"We used to pay Salaqatul Fitr when the Messenger of Allah was among us; a Sa' of food, or a Sa' of dates, or a Sa' of barley, or a Sa' of cottage cheese. We continued to do so until Mu'awiyah came from Ash-Sham and one of the things that he taught the people was when he said: I think that two Mudds of wheat from Ash-Sham are equivalent to a Sa' of this, So the people took to that."
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2513 In-book : Book 23, Hadith 79 English translation : Vol. 3, Book 23, Hadith 2515
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