The ruling on paying the value of zakat al-fitr in money

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. Is it permissible to pay the value in zakat al-fitr, since it may be more beneficial for the recipients or the poor?

Answer:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that it be paid out in food, and he did not command that it be paid out in money. Money existed at that time, so the fact that he specified food means that it is not permissible to deviate from that. Also,
people need food on the day of the festival, whereas with money they may not find anything to buy with it, because the shops are closed and people are free for the day of the festival. So food is given so that they can eat from it and be generous with it on this day. And what indicates that nothing other than food is permissible is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) measured it by the sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg).
He said: or a sa' of dried curds. He measured it by the sa'. This indicates that it is to be from other than money, specifically from food.
Likewise, money is a secret charity, whereas measuring food, taking it out, buying it, measuring it, taking it out, and delivering it to the needy is an open charity. Zakat al-fitr is to be an open charity. If it were paid out in money, it would be a hidden charity. Allah made it an open charity on this day.
This is among the wisdoms in paying it out specifically in food, and it is not sufficient to pay it out in money. It was said to Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) that some people pay it out in money and that so-and-so holds the view of paying it out in money. He said: "They leave the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and follow the opinion of so-and-so." This is Imam Ahmad's (may Allah have mercy on him) disapproval of contradicting the text and deviating from it. Yes.