Points derived from the hadith:
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The scholars unanimously agree that zakat al-Fitr is obligatory, taken from the wording, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made zakat al-Fitr mandatory,” for farḍ means “duty.” Ibn al-Mundhir said, “Everyone from the people of knowledge whose opinion has reached us is agreed that the charity of Fitr is obligatory.”
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It is due from every Muslim—male or female, free or enslaved, young or old.
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It is not binding for a foetus. Yet many jurists recommend giving it on the unborn child’s behalf, for it is reported from the Companions that they liked to pay it for the pregnancy, and ʿUthmān (Allah be pleased with him) used to do so.
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The best time to pay it is on the morning of Eid, before the people leave for the Eid prayer; this will be detailed below, God willing.
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One of the aims of this zakat is to spare the poor from need on the day of Eid so that they will not have to beg on a day when every Muslim wishes to appear free of want. It is a day of joy and communal happiness for the Muslims.
Scholarly disagreement:
The jurists differ as to when zakat al-Fitr may be paid:
• Abū Ḥanīfah held that it may be advanced a year or even two, by analogy with zakat on wealth.
• The Shāfiʿīs permitted paying it from the beginning of Ramadan.
• Mālik maintained that it may never be paid early, likening it to a prayer offered before its appointed time.
• The Ḥanbalīs allowed it to be paid two days before Eid. Thus the three Imams and their followers agree that it may be given in advance—but only up to two days before Eid—because al-Bukhārī narrated (1415), “They used to give it one or two days before the Fitr.”