A large number of bags of rice for zakat al-fitr arrived at our branch in the Khulaysh area, and these large quantities cannot be distributed due to a shortage of human resources before the festival by one or two days, and if that were done, the time for its payment would be missed.
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The questioner : He says:The questioner : A large number of bags of rice for zakat al-fitr arrived at our branch in the Khulaysh area, and these large quantities cannot be distributed due to a shortage of human resources before the festival by one or two days, and if we did that, the time for its payment would be missed. Is it permissible to pay it out four days before the festival?
The Shaykh : Zakat al-fitr must be food, such as wheat, rice, or dates, and it is not permissible to pay it out one or two days before the festival, nor is it permissible to delay it until after the festival prayer. Therefore, if a person receives a large amount of zakat that he cannot distribute, he should seek the help of others. It is not required that he distribute it in the same town; for example, he may send it to nearby towns and distribute it among the poor there. However, it is not permissible for him to keep it until the time passes and the prayer ends, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)Sunan Abi Dawud 1609Hasan (Al-Albani). Yes.
The questioner : May Allah grant you success.
The Shaykh : Zakat al-fitr must be food, such as wheat, rice, or dates, and it is not permissible to pay it out one or two days before the festival, nor is it permissible to delay it until after the festival prayer. Therefore, if a person receives a large amount of zakat that he cannot distribute, he should seek the help of others. It is not required that he distribute it in the same town; for example, he may send it to nearby towns and distribute it among the poor there. However, it is not permissible for him to keep it until the time passes and the prayer ends, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
If anyone pays it before the prayer (of 'Id), it will be accepted as zakat. If anyone pays it after the prayer, that will be a sadaqah like other sadaqahs (alms).
من أداها قبل الصلاة فهي زكاة مقبولة ومن أداها بعد الصلاة فهي صدقة من الصدقاتThe questioner : May Allah grant you success.