Zakat fitri is an obligation that applies to every Muslim who has sufficient means at the end of Ramadan. This form of worship carries a strong social dimension, as it helps the poor experience the joy of Eid al-Fitr.
For this reason, the timing of paying zakat fitri is an important discussion in Islamic jurisprudence.
In general, scholars agree that the ideal time to pay zakat fitri is before the Eid prayer. This is based on an authentic hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar:
عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ عَلَى الْعَبْدِ وَالْحُرِّ وَالذَّكَرِ وَالْأُنْثَى وَالصَّغِيرِ وَالْكَبِيرِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَأَمَرَ بِهَا أَنْ تُؤَدَّى قَبْلَ خُرُوجِ النَّاسِ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ. (رواه البخاري)
“From Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made zakat fitri obligatory—one ṣā’ of dates or one ṣā’ of barley—upon every Muslim, whether slave or free, male or female, young or old. He commanded that it be given before people go out to perform the EId prayer.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari)
This hadith serves as the basis for the recommendation that zakat fitri should be paid before the Eid prayer. In this way, the poor can receive assistance in time to benefit from it on the day of celebration.
The Social Purpose of Zakat Fitri
The social purpose of zakat fitri is also emphasized in a hadith narrated from ibn Abbas:
فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ طُهْرَةً لِلصَّائِمِ مِنَ اللَّغْوِ وَالرَّفَثِ، وَطُعْمَةً لِلْمَسَاكِينِ، فَمَنْ أَدَّاهَا قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ فَهِيَ زَكَاةٌ مَقْبُولَةٌ، وَمَنْ أَدَّاهَا بَعْدَ الصَّلَاةِ فَهِيَ صَدَقَةٌ مِنَ الصَّدَقَاتِ. (رواه أبو داود وابن ماجه والحاكم)
“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) prescribed zakat fitri as a purification for the fasting person from idle talk and indecent behavior, and as food for the poor. Whoever gives it before the Eid prayer, it is accepted as a zakat. Whoever gives it after the prayer, it is only counted as ordinary charity.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and al-Hakim)
This hadith is often cited when discussing the issue of zakat fitri paid after the Eid prayer. Textually, it indicates that zakat given after the prayer is no longer considered a complete zakat fitri. Instead, it is only count as an ordinary charity.
However, scholars provide a more detailed explanation. Most scholars from the Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali schools hold that the obligatory time for paying zakat fitri begins at sunset on the last day of Ramadan and lasts until before the Eid prayer. This view is based on the Prophet’s instruction that zakat fitri should be paid before the Eid prayer.
Another hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar also highlights the main purpose of zakat fitri:
عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ وَقَالَ: أَغْنُوهُمْ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ
(رواه الحاكم والدارقطني)
“From Ibn Umar, he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made zakat fitri obligatory and said, ‘Make them (the poor) self-sufficient on this day.’” (Narrated by al-Hakim and al-Daraqutni)
The phrase “aghnuuhum fi hadha al-yawm” (“make them self-sufficient on this day”) shows that the purpose of zakat al-Fitr is to ensure that the poor have enough on the day of Eid so they do not need to ask from house to house.
Based on these explanations, if someone only hands over zakat al-Fitr to the amil after the Eid prayer without a valid reason, they are still required to fulfill the obligation. However, its value is no longer considered a complete zakat al-Fitr as recommended by the Prophet. Instead, it resembles charity given after the optimal time.
For this reason, scholars encourage Muslims not to delay paying zakat al-Fitr until after the Eid prayer. Paying it earlier not only preserves the completeness of the act of worship. It also ensures that the poor can share in the joy of Eid as intended by Islamic teachings.
Reference:
Central Board of Muhammadiyah, Fikih Zakat Kontemporer, in Official News of Muhammadiyah No. 05/2022–2027/Zulkaidah 1446 H/May 2025, Yogyakarta: Gramasurya, 2025.
