The Types of Zakat al-Fitr and the Output of Barley and Other Items

Question:
This person is asking about zakat al-fitr. He says that among the categories for which there is an explicit text is barley, and since people do not eat it, the animals eat it. Is it permissible, first, to output it? And is it permissible to output sugar and other foods, such as raisins? Or is this specific to the categories for which there is an explicit text?

Answer:
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not prescribe the alms given at the end of Ramadan for this specific time or for this specific country where there are blessings and abundant foods. Rather, he prescribed it for the Muslim community in general and in all times. Some people have nothing but barley, which is their food. Some have wheat as their food. Some have dates as their food. Some have raisins as their food. And some have dried milk as their food, such as the Bedouins. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) made it easy for the Muslims to output from the staple food available to them, from these categories and from others that are eaten in the country. If the country