Is it obligatory to provide unprocessed grain (Habb) as maintenance (Nafaqah)?

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The obligatory form of maintenance is not unprocessed grain (Habb). The proof rests on the statement of Ibn Abbas concerning the verse: {From the average of what you feed your families} (Quran 5:89), where he interpreted it as bread and oil. Ibn Umar mentioned bread with ghee, bread and oil, or bread and dates, and that the best provision for them is bread and meat, interpreting the feeding of family as bread accompanied by other accompaniments (Adim). Furthermore, since the Lawgiver mandated maintenance generally without specification or estimation, it must revert to customary practice. The customary practice for maintaining families is bread and accompaniments, not raw grain. The Prophet, peace be upon him, and his Companions provided this customary food. Maintenance is quantified by sufficiency, and the obligatory item is bread, similar to the maintenance provided for slaves. Grain requires processing (grinding and baking), and if she must bear that expense from her own money, sufficiency is not achieved through that provision. This differs from expiation (Kaffarah) food, which is not quantified by sufficiency and does not require accompaniments.