a complete sa'.
Section: It is permissible to pay from any of the stipulated categories, even if it is not a staple food for him. Malik said: One pays from the staple food of the land. We have already mentioned the view of Al-Shafi'i. Our evidence is that the report regarding charity was delivered with the particle of choice (takhayyur) between these categories, thus making the choice regarding them mandatory. Furthermore, because he has shifted to something stipulated [in the text], it is permissible, just as if he had shifted to something superior. Sufficiency is achieved by providing food from these genera. An indication of what we have mentioned is that he gave a choice between dates, raisins, and dried yogurt (aqit), even though raisins and dried yogurt were not the staple food for the people of Medina, which proves that it is not considered a condition that it be a staple food for the one paying it.
472 - Issue: He said: (And whoever gives [the monetary] value, it does not suffice him.)
Abu Dawud said: It was said to Ahmad while I was listening: May I give dirhams—meaning for Sadaqat al-Fitr? He said: I fear that it will not suffice him, for it is contrary to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Abu Talib said: Ahmad said to me: Do not give its value. It was said to him: A group of people say: Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz used to accept [payment by] value. He said: They abandon the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and say: So-and-so said! Ibn Umar said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prescribed (1). And Allah the Almighty said: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger" (2). A group of people reject the Sunnahs [saying]: So-and-so said, so-and-so said. The apparent [meaning] of his school of thought is that it is not permissible (3) to pay the value in any of the zakats. Malik and Al-Shafi'i held this view. Al-Thawri and Abu Hanifa said: It is permissible. This (4) has been narrated from Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz and Al-Hasan, and it has been narrated from Ahmad [to be] like their statement regarding matters other than the fitra (charity of breaking the fast). Abu Dawud said: Ahmad was asked about a man who sold the dates (5) of his palm trees. He said: Its tithe (ushr) is upon the one who sold it. It was said to him:
(1) This is the hadith mentioned previously on page 281. (2) Surah An-Nisa 59. (3) In [manuscript] B and M: "it suffices him". (4) Omitted from the Original and [manuscript] B. (5) In [manuscript] B and M: "fruit".
