Mūsā, whom some declared trustworthy, while others questioned his reliability.

Al-Hasan al-Basrī said: Ibn ‘Abbās delivered a sermon from the pulpit of Basra toward the end of Ramadan, saying: “Pay the charity due for your fast.” It seemed that the people did not know, so he said: “Who here is from Medina? Go to your brothers and teach them, for they do not know. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, prescribed this charity as one sā‘ of dates or barley, or half a sā‘ of wheat (1), for everyone, free or enslaved, male or female, young or old.” When ‘Alī arrived and saw how low prices were (2), he said: “Allah has granted you abundance; why not give one sā‘ of every kind of food?” This was narrated by Abū Dāwūd (3)—whose wording is given here—and al-Nasā’ī. In the latter’s version (4), ‘Alī said: “Since Allah has granted abundance (5), be generous: give one sā‘ of wheat or other food.”

Our teacher favored this view and would say (6): “It follows by analogy from Ahmad’s position on expiations: the required amount of wheat is half the amount required of other foods.” And Allah knows best.