Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … Should the full or half sa‘ (صاع) of wheat be given as sadaqat al-fitr? This was also a disputed issue among the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum). The background of this is that just as in our region, Pakistan, wheat is inexpensive and dates are expensive, similarly, at that time in Arabia, dates were inexpensive and wheat was expensive. When Sayyiduna Amir Mu‘awiyah (radi Allahu anhu) came to Makkah Mukarramah on the occasion of Hajj or ‘Umrah, before returning he addressed the people and said: I think that half a sa‘ of wheat from Syria is equal (in value) to one sa‘ of dates, therefore, from now on, half a sa‘ of wheat should be given. But Sayyiduna Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (radi Allahu anhu) says that I will always continue to give (one sa‘) just as it was during the time of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). (Muslim) From this hadith, it appears that giving half a sa‘ of wheat as sadaqat al-fitr is the ijtihad (independent reasoning) of Sayyiduna Mu‘awiyah (radi Allahu anhu). The clarification of this issue is coming in the next chapter.