Al-Husayn ibn Said, from Safwan, from Ishaq ibn al-Mubarak, who said:
I (narrator) asked Abu Ibrahim
عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about ‘the charity of al-Fitrah, Is it from what Allah
سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, said: ‘Establish the prayer and give the Zakat?’ (Surah al-Baqarah
2:43) Imam
عليه السلام said: “Yes.” And Imam
عليه السلام said: “The charity of dates is more beloved to me, because my father
عليه السلام, the blessings of Allah
سبحانه وتعالى be upon him, used to give charity with dates.” I (narrator) said: “Then may he make its value silver and give it to one man or two?” Imam
عليه السلام said: “To distribute it is more beloved to me, and there is no harm in making it silver, and dates are more beloved to me.” I asked: “Then may I give it to those other than people of wilayah from the neighbors?” Imam
عليه السلام said: “Yes, the neighbors are more entitled to it.” I (narrator) asked: “Then may I give one man three sa’s (asyu) and four sa’s (asyu)?” Imam
عليه السلام said: “Yes.”