According to the aforementioned Hadîth it is clear that a person should give either 1 Sa’ of dates, 1 Sa’ of barley or ½ Sa’ of wheat.  Ibn Al-Humâm says that for everything besides wheat, one should give 1 Sa’ and for wheat he should give ½ Sa’.  He further states that this view is shared by Mu’awiyah, Tâ’us, Sa’id Ibn Musayyab, Ibn Zubair, Sa’id Ibn Jubair and all the Sahabah and Tabi’n (RHA). (Fathul Qadîr, Volume 2, Page 228)

An advice for the affluent Muslims

Since the prescribed amount of Sadaqatul Fitr for an individual is half a Sa’ of wheat, which currently equals to $6.00, it is very minimal for the well-to-do.  Therefore, affluent people are advised to get more and more Thawaab (reward) by paying a sum equal in value to a full Sa’ (7.5lbs) of dates, raisins or barley.  This will earn them huge Thawaab (reward) and will immensely benefit the needy.

Hadith:

Abdullah bin Abbas (R.A) said in a Khutbah (in Basra-Iraq) that Rasoolullah (S.A.W) has declared Sadaqatul Fitr to be of equal to one Sa’ of dates or barley or half a Sa’ of wheat mandatory for all men & women whether free or slave, young or old.  But when Ali (R.A) visited Basra and observed that wheat is really cheap in the local market,  he (R.A) announced that since Allah (S.W.T) has made you wealthy, it would be better for you to pay Sadaqatul Fitr according to one full Sa’ of everything .(Sunan Abi Dawood)

Therefore it is deduced that affluent and wealthy individuals should pay the added value for Sadaqatul Fitr.

 

Amount of Sadaqatul Fitr based on the New York retail market rates as of 24th  of Sha’ban 1436, corresponding to June 12, 2015:

1. Wheat: Half Sa’  (3.75 lbs.) = $6.00/-   (One Sa’ will be $12.00)

 

1. Barley: One Sa’ (7.5 lbs.) = $12.00/-

 

1. Raisins: One Sa’ (7.5 lbs.) = $23.00/-

 

1. Dates: One Sa’ (7.5 lbs.) = $32.00/-

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Prepared by Darul Ifta, Shariah Board, New York