that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, ordered Zakaat Al-Fitr, a sa’a of dates or barley, to be given on behalf of the slave and the free, the male and the female, the young and the adult among the Muslims.  A Sa’a is a cubic measure of volume and its weight may differ according to the various types of food.  In case of rice, it is equivalent to 2.5kg approximately. 

Some Muslim scholars say that it could be paid in cash money equivalent to the value of its sale.  As to the types of food from which it has to be given, they are specified in the hadeeth narrated by Abee Sa’eed  who said: “We used to give one sa’a of meal or one sa’a of barley or one sa’a of dates, or one sa’a of iqt (dried yoghurt or cottage cheese) or one sa’a of raisins as Zakaat Al Fitr”. [Bukhaari and Muslim]

 The right way is to give the prescribed amount of the food (grains) people usually eat.   This Zakaat is only paid to the poor and not to any of the other eight categories to which annual Zakaat is normally given.  Ibn Abbas, may Allah, Subhana wa Ta’ala, be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: “ Zakaat Al-Fitr is a purification for the fasting Muslim from vain talk and obscenity, and food for the poor”.

Zakaat Al Fitr should be given before the Muslim goes out for Eid prayer as is confirmed in the hadeeth narrated by Ibn Omar that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, ordered Zakaat-Al Fitr to be given before people go out for prayer.  It can be given two or three days before Eid. But if given after Eid day, it is not accepted as Zakaat Al Fitr, and becomes ordinary Sadaqah.