Is it permissible to give zakaat al-fitr two years in advance by analogy with the zakaah on one’s wealth?

The time when
zakaat al-fitr becomes obligatory begins at sunset on the last day of
Ramadan. The Sunnah indicates that it is permissible to give it one or two
days before the day of Eid. See the answer to question no.
37636

The Hanafis are of
the view that an analogy may be drawn between zakaah of one’s wealth and
zakaat al-fitr, so they say that it is permissible to bring it forward. 

As-Sarkhasi said
in al-Mabsoot, 3/110: The correct view in our opinion is that
bringing it (zakaat al-fitr) forward by one or two years is permissible. End
quote. 

However, what
appears to be the case is that bringing it forward ahead of the time
prescribed in sharee‘ah is not permissible. 

There are two
significant differences between zakaat al-fitr and zakaah on one’s wealth: 

1.

 The reason for
zakaat al-fitr becoming obligatory is sunset on the last day of Ramadan,
whereas the reason for zakaah on one’s wealth becoming obligatory is
possession of the nisaab (minimum threshold of wealth at which zakaah
becomes obligatory). Bringing something forward and doing it before the
reason for it comes into effect is not permissible. Hence if a person
hastens to pay zakaah on his wealth before he has possession of the nisaab,
that is not acceptable. 

Ash-Shiraazi said
in al-Muhadhdhab: It is not valid to pay it in advance before the
month of Ramadan, because that is bringing it forward and doing it before
the two reasons for it [i.e., fasting and sunset on the last day of
Ramadan]. That is like paying zakaah on one’s wealth before one has acquired
the nisaab and one full (hijri) year has passed since that date. End quote. 

See: Manzoomat
Usool al-Fiqh wa Qawaa‘idihi by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, p.
143                                                     

2.

The purpose behind
zakaat al-fitr is make the poor independent of means on the day of Eid, but
this purpose is not met if zakaat al-fitr is brought forward. That is unlike
zakaah on one’s wealth, the purpose of which is to make the poor independent
of means in general terms and is not limited to a specific time. 

There is also a
third way in which we may differentiate between them, which is: zakaat
al-fitr is a small amount, so it does not serve a great purpose for the poor
person if it is brought forward, unlike zakaah on one’s wealth. 

And Allah knows
best.