Is milk or cheese permissible to be paid for Zakat al-Fitr when staple foods are unavailable?
Chapter on Zakat al-Fitr
Al-Mughni
Book of Zakat
Primary text
It is reported that if aqit is unavailable, paying milk is permissible because milk is considered superior to aqit, as aqit is derived from milk. However, a counter-view suggests aqit is superior to milk because aqit is preserved and solid, unlike fluid milk. Milk should follow the ruling of meat, permitting its payment only when the specifically mentioned staples are unavailable, according to Ibn Hamid and those who agree with him. This allowance extends to cheese and similar items.
Supporting text
Al-Hasan stated that if wheat or barley is unavailable, a Sa' of milk should be paid. The apparent position of Al-Kharqi suggests milk is not permissible under any circumstance, as he limited payment to staple grains or fruits, which should be interpreted as applying only in cases of unavailability.