Is it permissible to discharge Zakat liability in one precious metal using the other (e.g., paying in Dirhams for a Zakat due in Dinars)?

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The sounder opinion permits discharging Zakat due in one currency (Dinar or Dirham) with the other. This is because the underlying purpose of both—serving as currency (thaman) and facilitating transactions—is fully achieved by substituting one for the other, similar to substituting different denominations of the same metal (e.g., broken coins for solid ones). This substitution is supported because it aligns with ease for both the giver and the receiver, preventing harm and undue hardship. For instance, calculating Zakat on Dinars when one possesses less than forty might require splitting a Dinar, necessitating partnership or sale, which harms the owner and the poor. Paying in Dirhams instead resolves this difficulty. Furthermore, paying in an uncommonly used metal or denomination can harm the poor person who might struggle to use it or be forced to sell it at a loss. Therefore, allowing substitution achieves the purpose of Zakat completely, removes hardship, and confers pure benefit, outweighing any minor imagined loss of specificity.