Zakatul-Fitr / Eid Fitra is one of the things that the Prophet, Peace & Blessings be Upon Him, mandated upon all Muslims. Ibn ‘Umar, may

Allaah be pleased with him, said: “The Messenger of Allaah, Peace & Blessings be Upon Him, made Zakatul-Fitr, one Saa’ (almost 3kg)

of dates or one Saa’ of barley, obligatory on the Muslims, slave and free, male and female, young and old. He ordered that it should be

given before people go out to the ‘Eid Prayer” [Al-Bukhaari]

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri, may Allaah be pleased with him said: “During the lifetime of the Messenger of Allaah, Peace & Blessings be Upon

Him, we used to pay one Saa` of dried dates or of barley, or of cheese, or of raisins.” [Al-Bukhaari]

Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him explained the wisdom behind paying Zakatul-Fitr when he said: “The Messenger of Allaah,

Peace & Blessings be Upon Him, made Zakatul-Fitr obligatory as a mean of purifying the fasting person from idle talk and foul language,

and to feed the poor. Whoever pays it before the prayer, it is an accepted Zakaah, and whoever pays it after the prayer, it is just a kind

of charity” [Abu Daawood]