The Book of Zakah

Ibn 'Abbas (RAA) narrated that when the Prophet (ﷺ) sent Mu'adh Ibn Jabal to Yemen (as governor), he said to him:

“You are going to a people who are People of the Scripture. Invite them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that l am His Messenger. If they obey you in this, then teach them that Allah, the Glorious One, has enjoined five prayers upon them in every day and night (in twenty-four hours), and if they obey you in this, then tell them that Allah has made it obligatory for them to pay Zakah upon their assets and it is to be taken from the wealthy among them and given to the poor among them.” Related by Al-Bukhari

Anas (RAA) narrated that Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RAA) wrote him this letter, “This is the obligatory Zakah, which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made obligatory for every Muslim, and which Allah, the Almighty had commanded him to observe. ‘For each twenty-four camels, or less, their Zakah is to be paid as sheep; for every live camels, their Zakah is one sheep. When the amount of camels is between twenty -five to thirty- five, the due Zakah is one she-camel ‘bint makhad’ (a camel which is one year old and just starting the second year) or a male camel ‘ibn labun’(a young male camel which is two years old and already starting the third year). However, when the amount of camels reaches thirty-six, the due Zakah is a young she-camel 'bint labun’ (a young female camel, which is two years old and already starting the third year). When they reach forty six to sixty camels, their due Zakah is a she camel ‘hiqqah’ (which is three years old and starting the fourth). When they reach sixty-one to seventy-five, one ‘Jaz'ah’ (a four year old camel already starting its fifth year). When their number is between seventy-six to ninety camels, their due Zakah is two young she camels ‘bint labun’. When they are in the range between ninety-one to one hundred and twenty camels, the Zakah is two young she camels 'hiqqah’. If they are over a hundred and twenty camels, on every forty camels, one 'bint labun’ is due. And for every fifty camels (over one hundred and twenty) a young she-camel ‘hiqqah’ is due, And anyone, who has got only four camels, does not have to pay Zakah unless he (the owner of the camels) wants to give something voluntarily. Regarding the Zakah of grazing sheep, if they are between forty and one hundred and twenty, one sheep is due as Zakah. lf they are between 120 and 200, two sheep are due. If they are between 200 and 300, three sheep are due. If they exceed three hundred sheep, then one sheep is due for every extra hundred grazing heads. If the grazing sheep are less than forty, (even if they are 39) then no Zakah is due on them, unless he (the owner of the camels) wants to give something voluntarily. One should not combine (i.e. gather young animals together) or separate them for fear of paying Zakah. When there is a mixture of cattle shared between two partners, and Zakah is paid jointly between them, then they have to calculate it equally among them (depending on the share of each). Neither an old or a defective animal nor a male goat (a ram used for breeding) may be taken as Zakah, unless the Zakah collector wishes to do so. Concerning silver, the Zakah paid is a quarter of a tenth for each 200 Dirhams. If the amount of silver is less than two hundred Dirhams (even if it is 190) then no Zakah is to be paid for it, unless the owner wishes to do so. If the number of camels reaches the number on which a jaz'ah (a four year old camel already starting its fifth year) is due as Zakah, but he only has a ‘hiqqah’ (a she camel which is three years old and starting the fourth), it should be accepted from him along with two sheep if they were available (to compensate for the difference) or twenty Dirhams. If on the other hand he has to offer a ‘hiqqah’ as Zakah, but he only has a jaz'ah, it is accepted from him, and the Zakah collector will then pay him the difference, which is twenty Dirhams or two female sheep.’ Related by AI-Bukhari.

Mu’adh bin Jabal (RAA) narrated, ‘When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent him to Yemen, he commanded him to take a ‘tabi’(young bull) or ‘tabi'ah’ (young cow, which is one year old), as Zakah for every 30 cows. And for every forty cows, a musinnah (two year old cow) is due. Every non-Muslim who attained the age of puberty should pay one Dinar or the equivalent from the Mu'afiri clothes (made in a town in Yemen called Ma'afir).’ Related by the Five Imams and the wording is from Ahmad.

'Amro bin Shu'aib narrated on the authority of his father, who reported on the authority of his grandfather (RAA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“The Zakah of the Muslims should be collected by their water trough.” Related by Ahmad.

