Which wheat Price is to be Given as sadaqatul Fitr?

Question: Half a Saa of wheat is to be given as Sadaqatul Fitr, which is approximatley 1.75kg. Now if the monetary equivalent is to be given' the price of a 20-kg bag varies between 55 and 60 Rupees. On the other hand. the price of the control wheat (government ration) is 18 Rupees. Now if the wheat itself is to be given. 1.75kg are to be given, regardless of the quality However, if the monetary equivalent is to be given, what equivalent should it be? Must it be the average quality of wheat found in the marketplace, which sells at 36 Rupees for u 20kg bag. or should it be wheat of the highest grade or the control grade? It is to be borne in mind that most people nowadays eat the control grade wheat. Furthermore, if another grain other than wheat is to be given (such as rice to barley), then how much should be given?

Answer: The actual Sadaqatul Fitr to be given is in grains such as wheat etc. The sadaqatul Fitr will be discharged whether grain of the highest, average or lowest grade is given. When the monetary equivalent is given, it makes no difference whether it is the monetary equivalent of the high. average or low grade grain, as long as it is the market value that is given. The monetary equivalent of the control grade wheat will not be valid.

What the poor person needs to be given is that amount with which he can easily purchase 1.75kg of wheat in the marketplace. If he is given the monetary equivalent of the control wheat, he will not be able to buy the necessary amount of wheat in the marketplace. In addition to this, a permit is? required to buy the control wheat, which he will be unable to buy if he does not possess one. Every poor person does not have such a permit. Since the average price of wheat here is 36 Rupees for a 20kg bag, I have calculated the Sadaqatul Fitr to be 3 Rupees and 15 Paise, but mentioned that as a precaution,3 Rupees and 25 Paise or more should be paid.

If any grain other than wheat is given as Sadaqatul Fitr, it must be given according to the monetary value of wheat, meaning that so much of it is to be given as can be purchased with the price of half a Saa (1.75kg) of wheat. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.3