are Muslims, so Zakat al-Fitr is mandatory upon them just like others. Once this is established, it is sufficient for the people of the desert to provide dried yogurt (aqit) if it is their staple food, and likewise for anyone who finds nothing else from the categories specifically mentioned. As for someone who finds other than it, is it sufficient? There are two narrations: one is that it is sufficient for him as well, due to the hadith of Abu Sa'id that we mentioned (1), and in some of its wordings it says: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) obligated Zakat al-Fitr as a sa' of food, or a sa' of barley, or a sa' of dates, or a sa' of dried yogurt (aqit)." Narrated by al-Nasa'i. The second is that it is not sufficient for him because it is a category in which Zakat is not mandatory, so it is not sufficient to provide it for one who is able to provide other categories mentioned in the text, such as meat. The hadith is interpreted as applying to someone for whom it is a staple food, or who is unable to provide anything else. If he is able to provide something else while it is also a staple food for him, the outward implications of the words of al-Khiraqi suggest the permissibility of providing it. And if he is able to provide something else, regardless of whether he is of the people of the desert or not, it is permissible because the hadith did not distinguish. Abu Sa'id's statement, "We used to provide a sa' of dried yogurt (aqit)," occurred while they were city dwellers, and he only specified the people of the desert by mention because it is generally the case that no one else eats it as a staple. Abu al-Khattab said: It is not sufficient to provide dried yogurt (aqit) when one has the ability to provide something else, according to one of the two narrations. The outward implication of the hadith points to the contrary. The judge (al-Qadi) mentioned that if one lacks dried yogurt (aqit), and we have said that he may provide it, it is permissible to provide milk because it is more complete than dried yogurt, as dried yogurt and other things are derived from it. Abu Thawr related this from al-Shafi'i. Al-Hasan said: If there is neither wheat nor barley, he should provide a sa' of milk. The outward implication of al-Khiraqi's words dictates that milk does not suffice in any case because of his saying: "From every grain or fruit that serves as staple food." We have interpreted that as applying to a state of unavailability. What they mentioned is not valid, because if it were more complete than dried yogurt, it would be permissible to provide it even while dried yogurt is available. Also, dried yogurt is more complete than milk in one aspect: it has reached the state of storability while being solid, unlike milk. However, the ruling of milk is the same as the ruling of meat; it is sufficient to provide it in the absence of the categories mentioned in the text, according to the opinion 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.