The practice of the Prophet  and his companions was to give zakaat
ul-fitr in the form of food. Abu Sa`eed al-Khidree ( ) narrated:
"(At the time of the Prophet ) we used to give out zakaat ul-fitr as
one saa` of ta`aam (food), one saa` of barley, one saa` of dates, one saa`
of aqit (dried yogurt), or one saa` of raisins. At that time, our food
used to be barley, raisins, aqi, and dates."1
The scholars differ in understanding the "food" referred to in this
report. From this report, it is easy to conclude that it refers to grains
and other types of food which can be measured with a container. This is
confirmed by various reports from the sahaabah ( ). For example, Ibn
`Abbaas () said:
"The sadaqah of Ramadaan is one saa` of food. Thus, he who brings wheat,
it will be accepted from him; he who brings barley, it will be accepted
from him; he who brings dates, it will be accepted from him; he who brings
rye, it will be accepted from him; he who brings raisins, it will be
accepted from him ..."2
The above hadeeths further indicate that one may not give it in the form
of money; nor may one give it using other types of food, such as meat or
butter. Since it is an act of worship, it must be performed in accordance
with the Sunnah.
However, one may determine the approximate monetary value of the goods
that he wants to give, and give that to an individual or organization that
he trusts to buy the correct types. It is important that when it reaches
the recipients, it is in a form permissible by the Sunnah.
- Al-Bukhaaree.
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- Recorded by Ibn Khuzaymah with an authentic chain (al-Hilaalee).
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