Narrated Nafi`:
Ibn `Umar said, "The Prophet made incumbent on every male or
female, free man or slave, the payment of one Sa' of dates or
barley as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (or said Sadaqa-Ramadan)." The
people then substituted half Sa' of wheat for that. Ibn `Umar
used to give dates (as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr). Once there was
scarcity of dates in Medina and Ibn `Umar gave barley. 'And
Ibn `Umar used to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for every young and old
person. He even used to give on behalf of my children. Ibn
`Umar used to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr to those who had been
officially appointed for its collection. People used to give
Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (even) a day or two before the `Id.