6 2
Definition of
the term.
Obligation o f
oadka fittir.
Conditions o f
the'.obligation.
C H A P. VIII.
. O f S a d k a - F i t t i r.
B y Sadka-fittir is underftood the alms bellowed upon the poor-on
the Td-al F ittir, or feftival of breaking Lent.
S a d k a - f i t t i r is incumbent upon all free Muffulmans poffefled of
property to the amount of a Nifdb clear of incumbrance. The obligation
to Sadka-fittir is founded.on a precept of the prophet, who, in a
difeourfe upon the feftival o f breaking Lent,, fa id ,. “ Let every psrfon,
“ whether i n f a n t or a d u l t , befiow [upon the poor] h a lf a S I a of
“ wheat, or one S A a o f millet or o f b a r l e y This faying is recorded
by Salba-Adwee, but being of the clafs o f Hidees jihad'*, it eftablilhes
only, a moral but. not a religious obligation.
F r e e d o m is made a condition, in order that the affignment [of
the Sadka\ may be complete : and I f am, or profeflion of the faith, is
alfo made a condition, in order that this donation may bear the con-
ftrudtion of an oblation and aft of piety, of which infidels are held
incapable : and the poffeftion of a Nifdb is alfo made a condition, the
prophet having declared, “ Aims are not expelled to be befiowed but
“ from the ability o f the r i c h . ” Shafei has faid that the' Sadka-fittir is
incumbent upon every perfon who poflefles property to the. amount or
value of one day’ s fubfiftence for himfelf and family; but the above
precept of the prophet is in proof againft him.— It is to be obferved
that wealth is determined at the rate of a Nifdb, becaufe that is the
ftandard by which the law meafures i t ; but this, with the referve of
its being exclufive of all incumbrances, as whatever may be fo occu-
* The Jingular traditions \—that is, thofe which are not included among the approved
traditions, and therefore are hot fuppofed to be pofleffed of the fame authority.
pied
pied is accounted 'non-exiftent; but increafe in it is not a condition.
There are three things connected, with the pofleflion of a Nifdb, fuch
-as is here deferibed; f i r s t , prohibition againft the acceptance of
alms; s e c o n d l y , obligation to perform {acrifice; and t h i r d l y ,
obligation to beftow Sadka-fittir.
T he Sadka-fittir is incumbent upon every individual refpe&ively,
Fbn Amir having recorded that the prophet has conftituted *SW/&z- whofe behalf,
fittir an abfolute injunftion \Farz\ upon all mankind, and both fexes,
indifcriminately.
I t is incumbent upon a man to difeharge the Sadka-fittir in behalf
of his children, being infants, becaufe he is.their guardian, and their
provifion is a debt upon him; wherefore the accomplilhment of their .
duties pf Sadka muft alfo reft upon him, this .being- confidgred ,as a '
part of their provifion. And, in the fame manner, '.a man muft difi-
charge the Sadka-fittir in behalf of his male and female ilaves, lie
being their guardian, and their fubfiftence depending upon him. What
is here advanced proceeds entirely upon a fuppofiti.on that the Oaves
are not held by the proprietor merely in the way of traffick ; and alfo
that his. children are not poflefled of any independent property; for,
if the-children be p.offefl’ed of property, their Sadka-fittir is to be dil-
charged out of that, according to the two Sheicks. Mohammed con-
tradidts their opinion in this inftance. T h e argument of the two
Sheicks is that the lawgiver has confidered Sadka-fittir the fame as
Nifka'*, and therefore it is to be held as fuch.
T h e Sadka-fittir is not incumbent upon a man in behalf o f his. Perfons upon
wife, becaufe his power of guardianship and provifion, with relpe^ to- wkofeb:baif,
her, is incomplete, fince a hufband is not'guardian over his -wife any,
farther than relpedts the rights of marriage, nor does the proyifion for,
her reft upon him any further than with refpedt to food, 'clothing, and
!* The fubfiftence due to a .wife, parent, child, and other relations.
lodging,,