Is it permissible to give money instead of food for expiation of an oath, because its value is more beneficial, and due to the difficulty of finding ten needy people at once?

It is not permissible to give money as expiation for an oath, or for ẓihār, or for breaking the fast in Ramadan. Rather, it must be given as food, of the same type that one feeds his family. This is because expiation is an act of worship that must be performed exactly as commanded by the Divine Law, and there are many poor people who accept food. If it is difficult for a person to give the expiation himself, he may give its value to trustworthy charitable organizations, so that they may undertake its distribution.