For many Muslims, Ramadan revives classical terms found in prophetic traditions, such as sha’ and mud. These units determine key obligations, including zakat fitri, fidyah for pregnant or nursing mothers, and explanation for violations of the fast.
Yet a persistent question arises in modern society: how much is one sha’ or one mud when converted into kilograms of rice today?
Syamsul Anwar, Chairperson of Muhammadiyah Central Board, addresses the issue through historical, scientific, and jurisprudential analysis.
Scriptural Basis: Sha’ and Mud in Hadith.
The primary legal basis for zakat fitri comes from the following authentic hadith:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَرَضَ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ نَفْسٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ حُرٍّ أَوْ عَبْدٍ أَوْ رَجُلٍ أَوِ امْرَأَةٍ صَغِيرٍ أَوْ كَبِيرٍ صَاعًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ أَوْ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ
[رواه مسلم]
“From Abdullah ibn Umar, that the Messenger of God, peace be upon him, obligated zakat fitri at the end of Ramadan upon every Muslim—free or enslaved, male or female, young or old—in the amount of one sha’ of dates or one sha’ of barley.” (Reported by Muslim)
The obligation clearly specifies one sha’ of staple food. The question then becomes: how much is one sha’?
Another narration addresses fidyah:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ الْحَامِلِ إِذَا خَافَتْ عَلَى وَلَدِهَا وَاشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهَا الصِّيَامُ فَقَالَ تُفْطِرُ وَتُطْعِمُ مَكَانَ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مِسْكِيناً مُدّاً مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ بِمُدِّ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
[رواه مالك والشافعي]
“From Abdullah ibn Umar: when asked about a pregnant woman who fears for her child and finds fasting too difficult, he said: she may break her fast and feed one poor person for each missed day with one mud of wheat according to the Prophet’s measure.” (Reported by Malik and Shafi’i)
Likewise, explanation for marital relation during fasting includes:
فَأَطْعِمْ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًا لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ مَدًّا
[رواه الطبراني]
“Feed sixty poor persons, each with one mud.” (Reported by al-Tabarani)
Thus, sha’ and mud are fixed legal measures. However, they represent units of volume, not weight.
Historical Calculations and Modern Conversion
Linguistically, sha’ appears in the Qur’an:
قَالُوا نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ الْمَلِكِ
(يوسف: 72)
“We have lost the king’s measuring cup.” (QS. Yusuf: 72)
In jurisprudence, one mud equals one-quarter of sha’. Therefore, 1 sha’ = 4 mud.
Classical jurists converted the sha’ into the Baghdad rithl (pound). Here, disagreement emerged:
- Imam Abu Hanifah: 1 sha’ = 8 Baghdad rithl
- Imam Malik dan jumhur: 1 sha’ = 5⅓ Baghdad rithl
Later, verification in Medina supported imam Malik’s position. Even Abu Yusuf, a student of Abu Hanifah, adopted that view.
According to Imam al-Nawawi, one Baghdad rithl equals 90 miskal, and one miskal equals 4.53 grams. The calculation proceeds as follows:
- 1 rithl = 90 × 4,53 grams = 407,7 grams
- 1 sha’ = 5⅓ × 407,7 grams = 2.174,26 grams (2,174 kg of Hijazi wheat)
Because sha’ measures volume, density must also be considered. The average density of Hijazi wheat is 0.79, meaning one liter weighs 0.79 kilograms. Accordingly:
- 1 sha’ = 2,752 liters
- 1 mud = 0,688 liters
Therefore, one mud equals approximately 0.688 liters, not five-sixth of a liter.
How Much is One Sha’ of Rice?
In Indonesia, Muslims typically pay zakat fitri in rice. Rice has varying densities. The lowest averages around 0.766, while the highest reaches 0.823.
Using the higher density: (0,823): 2,752 liter × 0,823 = 2,26 kg
Using the lighter density: (0,794): 2,752 × 0,794 = 2,19 kg
Therefore, one sha’ of rice in Indonesia ranges between 2.19 and 2.26 kilograms. This might vary depending on the type and moisture content of rice in different countries.
Since one mud equals one-quarter of sha’, one mud of rice equals approximately 0.55 to 0.565 kilograms.
Syamsul Anwar concludes that Indonesia’s common standard of 2.5 kilograms of rice for zakat fitri already exceeds the minimum requirement. It provides a safe and precautionary margin. There is no need to increase it to three kilograms. However, those who wish to give more may do so voluntarily. Such an addition remains recommended charity (tathawwu‘) rather than obligations.
Reference:
Syamsul Anwar, “Sak dan Mud dalam Satuan Takaran dan Timbangan Modern”, https://web.suaramuhammadiyah.id/2022/06/17/sak-dan-mud-dalam-satuan-takaran-dan-timbangan-modern/, diakses pada Rabu, 04 Maret 2026.
