of Ibn Hamid and those who agreed with him. Likewise for cheese and what resembles it.

470 - Issue: He said: (And the preference of Abu 'Abd Allah is to provide dates)

Malik also said this. Ibn al-Mundhir said: Malik recommended providing 'ajwah (a type of high-quality date) from among them. Al-Shafi'i and Abu 'Ubayd chose to provide wheat. Some of the companions of al-Shafi'i said: It is possible that al-Shafi'i said that because wheat was more expensive in his time and place, for it is recommended to provide that which is most expensive and most precious, based on the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he was asked about the best of slaves to free, and he said: "The most expensive and most precious to their owners" (1). Ahmad only chose to provide dates by following the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and imitating them (2). He narrated with his chain of transmission from Abu Mijlaz, who said: I said to Ibn 'Umar (3): Indeed, Allah has brought abundance, and wheat is better than dates. He replied: My companions traveled a path, and I love to travel it. The outward implication of this is that the group (4) of the companions used to provide dates, so Ibn 'Umar liked to agree with them and follow their path, and Ahmad also liked to emulate and follow them. Al-Bukhari (5) narrated from Ibn 'Umar that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) obligated Zakat al-Fitr as a sa' of dates or a sa' of barley, then people substituted half a sa' (6) of wheat for it. Ibn 'Umar used to provide dates,