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]
وَ اللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَ سَلَّم
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
[1] Muḥīṭ Burhāni, vol. 2, p. 589, (Published in Quetta)
[2] Bahār-i-Sharīʿat, vol. 1, pp. 939,940, (Published by Maktaba tul Madina)