Abu Dawud also has the narration, “Their Zakah should only be collected by their dwellings.”

Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“No Zakah is to be paid on one’s horse (that he rides) or one’s slave.” Related by Al-Bukhari. Muslim also has the narration, “There is no Zakah to be paid on one’s slave, except for Zakat-ul-Fitr (which is paid at the end of Ramadan, and a Muslim must pay it on behalf of all of those he is responsible for).”

Bahz bin Hakam narrated on the authority of his father, who reported on the authority of his grandfather (RAA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“For every forty camels, one ‘bint labun’ (a young female camel which is two years old and already starting the third year), is due as Zakah. No camel is to be separated from the rest of the camels (i.e. the jointly owned live stock as mentioned above). Whoever gives it willingly, seeking his reward from Allah, will be rewarded. (However) if someone refrains from paying it, it will be taken from him (by force) along with part of his property (as punishment), for it is a right of Allah. None of it is lawful for the family of Muhammad (ﷺ)." Related by Ahmad, An-Nasa’i, Abu Dawud and Al-Hakim rendered it Sahih. And Ash-Shafi'ee conditioned ruling by it depending on its authenticity.

Ali (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“When you possess two hundred Dirhams at the end of the year (if you still have all of them), five Dirhams are levied on them as Zakah. There is nothing upon you (to be paid) in gold, until it reaches (the value of) twenty Dinars. When you possess twenty Dinars, at the end of the year, then there is half a Dinar levied on it (as Zakah). Any additional amount will be calculated in the same manner. No Zakah is to be paid on monetary holdings, until they have been owned for one year.” Related by Abu Dawud, who rendered it Hasan.

Ibn Umar (RAA) narrated, ‘Whoever earns any money, he is not liable to pay Zakah, until the period of a year has passed (while still possessing the same amount of money).’ Related by At-Tirmidhi.

Ali (RAA) narrated that, ‘There is no Zakah to be paid on working cattle.’ Related by Abu Dawud and Ad-Daraqutni.

Amro bin Shu’aib narrated on the authority of his father who reported on the authority of his grandfather, on the authority of Abdullah bin 'Amro(RAA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“One who becomes the guardian of an orphan, who owns property, must trade on his behalf and not leave it (saved and unused) until it is all eaten up by Zakah (which is paid yearly).” Related by At-Tirmidhi and Ad-Daraqutni with a weak chain of narrators.

And it has a Shahid (supporting narration) that is Mursal narrated by Ash-Shafi'ee.

Abdullah bin Abi Aufa (RAA) narrated, ‘Whenever a person came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with their Zakah, he would say, “O Allah! Send your blessings upon them” Agreed upon.

Ali (RAA) narrated that al-Abbas (RAA) asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to allow him to pay his Zakah before its due date, and he gave him permission to do so.’ Related by At-Tirmidhi and Al-Hakim.

Jabir (RAA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“There is no Zakah to be paid on less than five ounces of silver, less than five camels or less than five Awsuq of dates.” Related by Muslim.

Abu Said Al-Khudri (RAA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“There is no Zakah to be paid on any amount of dates or grain less than five Awsuq.” Agreed upon.

Salim bin ’Abdullah narrated on the authority of his father (RAA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“A tithe is due as Zakah, on every plant watered by heaven (rain water), springs, or underground water (i.e. watered without effort).While half a tithe is paid on what is watered by irrigation (i.e. machines are used).” Related by Al-Bukhari. Abu Dawud added in his narration, “When it is watered by underground water (close to the surface and keeping the land wet), a tithe is paid, but half a tithe is paid when the land is watered by wheels or animals.”

Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari and Mu'adh (RAA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to them, “Do not take any Zakah except on these four crops:

barley, wheat, raisins and dates.”Related by At-Tabarani and Al-Hakim.

Imam Ad-Daraqutni related on the authority of Mu’adh (RAA), ‘As for cucumbers, watermelons, pomegranates, and sugar-cane, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has exempted them from Zakah.’ It is transmitted with a weak chain of narrators.

Sahl bin Abi Hathmah (RAA) narrated, “We were commanded by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), ‘Whenever you assess the amount of something, estimate the [Zakah] and ignore one-third. If you do not, then leave (at least) one fourth.” Related by the five Imams, except for Ibn Majah.