Zakat al-Fitr: Its Time and Amount

Question:
Many of the brothers and sisters, Honorable Shaykh, are looking forward to knowing some of the rulings regarding Zakat al-Fitr, its timing, its amount, and when it is due.

Answer:
Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory upon anyone who has more than what is sufficient for himself and his dependents. It is a purification for the fasting person from idle talk and obscenity, as stated in the hadith. Its time begins from the confirmation of the new moon on the night of Eid until the departure for the Eid prayer. This is the best time to give the charity of Fitr. If one gives it one or two days before Eid, that is permissible. However, if one delays it until after the Eid prayer, it becomes a voluntary charity, meaning its reward is diminished. If the day of Eid passes and one has not given it, he must give it as a make-up, because it is obligatory. The amount is a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of food, which is approximately three kilograms for the Prophetic sa'. The amount is a sa' of the food that is eaten in the country, whether it is wheat, rice, barley, corn, or dates. It is a sa' of wheat, or a sa' of barley, or a sa' of dates, or a sa' of raisins, or a sa' of dried curds, as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) specified. This depends on what is eaten and consumed in the country. Yes.