Is the barley in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) the same barley that animals eat now, and what is the ruling on giving it to the poor?

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: half a sa' of dates, or raisins, or barley. Is the barley meant here the kind that animals eat now, or something else? And if it is that kind, is it given to the poor in this time?

Answer:
It is the same barley. It was their staple food in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). They ate barley, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ate barley. It was not always easy to get; sometimes barley was not available to him either. If he gives it out, it suffices. We do not say it does not suffice, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave it out. If he gave it out, it suffices. The poor person benefits from it in any way: by eating it, by feeding it to his livestock, or by selling it. He benefits from it. It is barley. It is of use now. It is not something of no value; it has value. But if he gives out the best of what is available in his time, the best of what he feeds his family, that is better.