and instead they say, “So-and-so said,” even though Ibn ʿUmar affirmed, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ obligated Zakat al-Fitr as one sâʿ…,” the well-known hadith!

Zakat al-Fitr must reach its rightful recipient within the time allotted for giving it, or reach an authorized agent whom that recipient has appointed to accept it on his behalf. If, at the appointed time, the payer cannot locate the intended beneficiary and finds no agent acting for him, he is obliged to give it to someone else who qualifies.

Some people err in this matter: they deposit their Zakat al-Fitr with someone who has not been authorized by the deserving party. Such a deposit is not a valid discharge of Zakat al-Fitr, and this point needs to be made clear.