Can Sadaqah Al-fiṭr be Given before Eid?

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

   What do the scholars of Islam say regarding the following matter: can ṣadaqah al-fiṭr be paid before Eid?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

   Ṣadaqah al-fiṭr can be paid before Eid and even before Ramadan. It is mentioned in Muḥīṭ  Burhāni:

یجوز تعجیلھا قبل یوم الفطر بیوم او یومین فی روایۃ الکرخی وعن ابی حنیفۃ لسنۃ او سنتین[1]

   Mufti Amjad ʿAli Aʿẓami رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes:

   Bringing forward (the payment of) fiṭrah is unrestrictedly permissible, as long as the person one is paying on behalf of is present. This remains the case if one gives before Ramadan. If he was not the owner of niṣāb at the time of paying and then becomes so later on, fiṭrah is valid. It is better if one gives this after ṣubḥ ṣādiq on Eid day, before going to prayer area. [2]

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered By: Abu Huzayfah Muhammad Shafiq Attari

Verified by: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari

Reference number: Aqs-1598

Date: 10 Ramadan 1440AH/16 May 2019 CE