Accordingly, we say: If you wish to determine the Prophetic sa‘, weigh 2,040 grams of dense—that is, good-quality—wheat, then place it in the vessel; whatever volume it reaches is the Prophetic sa‘.

A Prophetic mudd was found in ‘Unayzah, in one of the ruined buildings. I purchased it from its owner for a high price. It is made of copper, and inscribed upon it is: “This mudd corresponds to the mudd of so-and-so, from so-and-so,” until the chain reaches Zayd ibn Thabit—may Allah be pleased with him—and then the mudd of the Prophet ﷺ.

We found it to be close to what the scholars stated: that its weight is 510 grams, since the Prophetic mudd is one quarter of the Prophetic sa‘. On this basis, we have made a Prophetic mudd and sa‘.

Issue: If one possesses half a sa‘ for zakat al-fitr, is he obliged to give it?

The established position in the madhhab is that he is obliged to give it. The second view is that he is not obliged to do so, because zakat al-fitr is one sa‘.

There are analogous cases: if one finds water sufficient only for some of his limbs, the established position in the madhhab is that he uses it and performs tayammum, due to Allah’s saying:

“Fear Allah as much as you are able.” [al-Taghabun: 16]

This person has found enough water to wash some of his limbs, so he uses it and performs tayammum, because he is unable to wash the rest of his limbs. This is the strongest and most cautious of the views.

The second view is that he uses the water but does not perform tayammum, because tayammum applies to one wholly unable to perform ablution, and purification cannot be composed of water and earth. Thus, he uses the water, and the remainder is waived on account of his inability.

The third view is that he does not use it, but performs tayammum, because he does not combine