01/07/2016
Conditions
Zakat ul-Fitr is only Wajib for a particular period of time. If one misses the time period without a good reason, he has sinned and can not make it up. This form of charity becomes obligatory from sunset on the last day of fasting and remains obligatory until the beginning of Salat ul-'Eid (i.e. shortly after sunrise on the following day). However, it can be paid prior to the above mentioned period, as many of the Sahabah (companions of the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) used to pay Sadaqat ul-Fitr a couple days before the 'Eid.
Ibn 'Umar reported that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam order that it (Zakat ul-Fitr) be given before people go to make the Salah (of 'Eid).
Nafi' transmitted that Ibn 'Umar used to pay fitr a day or two before the 'Eid prayer.{qluetip title=[4]}Bukhari vol. 2, p. 339, no. 579 & Muslim, Abu Dawud{/qluetip} Whoever pays fitr after the 'Eid prayer wlll not get the blessings of it because it will be rendered as regular Sadaqah (see Abu Dawud no. 1605).
And Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "Whoever gives it before the Salah will have it accepted as Zakat, while he who gives it after the Salah (will not, for it will only be considered as) ordinary charity. Therefore, one who forgets to pay this Zakat ul-Fitr on time should do so as soon as possible even though it will not be counted as Zakat ul-Fitr."