Permissibility and Evidences for Giving Rice as Sadaqat al-Fitr
📚 Excerpted from: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
❖ Question:
Some scholars state that if the food items mentioned in the Hadith are available, then it is not permissible to give rice as Sadaqat al-Fitr. What is your opinion regarding this matter?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd:
Some scholars hold the view that as long as the five specific food items—namely wheat, dates, barley, raisins, and dry cheese—are available, Sadaqat al-Fitr should be given only from among them. They consider it impermissible to give Sadaqat al-Fitr from any other foodstuff.
However, this opinion is contrary to the stance of those scholars who maintain that Sadaqat al-Fitr can also be given from other food items, including monetary compensation. Hence, there are two prevailing opinions on this issue.
✔ The Correct Opinion Is:
Sadaqat al-Fitr may be given from any food item that is commonly consumed by people.
This is supported by the narration of Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (رضي الله عنه):
«كُنَّا نُخْرِجُهَا عَلَىٰ عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَاعًا مِن طَعَامٍ، وَكَانَ طَعَامُنَا التَّمْرُ وَالشَّعِيرُ وَالزَّبِيبُ وَالْأَقِطُ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Zakāh, Bāb al-Ṣadaqah qabl al-ʿAbd, Ḥadīth: 1510)
“During the time of the Prophet ﷺ, we used to give one ṣāʿ of food as Sadaqat al-Fitr, and our food used to consist of dates, barley, raisins, and dry cheese.”
Wheat is not mentioned in this narration, and there is no known authentic, explicit Hadith which mentions wheat specifically for Sadaqat al-Fitr. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that giving Sadaqat al-Fitr from wheat is permissible.
Furthermore, the Hadith of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه) states:
«فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللهِ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ طُهْرَةً لِلصَّائِمِ مِنَ اللَّغْوِ وَالرَّفَثِ وَطُعْمَةً لِلْمَسَاكِينِ»
(Sunan Ibn Mājah, Kitāb al-Zakāh, Bāb Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr, Ḥadīth: 1837; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Zakāh, Bāb Zakāh al-Fiṭr, Ḥadīth: 1609)
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prescribed Sadaqat al-Fitr as a means of purification for the fasting person from idle and obscene talk, and as food for the poor.”
Therefore, the correct view is that anything customarily consumed as food is valid for Sadaqat al-Fitr, even if it is not among the five items listed by the jurists. As stated earlier, four of these items—dates, barley, raisins, and dry cheese—were common foods at the time of the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Opinion Regarding Rice:
Based on this principle, giving rice as Sadaqat al-Fitr is permissible. In fact, in my opinion, rice is preferable in the present time, as it is:
✔ Affordable
✔ Widely consumed
✔ Preferred by many people
❖ Clarification on Giving Sadaqat al-Fitr Based on Local Customs:
◈ If in a desert region dates are more favored, then giving dates is suitable.
◈ In another area, if raisins are preferred, then raisins would be more appropriate.
◈ Similarly, dry cheese or other food items may be given based on local dietary habits.
Thus, what is best will vary from community to community based on their customary food preferences and needs.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best what is right.
