#First Opinion: The General View: The fundamental principle regarding Zakat al-Fitr is that it consists of providing food.
#Rule: Establishing a principle takes precedence over reiterating it.
(The listing of various items in the Hadith – such as dates, barley, raisins, dried curd, etc. – is not a pointless repetition, but rather serves to establish the ruling that Zakat must be given in the form of foodstuffs).
#Rule: Applying the text takes precedence over disregarding it.
(If we were to always pay the monetary value, this would render the use of the items mentioned in the text ineffective, which would constitute a disregard of the text).
#Rule: Custom is binding.
(The items mentioned were the staple food of the people during the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him; therefore, the criterion is the staple food prevalent in the country).
#Rule: What is customarily known is like a stipulated condition.
(The fact that food is the customary means of enriching the poor on the day of Eid makes feeding the poor the primary method of paying zakat).
#Rule: Certainty is not removed by doubt.
(Certainty lies in the obligation to pay a sa’ of food according to the text; this certainty must not be abandoned merely because of an interpretation regarding the value).
#Rule: The default is that things remain as they were.
(The default established by the Prophet, peace be upon him, is feeding the poor, so this ruling remains in force until evidence comes to change it).
#Rule: If a subsidiary matter renders the main matter invalid, the subsidiary matter is invalid.
(Value is a subsidiary matter of food; if it leads to the nullification of the texts concerning food, it is not to be considered).
#Rule: The derivative follows the original.
(Value is a derivative of food, for the original principle in Zakat is food; therefore, the original principle may not be abrogated for the sake of the derivative).
#Rule: The derivative is based on its original.
(The ruling on paying the value is a derivative, and thus remains subject to the original, which is feeding the poor).
#Rule: That which is built upon falsehood is false.
(If the argument regarding value is based on nullifying the texts concerning food, the reasoning is invalid).
#Rule: The meaning of the text is authoritative.
(If it is permissible to pay in dates, barley and raisins, then it is even more permissible to pay in any foodstuff that sustains life).
#Rule: The concept of exception.
(The mention of food indicates that non-food items are not the default basis for payment).
#Rule: The general rule applies in its entirety until a specific exception is established.
(The hadith “We used to give a sa’ of food” indicates the generality of food).
#Rule: Blocking the means is a legal principle.
(Paying the value may lead to the text being rendered ineffective and to a reduction in the amount of zakat; therefore, this loophole is closed by adhering to the text).
#Rule: When a command relates to a specific item, compliance is only achieved by that specific item.
(The command relates to the sa‘ and to types of food; therefore, what is commanded is the specific food. Consequently, compliance is only achieved by giving the food itself; whereas giving the value in riyals or dirhams, for example, is not the specific item to which the command relates).
#Rule: The apparent meaning is to be relied upon. (The ruling follows the apparent meaning).
(The apparent meaning of the text in the Hadith is that Zakat al-Fitr is one sa‘ of food, such as dates, barley, raisins or dried curd, all of which are foodstuffs; thus, the apparent meaning of the text is that the payment must be in the form of food).
