Paying Zakat al-Fitr on the First of Ramadan

Last Ramadan I paid zakat al-fitr on the first day of Ramadan, but a friend of
mine told me that this is not lawful in Islam and that I have to pay it again. May
you give me the viewpoint of Islam in this regard?

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon
His Messenger.

Thanks for your question, and we implore Allah earnestly to guide us all to the
best in these blessed days and to guide us to the best way through which we can
understand the teachings of Islam.

According to the majority of scholars, it is permissible to pay zakat al-fitr a day or

two before `Eid Al-Fitr. However, some scholars are of the opinion that it may be
paid (any day) during Ramadan in general but it is not permissible to delay it
until after the day of `Eid Al-Fitr. Hence, there is nothing wrong in paying it on
the first of Ramadan, especially if there is a need for this.

To tackle the question in detail, jurists have differed as to paying zakat al-fitr
before `Eid Al-Fitr as follows:
I

1. It is permissible to pay it one or two days before the `Eid.

2. It is permissible to pay it any day starting from the middle of Ramadan
(until the end of the month).
3. It is permissible to pay it any day starting from the first of Ramadan (until
the day of the `Eid).
4. It is permissible to pay it from the beginning of the year in general.
5. It is not permissible to pay it before the day of the `Eid.

According to Nail Al-Awtar by Ash-Shawkani, it is permissible to pay zakat al-fitr

before `Eid Al-Fitr in general.

Imam Shafi saw that it may be paid starting from the first of Ramadan (until the
day of the `Eid).

The eminent scholars Al-Hadi, Al-Qasim, Abu Hanifah, Abu Al-`Abbas, and Abu
Talib were of the opinion that it may be paid even two years earlier.

Al-Karkhi (a Hanafi scholar) and Imam Ahmad said that it should not be paid
before its due time (the day of `Eid Al-Fitr) but one or two days earlier may be
disregarded in this respect.

Malik, An-Nasir, and Al-Hasan ibn Ziyad saw that it is not permissible to pay it
before its due time, as it is not permissible to perform a prescribed Prayer before
its time. But the author of Al-Bahrargued that drawing analogy between zakat al-
fitr and the zakah paid on one's properties in general is more tenable than
drawing analogy between the former and Prayer, [and hence, with this more
tenable analogy, it can be said that zakat al-fitr may be paid before its due time].
Imam Yahyah reported that the righteous predecessors were unanimous that
zakat al-fitr may be paid before its due time in general.

In Al-Magmu`, Imam An-Nawawi said

Zakat al-fitr may be paid before its due time. But there are three different
viewpoints about this earlier time: The first (and most acceptable view according
to the majority of scholars) says that it may be paid any day during Ramadan,
not before this. The second says that it may be paid any day starting from after
the dawn of the first day of Ramadan until the end of the month; it should not be
paid here on the eve of the first day of Ramadan as people then would not have
started fasting yet. The third says that it may be paid any day during the whole
year.

However, Imam Shafi and other scholars are of the opinion that the best time to
pay zakat al-fitr is on the day of the `Eid itself before going to the `Eid Prayer;
one may also pay it anytime during the day of `Eid. But it is not permissible to
delay it more than this. He who delays it more than this would be disobedient of
Allah's teachings. Paying this zakah in this case (i.e., after its due time) would be
regarded as making up for zakat al-fitr, not paying it principally.
Imam Ibn Quddamah said in Al-Mughni
It would suffice one to pay zakat al-fitr one or two days before the day of `Eid.
But one should not pay it earlier before than this. Ibn `Umar said, "People used
to give zakat al-fitr (even) a day or two before the `Eid." However, some scholars
say that it is permissible to pay it also any day starting from the middle of
Ramadan (until the day of `Eid). Abu Hanifah said that it is also permissible to
pay it from the beginning of the month of Ramadan.
According to Imam Shafi, it may be paid any day starting from the first day of
Ramadan (until the day of `Eid), for the cause of paying this zakah is fasting in
Ramadan and al-fitr means "breaking this fast." Hence, should one of these
factors—fasting or breaking fast—exist, this zakah may be paid during either of
both. However, Nafi` reported on the authority of Ibn `Umar that the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) would order that zakat al-fitr be distributed
among the poor and would say, "Spare them (i.e., the poor) begging on this
day (the day of `Eid)" (Ahmad). The imperative form in this hadith indicates
obligation, for should it be allowable to pay it a long time before the `Eid,
"sparing the poor begging" would not be achieved according to this hadith. The
cause of its being obligatory here is breaking the fast, as would indicate the name
of the zakah itself (i.e., zakat al-fitr, meaning zakah on breaking the fast of
Ramadan). An analogy can be drawn between this zakah and the zakah of
properties. The aim of the zakah of properties is to satisfy the needs of the poor
for a whole year, which is the range of time for paying this kind of zakah; hence,
it can be paid any time during the year. Likewise, the aim of zakat al-fitr is to
satisfy the needs of the poor during the day of `Eid Al-Fitr; thus, it is not
permissible to pay it before this time unless it is only one or two days earlier.

Al-Bukhari reported that Ibn `Umar said, "The Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) made zakat al-fitr obligatory" and Ibn `Umar said in the end of this
hadith, "People used to give zakat al-fitr (even) a day or two before the
`Eid." This indicates that there was unanimity on the permissibility of paying
zakat al-fitr one or two days before the day of `Eid. Besides, paying it one or two
days earlier than its due time does not contradict its aim, i.e., satisfying the need
of the poor on the day of `Eid, since this zakah or part thereof remains with the
poor until the day of `Eid.