specified by the statement of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Wheat for wheat is measure for measure, and barley for barley is measure for measure" (18). The same applies to all other grains, spices, potash, gypsum, lime, and similar items. Dates are a measured item, and they are among those specified by text. The same applies to all other date-palm fruits, including fresh dates (rutab), semi-ripe dates (busr), and others. Likewise, all fruits upon which Zakat is due, such as raisins, pistachios, hazelnuts, jujubes, apricots, terebinth (19), olives, and almonds. Salt is a measured item and is among those specified by the statement of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Salt for salt is a mudd for a mudd" (20). Gold and silver are weighed items. This is established by the statement of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Gold for gold is weight for weight, and silver for silver is weight for weight" (21). The same applies to substances similar to them from the ores of the earth, such as iron, copper, brass, lead, glass, and mercury. Also included are silk (22), cotton, flax, wool, their yarn, and similar items. Included too are bread, meat, fat, cheese, butter, wax, and similar items. Likewise are saffron, safflower, wars, and similar things.
Section: Flour and sawiq (parched barley or wheat flour) are measured items because their origin is measured, and there is nothing that shifts them from that status, and because they resemble items that are measured. The Qadi mentioned regarding flour that it is permissible to sell some of it for other portions by weight, and it is not impossible for its origin to be a measured item while it is currently weighed, such as bread. Our evidence is what we have mentioned, and because it is estimated by the sa', evidenced by the fact that one sa' of flour is given for Zakat al-Fitr, as has come in the Hadith. The sa' is only used to estimate measured items. Based on this, dried curd (aqit) is considered a measured item because the hadith regarding Zakat al-Fitr states: "A sa' of aqit (23)."
(18) Its documentation has preceded on page 69. (19) Al-Butm: The terebinth tree, from the pistachio family; its fruit is a flat, green seed, eaten in the lands of the Levant. (20) Its documentation has preceded on page 69. (21) Its documentation has preceded on page 69. (22) Al-Ibrism: Silk. (23) The documentation of the hadith has preceded in: 4/282.
