In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving

All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad.

There are those who insist that it should be given in kind, the preferred view of eminent scholars is that it should be paid in cash – if that is what is beneficial and practical. Since in urbane societies today that is the only viable option, we should go for this view:

For details, let me cite here from my book on Ramadan and Fasting: A Concise Guide:

“During the time of the Prophet (PBUH), he ordered the people to take Zakatul Fitr out from the foods they used to have available, such as wheat, dates, etc. Thus, Bukhari and Muslim reported on the authority of Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri: “During the time of the Prophet (PBUH), we used to take out zakaatul Fitr in the form of a sa‘ of food, or a sa‘ of wheat or dates, or cheese or raisins” (Reported by Bukhari, Muslim, and others).

Scholars differ in specifying the foods referred to in the above tradition. Some say the food is meant to be grain; however, others say it could include any of the staple foods customary in each country, including rice, wheat, raisins, pulses, flours, etc.

A question arises: What is a sa‘? Scholars agree that it was the standard measurement in Madinah during the time of the Prophet (PBUH). It was comparable to four mudds; a mudd is what an average person can hold when he cups his hands.

As for the wisdom of fixing the measurement as one sa‘, Imam Shah Waliullah explained that it was considered sufficient at the time (i.e., during the Prophet’s time) for sustaining a family for the day of Eid.

The conversion of a sa‘ into the metric standard of weights is contentious, precisely because of the fact that it varies according to the type of foods that are being weighed. Therefore, many consider it best to consider four mudd, as measured by average persons, as the standard to follow. The Saudi Council of Scholars, after due deliberation, has estimated it to be equivalent to approximately three kilograms.

According to Ibn Taymiyyah, while paying Zakatul Fitr, one should ideally take into account the standard of living he is used to, for a rich person may spend lavishly on the Eid feast, while an average person cannot afford do so; therefore, one would do well to give according to his own means.

Based on the traditions referenced above, the standard ruling of the majority of scholars is that Zakatul Fitr is to be paid in staple foods rather than in cash. However, Imam Abu Hanifah is one of those who ruled early on that one should pay what is most beneficial for the poor. There is no doubt that this view seems to be in perfect agreement with the wisdom of Zakatul Fitr, as the Prophet (PBUH) clearly stated it was “in order to help the poor celebrate Eid.” We need not mention the fact that paying in grains, although beneficial in a rural setting, may not be beneficial for the people in an urban milieu, so Imam Abu Hanifah’s position seems to be more relevant in such cases. This position has also been endorsed by Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, as well as by a number of eminent scholars in modern times, such as the late Shaikh Mustafa al-Zarqa and Shaikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi among others. There is no need to point out that in North America, and in the West in general, that this is perhaps the most practical way to implement Zakatul Fitr, since giving grains may not be beneficial for either the giver or the beneficiary.

As far as calculating the amount to be paid in cash, it is estimated to be the equivalent of one full meal; according to current Canadian standards, it can be considered ten dollars as less than that amount cannot fetch a decent meal. However, Imam  Ibn  Taymiyyah’s  opinion  cited  above should be taken into account, as it allows some leeway for individuals to decide how much they can afford to pay, although it is always best to err on the side of giving rather than withholding, especially in the realm of ‘ibadah.”

Almighty Allah knows best.