During the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), he ordered the people to take Zakat al-Fitr out from the foods they used to have available, such as wheat, dates, etc.

 

Thus, al-Bukhari and Muslim reported on the authority of Abu Sa`id al-Khudri: “During the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), we used to take out Zakat al-Fitr in the form of a sa` of food, or a sa` of wheat or dates, or cheese or raisins”

 

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 (peace be upon him). 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 mudds, 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.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.