Our foundation wants to know the quantity of half a sa', which is obligatory in zakat ul-fitr, in grams according to an internationally recognized estimation and what has been determined by the Islamic Research Assembly in Cairo in this matter. Please take into account that we follow the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.

 

It is established in the Hanafi school of jurisprudence that the amount of zakat ul-fitr is half a sa' of wheat, wheat flour, a mixture of wheat and barley flour, raisins, or one sa' of dates or barley.

- A sa' is the measure of the region equivalent to four mudds.
- A mudd is the measure of two open medium-sized handfuls; according to the Hanafis its amount equals two Iraqi ritls.
- According to the Hanafis, an Iraqi ritl is half a mann; a mann is 260 dirhams.
- According to the Hanafis, a dirham is three and one eighths of a gram (3.125).

Based on the above, according to the Hanafis, the mann is equivalent to 3.125×260= eight hundred and twelve and a half of a gram (812.5) which is also equivalent to two Iraqi ritls. Therefore, the measure of four mudds is: 4×812.5= three kilograms and a quarter (3.25).

Based on this and in reference to the question, according to the Hanafis half a sa' fulfills the obligation of zakat ul-fitr for whoever wants to give it out as wheat, wheat flour, a mixture of wheat and barley flour, or raisins which is equivalent to 1.625 kgs. One sa', which is equivalent to 3.250 kgs, fulfills the obligation of zakat ul-fitr for whoever wishes to give it out as dates or barley.
And God Almighty knows best.