Whoever performs an act of worship after its specific time because of an excuse is regarded as having performed it on time, if he does so immediately once the excuse has ceased. Likewise, if Eid arrives while he is, for example, out in the countryside, with no one to whom he can deliver it and without having appointed anyone to give it on his behalf, does the obligation lapse because its proper occasion has passed—as washing a hand is no longer required when it has been amputated—or do we say that it remains a liability upon him?

The answer is that the more cautious view is that it remains a liability upon him, and that he should give it even after the days of Eid have passed. However, the possibility that it lapses in this case is strong, because the relevant occasion no longer exists.

Issue: Zakat al-fitr should be given in the locality where the person is. It is mistaken to give it elsewhere. The same applies to the sacrifice, because both are among the Islamic rites that ought to be present in every household. Sending money to distant lands results in the neglect of that rite in that household.

Moreover, who can guarantee the proper selection of the zakat al-fitr and sacrifice that its owner intends? And it may then be delayed beyond the day of Eid.

Issue: It is permissible to give zakat to charitable associations licensed by the state. They have its authorization and act as its representatives, while the state acts as the representative of the poor. Accordingly, if the zakat al-fitr reaches them within its proper time, it is valid, even if they do not distribute it to the poor until after Eid, since they may consider it beneficial to delay its distribution.