It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed for every male and female, free and slave, the Sadaqat al-Fitr of one sa’ of dates or one sa’ of barley. But after the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), people started giving half a sa’ of wheat. Nafi’ says that Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to give dates as Sadaqat al-Fitr; there was only one occasion when this practice changed, and that was when dates became scarce, so that year he gave barley.