With which grain the fitra should be paid

Question

Which grain, or the value of which grain, should be given to pay sadaqat al-fitr? First: the grain, such as wheat or sorghum, available at the government grain shops with regulated prices (“control”), or the grain of ordinary market shops, which is at a higher rate, while the rate at the government “control” shops is lower; but in daily consumption the grain is sometimes from the government shops and sometimes from the ordinary market shops. (2)

Answer

(1) The “control” does not meet everyone’s needs; out of necessity they are met by buying at the ordinary market rate. Therefore sadaqat al-fitr should be paid at the ordinary market rate. Any other grain — sorghum, chickpeas and the like — to the value of half a sa‘ of wheat may also be given. If they wish to give barley, let them give one sa‘. (2)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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