, provided he has the means and is able to pay it before sunset on the last day of Ramadan.
The scholars of Madinah and the companions of Mālik disagreed about the exact moment when zakāt al-Fiṭr becomes due, and therefore upon whom it is binding. Imām Mālik himself transmitted two views:
- It becomes obligatory at sunset on the night of Eid al-Fiṭr.
- It becomes obligatory at daybreak on the morning of Eid al-Fiṭr. Hence, anyone for whom a child is born, who acquires a slave, or who marries a woman and consummates the marriage before dawn on the day of Eid must, according to this opinion, pay zakāt al-Fiṭr for that new dependent.
Likewise, if a non-Muslim embraces Islam before dawn on the day of Eid, zakāt al-Fiṭr is incumbent upon him; if he enters Islam after that time, the obligation does not apply. According to the first view, however, if a child is born or a slave is acquired after sunset, no zakāt al-Fiṭr is required on their account.
There are further answers ascribed to Mālik that depart from both of these principles with regard to an infant born on the day of Eid, a slave acquired on that day, and similar cases: some consider the payment in such instances merely recommended, while others deem the discussion baseless because it falls outside his foundational position on the matter.
It is recommended to discharge zakāt al-Fiṭr before setting out for the Eid prayer, and it is not permissible to pay it before the day of Eid except for a short period—one or two days, and the like. The preferred time is to give it on the day of Eid, either before the prayer or afterwards.
If dawn breaks on the day of Eid and a person possesses nothing beyond the sustenance of his dependents with which to pay zakāt al-Fiṭr, he is deemed insolvent and no zakāt is due from him; should he later acquire wealth, the obligation still does not attach to him. Some have said that it is binding upon both the wealthy and the poor, which in our understanding means only when the poor person actually has the means, as described above. Allah knows best.
Mālik said: “He should borrow the amount if he can find someone willing to lend it to him and then pay it.” It is also recommended for the poor person, when he receives from zakāt or