If the imam compels the payment of zakat al-fitr in dirhams, is that sufficient or not?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : If the imam compels us to pay zakat al-fitr in dirhams, is that sufficient, or do they send it away?
The Shaykh : It appears to me that if a person is compelled to pay zakat al-fitr in dirhams, he should give it to them and not confront the rulers with disobedience.
But between him and Allah, he should pay what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded, by paying a sa' of food, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded, because their compelling you to pay in dirhams is compelling you to do what the Lawgiver has not legislated, meaning what Allah and His Messenger have not legislated.
And thus, it is obligatory for you to make up what you believe to be the obligatory amount.
The Shaykh : It appears to me that if a person is compelled to pay zakat al-fitr in dirhams, he should give it to them and not confront the rulers with disobedience.
But between him and Allah, he should pay what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded, by paying a sa' of food, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded, because their compelling you to pay in dirhams is compelling you to do what the Lawgiver has not legislated, meaning what Allah and His Messenger have not legislated.
And thus, it is obligatory for you to make up what you believe to be the obligatory amount.