Salams All
A simple message here … Zakat-ul-Fitr or Fitrana should be given before the Eid prayer, so people often give this amount in as they come in to the masjid on the morning of Eid. This is the wrong motive. Fitrana is meant to help local poor people celebrate Eid, so please if this applies to your locality give fitrana about a week before Eid so it can be enjoyed by those who need it in time for Eid.
Peace 
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
Brother,
Our Prophet Muhammad 
ordered us to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr before going to the Eid prayer. The hadith is narrated by Ibn 'Umar in Sahih Bhukari Book ‘Obligatory Charity Tax After Ramadaan (Zakat ul Fitr)’ No. 585.
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
Good reminder Psyah. We usually do it a week earlier at least
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
When we are at it , why not before start of Ramzan so that local poor people can enjoy Ramzan ?
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
When we are at it , why not before start of Ramzan so that local poor people can enjoy Ramzan ?
How early can you give? Is there a restriction on that?
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
The proof is in the Sunnat a Rasool refer to post #2. Mufti at my masjid said that the fitrana is a sadaqa for fasting , in case there was some mistake somewhere in the process of fasting fitrana will make up for it. Allah knows the best.
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
Exactly. Now read this.
Hadees not only means that you should pay before eid prayers, but it also means that Fitrana should reach the poor people before Eid prayers. In the days of Prophet, people used to give fitrana directly to the eligible party. Now we give it to masjid who gives it to the poor families. if we drop our fitra in the masjid box before eid prayers, it is going to reach poors after the prayers. That is the violation of Sunnat.
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
^
Agreed with both of you Fitrana is wajib-ul-ada on all those muslims who were fasting in the month of ramadan. As stated in this hadith.
Book ‘The Book of Zakat (Kitab Al-Zakat)’ of Sahih Muslim Hadith No. 2149
Ibn Umar said that Allah’s Messenger prescribed the payment of Zakat-ul-Fitr (on breaking the fast) of Ramadan for people, for every freeman, or slave, male and female among the Muslims-one sa’ of dried dates, or one sa’ of barley.
(One Sa’ = 3 Kilograms approx.)
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
Exactly. Now read this.
Hadees not only means that you should pay before eid prayers, but it also means that Fitrana should reach the poor people before Eid prayers. In the days of Prophet, people used to give fitrana directly to the eligible party. Now we give it to masjid who gives it to the poor families. if we drop our fitra in the masjid box before eid prayers, it is going to reach poors after the prayers. That is the violation of Sunnat.
I agree , so there is no time restriction then , we can give fitrana even before Ramzan so that the poor people can make arrangement for their Ramzan.
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
^
Mirch Bhai! I think there is time restriction.
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
I agree , so there is no time restriction then , we can give fitrana even before Ramzan so that the poor people can make arrangement for their Ramzan.
I think as LKK quoted the hadith, its defined as "the payment of Zakat-ul-Fitr (on breaking the fast) of Ramadan for people". Which means that Zakat is not obligatory till the time of Ramadan starts (just like tonight's isha is not obligatory on you till the isha time starts). paying it before it becomes obligatory is not going to fulfill the obligation.
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
I think as LKK quoted the hadith, its defined as "the payment of Zakat-ul-Fitr (on breaking the fast) of Ramadan for people". Which means that Zakat is not obligatory till the time of Ramadan starts (just like tonight's isha is not obligatory on you till the isha time starts). paying it before it becomes obligatory is not going to fulfill the obligation.
All the Islamic websites I trust and I visit are saying zakat-ul-fitr is wajib on the conclusion of month of Ramzan.
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
All the Islamic websites I trust and I visit are saying zakat-ul-fitr is wajib on the conclusion of month of Ramzan.
Hmmm, this sounds right. maybe I should check with a scholar.
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
Peace All,
Pardon me for bumping up this old thread but it is because of a ‘reminder’ as well as I would like to ask a question to those who live in Pakistan that I heard the ‘Zikat ul fitr’ in Pakistan is 80 rupees. Just wanted to know if its correct or not.
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
Pay according to your local currency.
In the U.S., more specifically in Chicago it is $8/person according to MCC Mosque
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
EXACTLY! the earlier the better...that gives the recipient enough time to prepare for Eid.
the latest you can pay is before the salat ul Eid which is, in my opinion, is quite late.
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
How early can you give? Is there a restriction on that?
There are varying reports about this and the scholars of sunnah have discussed this a lot. Some say it is ok so long as it is after 15th of Ramadhan. I gave food worth our family due to a person who runs a charity and goes physcially to distribute it to nearby deserving communities. It was in the first Ashrah. I though that was practical since it allowed truly deserving people to receive my Zakatul fitr.
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
Oops just realized this is an old thread.
Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
Our Zakat ul Fitr is set at $13 per person by our local masjid...gave ours last week alhamdullilah
Re: Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr Early is More Useful
Peace All,
Actually I spoken to my czn who told me that in Pakistan, Zakat ul Fitr is 80 rupees. The floor per kg is 40Rs to if we multiple it with 3 = 1 SA then the price is 120 rupees. That I what i wanna confirm from those who lives in Pakistan.
Furthermore it is better to give more rather then giving less.
Oops just realized this is an old thread.
Peace Antumul alona,
I was about to open a new thread but thought it would be more useful if I bump up this old thread as we already covered many things.