Reference: Fataawa Ramadhaan v2 p902 no.885
Fataawa as-Siyaam libni Jibreen p188
Question: Is Zakaatul-Fitr obligatory or [just] recommended? And upon whom is it obligatory?
Response: Zakaatul-Fitr is obligatory upon the Muslims because the Prophet ﷺ legislated it upon the male and the female and the young and the old [transmitted by al-Bukhaaree no.1503 and Muslim no.984]. And he specified it to be one saa' of food or dates or barley or raisins or cheese [transmitted by al-Bukhaaree no.1506 and Muslim no.985] (one saa' is equal to four mudd, and one mudd is equal to the amount held by cupping the two hands together. It is a measure by volume and not by weight). And he commanded that it be discharged before the people leave to perform the 'Eed prayer. So it is a Prophetic obligation which has been legislated for the last part of Ramadhaan as a purification for the fasting one from any mistake or sexual intercourse [which may have come to pass]. And it is food for the needy such that they do not have to wander around asking (begging) [transmitted by Abu Daawood no.1609 and Ibn Maajah no.1827; graded hasan by al-Albaanee].
And with Allaah lies all success.
