"… The best of speech is the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst of things are those which are newly-invented, and every innovation is a going astray…" (Muslim)

There are some types of Bid'ah (innovations in religion) that we see so commonly that we almost grow to think it's part of Islam. Some of us actually have gone that far, and that's why they partake in these Bid'ahs to begin with. However, we do not realize the evil of innovating in the perfect religion of Allah. To innovate in it is to make some very serious and quite offensive allegations against either Allah or His Messenger, Sal-Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam, or both, and that is not something you want on your record.

From Sayyid Saabiq’s Fiqh us-Sunnah
With commentary by Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaanee from Tamaam ul-Minnah fit-Ta‘leeq ‘alaa Fiqh as-Sunnah [1]

Introduction

Zakaat ul-fitr is a type of sadaqah which must be paid by every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave, at the end of the month of fasting (Ramadhaan).

Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim relate from Ibn ‘Umar that he said, “The Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم ) enjoined the payment of one saa‘ [2] of dates or one saa‘ of barley as zakaat ul-fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave.”

The Purpose of Zakaat ul-Fitr

Zakaat ul-fitr was made obligatory in the month of Sha‘baan during the second year after Hijrah. Its purpose is to purify one who fasts from any indecent act or speech and to help the poor and needy. This view is based upon the hadeeth reported by Abu Daawood, Ibn Maajah, and ad-Daraqutnee from Ibn ‘Abbaas;

“The Messenger of Allaah ( صلى الله عليه وسلم ) enjoined zakaat ul-fitr on the one who fasts to shield one’s self from any indecent act or speech and to provide food for the needy.”

It is accepted as zakaat ul-fitr for the person who pays it before the ‘eed prayer, and it in counts only as sadaqah for the one who pays it after the prayer.