Ramadan fast across the globe will come to an end either on Thursday or Friday, depending on the sighting of the moon by the appropriate authorities.If the moon is sighted on Thursday, the 29th day of Ramadan, Muslim faithful will end the whole month’s spiritual exercise and observe Eid-el-Fitr on Friday. But, if the moon is not sighted on Thursday, the Muslims will still have to fast on Friday, to make it 30, which is a rare occurrence.

They will then observe the Eid-el-Fitr on Saturday, the festival marking the end of the Ramadan fast.However, as the Muslims are preparing for Eid-el-Fitr, they are conscious of another religious obligation- the payment of Zakatul-Fitr. Paying Zakatul-Fitr is compulsory and mandatory for all the fasting Muslims to perfect their Ramadan fast. And it must be done latest in the morning of Eid- el- Fitr ( before the observance of the two- rakah prayer at Eid praying ground) for it to be accepted by Allah. The responsibility of paying Zakatul-Fitr squarely, rests on the head of a family. This obligatory duty is done with four measurements of grains or the staple food in a given society.

The head of the family will take responsibility of giving out four measurements of grains per each member of his family to the poor neighbour or the needy. I observed that most residents of Ilorin, Kwara State will observe the Zakatul-Fitr with garri because it’s not too costly like rice and beans.

An Ilorin resident, Malam Tajudeen Mubarak, who lamented the harsh economic environment said he would manage to get garri to observe the compulsory religious duty for himself and his dependents. Another respondent, Malam AbdulAzeez Balogun said although the economic situation of the country is not palatable, he would strive to give out rice and beans as Zakatul- Fitr.

To underscore the significance of Zakatul-Fitr, the apex Islamic body in the country, the Nigeria Supreme Council On Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has reminded Muslims of the compulsory nature of Zakatul-Fitr to be given to the poor upon the completion of Ramadan fast. The body appealed to Muslims that they should not only comply with Allah’s commandment, but also comply on time, stating that they should give out Zakatul-Fitr in the last two days of Ramada and not later than before the Eid prayer.

The Imam of Issa- Elelu Central Mosque, Murtala Mohammed road, Ilorin, Ustaz Abubakar Aliy- Kamal, urged Muslims to obey Allah’s commandment by giving out Zakatul-Fitr. “Zakatul-Fitr is compulsory and must be done before going to Eid to observe the two – rakah prayer. It is recommended to be done with grains in certain measurements. But, given the economic situation of the country, Zakatul-Fitr can be given out in cash to enable the needy and the poor buy foodstuff of their choices.

” Some people have ailments that require them not to eat certain food, so if you give out Zakatul-Fitr to such people in cash, it would be more beneficial to them,” Aliy- Kamal reasoned.