Q: Is it permissible for a person to delay paying the Zakah of his wealth or Zakatul-Fitr in order to give it to one of the poor people who he is not able to get in touch with yet?
Answer:
If the amount of time is short and not long, there is no harm in him delaying it until he can give it to some of the poor people among his relatives or someone who is poorer or in more dire need. However, it should not be a long period of time.
It should only be a number of days that are not numerous. This is only in reference to the Zakah of wealth. Concerning Zakatul-Fitr, it should not be delayed. It is obligatory to pay it before the ‘Eid prayer, as the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) ordered. It may be given before the ‘Eid by a day or two or three. There is no harm in that. However, it should not be delayed until after the prayer.
-Shaikh Bin Baaz
The Sunnah is to Distribute the Zakatul-Fitr among the Poor People of the Land
Q:
Is the food for Zakatul-Fitr to be distributed among the poor people of our land or other than them? If we travel three days before the ‘Eid, what do we do regarding Zakatul-Fitr?
Answer:
The Sunnah is to distribute Zakatul-Fitr among the poor people of the land on the morning of the ‘Eid day before the prayer. It is permissible to distribute it a day or two before that, starting from the 28th (of Ramadhaan). If someone who must pay Zakatul-Fitr, travels two days or more before the ‘Eid, he should give it in the Muslim land that he is travelling to. If he is travelling to lands that are not Muslim, he should find some poor Muslims and give it to them. If his travel was after the permitted time to give it, then his intent is to show beneficence and kindness to them (the poor) and prevent them from begging from the people during the days of the ‘Eid.
Shaikh Bin Baaz
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