12/4. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 985b — Abu Sa'id on Zakat of Fitr
Zakat Al-Fitr is due from the muslims in the form of dates and barley
Abu Sa'id on Zakat of Fitr Amount
Sahih Muslim : 985b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 985b
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ قَيْسٍ - عَنْ عِيَاضِ، بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ كُنَّا نُخْرِجُ إِذْ كَانَ فِينَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ عَنْ كُلِّ صَغِيرٍ وَكَبِيرٍ حُرٍّ أَوْ مَمْلُوكٍ صَاعًا مِنْ طَعَامٍ أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ أَقِطٍ أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ زَبِيبٍ فَلَمْ نَزَلْ نُخْرِجُهُ حَتَّى قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ حَاجًّا أَوْ مُعْتَمِرًا فَكَلَّمَ النَّاسَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَكَانَ فِيمَا كَلَّمَ بِهِ النَّاسَ أَنْ قَالَ إِنِّي أُرَى أَنَّ مُدَّيْنِ مِنْ سَمْرَاءِ الشَّامِ تَعْدِلُ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ فَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ بِذَلِكَ . قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَأَمَّا أَنَا فَلاَ أَزَالُ أُخْرِجُهُ كَمَا كُنْتُ أُخْرِجُهُ أَبَدًا مَا عِشْتُ .
Abd Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
We, on behalf of every young or old, free man or slave (amongst us), used to take out during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as the Zakat of Fitr one sa' of grain, or one sa' of cheese or one sa' of raisins. And we continued taking out these till Mu'awiya b. Abu Sufyan came to us for pilgrimage or 'Umra, and addressed the people on the pulpit and said to them: I see that two mudds of zakat out of the wheat (red) of Syria is equal to one sa' of dates. So the people accepted it. But Abu Sa'id said: I would continue to take out as I used to take out (before, i e. one sa') as long as I live.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 985bIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 22USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2155
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 985b
This Hadith gives a detailed report from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri about Zakat of Fitr during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. He said they used to give it for every young or old, free person or slave. The amount was one sa' of grain, cheese, barley, dates, or raisins. The narration then mentions that Mu'awiya later said two mudds of Syrian wheat were equal to one sa' of dates, and people accepted that. Abu Sa'id said he would continue giving it as he used to give it before. The core topic is Zakat-ul-Fitr amount and Abu Sa'id’s reported practice. This Hadith is often searched with terms like one sa' Zakat-ul-Fitr, Abu Sa'id Zakat of Fitr, and two mudds wheat.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abu Sa'id reported giving Zakat of Fitr as one sa' during the Prophet’s lifetime.
- The narration mentions young, old, free person and slave.
- The listed foods include grain, cheese, barley, dates and raisins.
- Abu Sa'id stated that he would continue with the earlier practice he knew.
