We must remember that the immediate benefit of Zakat of Fitra is that one shall be safe from accidental or destined death the following year. It is related from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) that he told his financial secretary to pay the Zakatul Fitra of all his family members and not to overlook any of them. “Because if his Zakat is not paid I would be in constant fear of his demise.”
“What do you mean by ‘demise’?” asked the secretary.
“Death”, replied Imam (a.s.), “And its reward is the acceptance of a month of fasting.”
Imam (a.s.) also said,
“Zakatul Fitra completes (perfects) the fasts of the month of Ramadhan.”