: We fasted with Allahs Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in Ramadaan. He did not lead us (in qiyaam) at all until there were seven (nights of Ramadaan) left. Then he stood with us (that night - in prayer) until one third of the night had passed. He did not pray with us on the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half of the night had passed. So we said, Allahs Messenger! Wouldnt you pray with us the whole night? He replied: Whoever stands in prayer with the imaam until he (the imaam) concludes the prayer, it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.... " (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi)
Point of benefit:
Abu Dawud mentioned: "I heard Ahmad being asked, Do you like for a man to pray with the people or by himself during Ramadan? He replied, Pray with the people.I also heard him say, I would prefer for one to pray (qiyaam) with the imaam and to pray witr with him as well, for the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: When a man prays with the imaam until he concludes, it is recorded that he prayed the rest of that night." (MasaaiI)] Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrated that the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sailam) said: Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in Laylat ul-Qadr out of faith and expectation (of Allahs reward), will have all of his previous sins forgiven." (Bukhari)
Making Supplications
It is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this night. "Aishah (RA) reported that she asked Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), "O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylat ul-Qadr, what should I say during it?" And he instructed her to say: "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul afwa fa'fu "annee. O Allaah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me." (Ahmad)
Abandoning worldly pleasures for the sake of worship
It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr is likely to be. This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allaah. Aishah (RA) reported: When the (last) ten started, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would tighten his izaar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in prayer), and wake up his family." (Bukhari and Muslim)
And she said: "Allahs Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to exert more (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights." (Muslim)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited