It is not valid to give zakat al-fitr in the form of clothing or bedding.

The Shaykh : And it is not valid for it to be in the form of clothing, even if the garment is worth ten times the value of the sa' now. What is the value of clothing? What is the value of a person's garment?

The questioner : One hundred and twenty.

The Shaykh : One hundred and twenty riyals for one garment, not the medium one.

The questioner : Eighty.

The Shaykh : The medium one is eighty riyals, and the sa'.

The questioner : Ten riyals.

The Shaykh : Ten riyals. If a person gives a garment instead of a sa', it does not suffice for him, even though it is of greater value. All right, if he gives something else, like a bed for a poor person who has no bed, and he buys him a bed and says... from the fitrah, it is not valid. Because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed it as a sa' of dates or barley, because that was their food at that time. So if a person gives something other than this type, it is true that he has done a deed for which there is no command from Allah and His Messenger. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: All right, a man came to us and said, "O people, think about the matter. The purpose of the fitrah is to benefit the poor, and money is more beneficial for him than a sa' of food. You can give him the sa' of food, but he may not benefit from it or sell it for its full value. But if you give him the value, that is more beneficial for him. He might buy clothing with the value, or complete the value of a garment, or buy oranges or apples. What is the answer?" The answer is: We are worshipping according to a specific Shari'ah, and the Shari'ah does not revert to the opinions of people. If the Shari'ahs were to revert to the opinions of people, every era would have its own Shari'ah, every group would have its own Shari'ah, and every country would have its own Shari'ah. But the Shari'ah is one from the time of the Messenger until the Hour stands, and it does not change. So we say that these opinions and juristic preferences that contradict the texts, even if they appear good, are considered not good merely because they contradict the text. And the better course is to follow the text. So we give the poor person what we were commanded to give. If the poor person sells it or eats it, that is not our concern. Because in reality, there are two parties: the giving from the one upon whom it was prescribed, and the taking from the one for whom it was prescribed. Which is prior: the giving from the one upon whom it was prescribed, or the taking from the one for whom it was prescribed? Which is prior? The giving is prior. So reason dictates that the giver follows what he was commanded to do, and he gives what he was commanded to give. And the taker does as he wishes: he sells it, he eats it, and there is no blame on him. And by this, we know that this juristic preference is rejected because it contradicts the text. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed it as a sa' of dates or a sa' of barley. And we say: Are dates and barley different in value or the same? Generally, they are different in value; the general rule is that they are different. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not look at the value, but he said "a sa' of this and a sa' of this." This indicates that the value is not considered, and what is considered is the type of what is given, which is food. So it is never possible for us to deviate from what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to do. And it is obligatory for us to suspect our opinions in everything that contradicts the text. It is obligatory for every believer to suspect his opinion in what contradicts the text and to proceed according to what his Lord (Mighty and Majestic) commanded him. For Allah the Exalted knows best the interests of His servants. Then, if you make it money, for example, who determines the value of the money? You go to the poor person and say, "What is the value of the sa'?" He says, "Ten." I say to him, "No, my brother, the sa' is worth five." He says, "No, ten." And you say five, and he says ten. This leads to dispute. And if you determine it yourself, you may be suspected. So what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed is the truth that must be followed.