Muslims unanimously agree that zakat al-fitr is obligatory upon the end of Ramadan, in accordance with the previously mentioned saying from Ibn 'Umar that "The Messenger of God ﷺ imposed zakat al-fitr of Ramadan . . . " However, they differ regarding the exact time this obligation becomes due. Al-Shafi'i, Ahmad, Ishaq, al-Thawri, and Malik (in one narration) believe zakat al-fitr is due at sunset on the last day of Ramadan, i.e. when the last day ends. Abu Hanifah and his disciples, al-Laith, Abu Thawr, and Malik (in another narration) say it is due at dawn on the day of the feast, since it aims at bringing happiness to the poor on that day.1 The difference has only one application: whether newborn babies and persons who die during that night should be counted in calculating the amount of zakat.2

Muslims unanimously agree that zakah of al fitr is obligated upon the end of Ramadan, in accordance with the previously mentioned saying from Ibn 'Umar that "The Messenger of God (p) imposed zakah of fast-breaking of Ramadan . . . " However, they differ in regard to the exact time this obligation becomes due. Al Shafi'i, Ahmad, Ishaq, al Thawri, and Malik (in one narration) believe zakah of al fitr is due at sunset on the last day of Ramadan, i.e. when the last day ends. Abu Hanifah and his disciples, al Laith, Abu Thawr, and Malik (in another narration) say it is due at dawn on the day of the feast, since it aims at bringing happiness to the poor on that day.1 The difference has only one application: whether new born babies and persons who die during that night should be counted in calculating the amount of zakah.2

Al-Bukhari da Muslim sun ruwaito daga Ibn 'Umar cewa: "Manzon Allah ﷺ ya umarta da a biya zakkar al-fitr kafin sallar 'Id." 'Ikrimah ya ce: "Ya kamata a biya zakka kafin a yi sallah. Allah ya ce: {Lallai wanda ya tsarkake kansa ya yi nasara, kuma ya ambaci sunan Ubangijinsa, sannan ya yi sallah.}" Ibn Khuzaimah ya ruwaito daga Kathir, daga mahaifinsa, daga kakansa, cewa Manzon Allah ﷺ an tambaye shi game da wannan ayar, sai ya amsa da cewa: "An saukar da ita ne game da zakkar al-fitr." Amma wannan magana tana da rauni, domin Kathir ba shi da amana sosai. Bugu da kari, ayar Makka ce, alhali kuwa an wajabta zakkar al-fitr bayan an wajabta azumin Ramadan a Madina. A daya bangaren kuma, al-Bukhari da Muslim sun ruwaito daga Abu Sa'id cewa: "Mun kasance muna biyarwa a zamanin Manzon Allah ﷺ a ranar karya azumi . . . ," wanda hakan ke nuna cewa dukkan ranar lokaci ne na biya.

Al Bukhari and Muslim report from Ibn 'Umar "The Messenger of God (p) ordered zakah of al fitr paid prior to 'Id prayers." 'Ikrimah says "One should pay zakah before making the prayers. God says, 'But those will prosper who pay zakah, and gloriy the name of their Lord, and then pray.'"3 Ibn Khuzaimah reports from Kathir, from his father from his grandfather, that the Messenger of God (p) was asked about this verse and answered, "It was sent down in regard to zakah of al fitr."4 But this saying is weak because Kathir is very unreliable.5 Moreover, the verse is Makkan, while zakah of al fitr was imposed after the fasting of Ramadan was prescribed in Madinah. On the other hand, al Bukhari and Muslim report from Abu Sa'id, "We used to pay, during the lifetime of the Messenger of God (p) on the day of breaking the fast . . . .," I implying that all the day is time for payment.

Al Shafi'i ya bada shawarar cewa ana iya biyan wannan zakka a dukkan yinin ranar 'Idi, amma mafi kyawun lokacin biyan ta shi ne da safe kafin sallar 'Idi. Tare da Al Shafi'i, mafi yawan malamai sun yi imani cewa jinkirta biyan har sai lokacin sallar 'Idi ya wuce ba abu ne mai kyau ba, domin zakkar al-fidr an yi ta ne don wadatar da talakawa a wannan rana, don haka dole ne a ba su lokaci su yi amfani da ita a cikin ranar kanta.

Al Shafi'i suggests that this zakah can be paid during the whole day of 'Id, although the best time for payment is early morning before 'Id prayers. Agreeing with al Shafi'i the majority of scholars believe delaying payment until the time for 'Id prayers passes is undesirable, since zakah of al fitr is meant to enrich the poor on that day, so they must be given time to use it during the day itself.

Ibn Hazm ya ce haramun ne a jinkirta biyan zakkar al-fitr har bayan lokacin salloli, kuma idan ba a biya ta kafin salloli ba, to dole ne a biya ta daga baya, saboda dole ne a cika hakkin talakawa, duk da cewa an keta haƙƙin Allah na biyan ta kafin salloli.