Yahya related to me that Malik had seen that the people ofknowledge used to like to pay the zakat al-fitr after dawn had brokenon the day of the Fitr before they went to the place of prayer.Malik said, "There is leeway in this, if Allah wills, in that itcan be paid either before setting out (for the prayer) on the day ofFitr or afterwards."
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 17, Hadith 57