Hadith 702
حَدَّثَنِي حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى ، عَنْ مَالِك ، عَنْ
نَافِعٍ ، أَنَّ
عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ " كَانَ
يَبْعَثُ بِزَكَاةِ الْفِطْرِ إِلَى الَّذِي تُجْمَعُ عِنْدَهُ قَبْلَ الْفِطْرِ بِيَوْمَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةٍ " . ¤ وَحَدَّثَنِي ، عَنْ مَالِك ، أَنَّهُ رَأَى أَهْلَ الْعِلْمِ يَسْتَحِبُّونَ أَنْ يُخْرِجُوا زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ إِذَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْفِطْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَغْدُوا إِلَى الْمُصَلَّى . ¤ قَالَ مَالِك : وَذَلِكَ وَاسِعٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تُؤَدَّى قَبْلَ الْغُدُوِّ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْفِطْرِ وَبَعْدَهُ
It is narrated from Nafi‘ that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to send the Sadaqat al-Fitr two or three days before Eid to the person where the Sadaqat al-Fitr used to be collected.
Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I have seen the people of knowledge, they considered it preferable to give out Sadaqat al-Fitr when dawn breaks, before the Eid prayer.
Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: This matter is broad; whether one gives it before going to the prayer or after, it is permissible.