Payment of Zakat from Properties not Subject to Zakat

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan, al-Thaniy (a.s.), and asked him (the Imam) if it is permissible to pay Zakat which is due on grains, like wheat and barley and on gold by means of dirham in equal value or is it necessary…

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who pays Zakat due on dirham with dinar and Zakat which is due on dinar with dirham. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if a man with Zakat (that he owes) can buy clothes, al-Sawiq (prepared food), flour, melons and grapes and distribute it among the deserving people. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot…