Zakat

Ibn Mas'ud reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “No man will fail to pay the <i>zakat</i> on his property without God putting a large snake on his neck on the day of resurrection." He then recited to them the justification of it from God s Book, “Let not those who are niggardly with what God has given them from His bounty suppose…”* Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it. * Quran 3:180.

‘A’isha said she heard God’s messenger say, “<i>zakat</i> is never mingled with any property without destroying it.” Shafi'i, Bukhari in his Ta’rikh, and al-Humaidi transmitted it, al-Humaidl adding He said, “<i>Sadaqa</i> will have been incumbent on you and you will not pay it, so what is forbidden will destroy what is lawful.” Those who hold that the <i>zakat</i> is connected with the property itself have used this as an argument. It is given thus in al-Muntaqa. Baihaqi transmitted in <i>Shu’ab al-iman</i> from Ahmad b. Hanbal with, his <i>isnad</i> to ‘A’isha, and Ahmad said “mingled” means that a man accepts <i>zakat</i> when he is opulent or rich, whereas it is only for the poor.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s messenger as saying, “No <i>sadaqa</i> is payable on less than five camel-loads (wasq) of dates, on less than five ounces of silver, and on less than five camels.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “No <i>sadaqa</i> is due from a Muslim on his slave or his horse.” In a version he said, “There is no <i>sadaqa</i> on his slave except that given at the breaking of the fast.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said that when Abu Bakr sent him to al-Bahrain he wrote him this letter:

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. This is the obligatory <i>sadaqa</i> which God’s messenger imposed on the Muslims which God commanded him to impose. Those Muslims who are asked for the proper amount must give it, but those who are asked for more than that must not give it. For twenty-four camels or less, a sheep is to be given for every five. When they reach twenty-five to thirty-five, a she-camel in her second year is to be given. When they reach thirty-six to forty-five, a she-camel in her third year is to be given. When they reach forty-six to sixty, a she-camel in her fourth year which is ready to be covered by a stallion is to be given. When they reach sixty-one to seventy-five, a she-camel in her fifth year is to be given. When they reach seventy-six to ninety, two she-camels in their third year are to be given. When they reach ninety-one to a hundred and twenty, two she-camels in their fourth year which are ready to be covered by a stallion are to be given. When they exceed a hundred and twenty, a she-camel in her third year is to be given for every forty and a she-camel in her fourth year for every fifty. If anyone has only four camels, no <i>sadaqa</i> is payable on them unless their owner wishes, but when they reach five a sheep is payable on them. If anyone whose camels reach the number on which a she-camel in her fifth year is payable does not possess one but possesses one in her fourth year, that will be accepted from him along with two sheep if he can conveniently give them, or else twenty dirhams. If anyone whose camels reach the number on which a she-camel in her fourth year is payable does not possess one but possesses one in her fifth year, that will be accepted from him, and the collector must give him twenty dirhams or two sheep. If anyone whose camels reach the number on which a she-camel in her fourth year is payable possesses only one in her third year, that will be accepted from him along with two sheep or twenty dirhams. If any one whose camels reach the number on which a she-camel in her third year is payable possesses one in her fourth year, that will be accepted from him, and the collector must give him twenty dirhams or two sheep. If anyone whose camels reach the number on which a she-camel in her third year is payable does not possess one but possesses one in her second year, that will be accepted from him, and he must give along with it twenty dirhams or two sheep. If anyone whose camels reach the number on which a she-camel in her second year is payable does not possess one but possesses one in her third year, that will be accepted from him, and the collector must give him twenty dirhams or two sheep; but if he does not possess a she-camel in her second year as is required and possesses a male camel in its third year, that will be accepted from him and nothing extra is to be demanded along with it. Concerning the <i>sadaqa</i> on sheep which are pasturing, when they number from forty to a hundred and twenty, a sheep is to be given. On over a hundred and twenty up to two hundred two sheep are to be given. On over two hundred up to three hundred three sheep are to be given. If they exceed three hundred, a sheep is to be given for every hundred. If a man’s pasturing animals are one less than forty no <i>sadaqa</i> is due on them unless their owner wishes. An old sheep, one with a defect in the eye, or a male goat is not to be brought forth as <i>sadaqa</i> unless the collector is willing. Those which are in separate flocks are not to be brought together and those which are in one flock are not to be separated from fear of <i>sadaqa</i>. * Regarding what belongs to two partners, they can make claims for restitution from one another with equity. On dirhams a fortieth is payable, but if there are only a hundred and ninety nothing is payable unless their owner wishes. Bukhari transmitted it. * The principle is that there is to be no rearrangement either so that the collector may get more than he might, or the owner may give less than he might.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “A tenth is payable on what is watered by rain or wells, or from underground moisture, and a twentieth on what is watered by draught camels.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “No retaliation is payable for a wound caused by a dumb animal, or for an accident in a well or a mine, but a fifth is payable on buried treasure.” * (Bukhari and Muslim.) * The word used (rikaz) is applied to treasure buried by people in pre-Islamic times; but the word may also mean metal in mines.

‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, “I have given exemption regarding horses and slaves; with regard to coins, however, you must pay a dirham for every forty, but nothing is payable on a hundred and ninety. When the total reaches two hundred, five dirhams are payable.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it. In a version by Abu Dawud from al-Harith al-A'war from ‘Ali, from the Prophet, as Zuhair thought,* he said, “Pay a fortieth.” A dirham is payable on every forty, but you are not liable for payment till you have a complete two hundred dirhams. When they reach two hundred five dirhams are payable, and that proportion is applicable to larger amounts. Regarding sheep, for every forty sheep up to a hundred and twenty, one sheep is payable. If there is one more, then up to two hundred two sheep are payable. If there are more, then up to three hundred three sheep are payable, and if there are more than three hundred a sheep is payable for every hundred. But if you possess only thirty-nine, nothing is payable on them. Regarding cattle, a male calf of a year old is payable for every thirty and a cow in its third year for forty, but nothing is payable on working animals. * Zuhair, from whom Abu Dawud’s immediate informant got the tradition, is here quoted as saying he thought 'Ali got the tradition from the Prophet (ﷺ) directly. See Abu Dawud, <i>zakat</i>, 5. There are three stages in the <i>isnad</i> between Zuhair and Ali.

Mu'adh said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) sent him to the Yemen he ordered him to take a male or female calf of a year old for every thirty cattle and a cow in its third year for every forty. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who collects more <i>sadaqa</i> than is due is like him who refuses to pay it.” * Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it. * Meaning that the sin committed by both is similar in its seriousness.

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “There is no <i>sadaqa</i> payable on grain or dates till they reach five camel-loads.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

Musa b. Talha said he had the letter of Mu'adh b. Jabal from the Prophet (ﷺ) to the effect that he ordered him to collect <i>sadaqa</i> only on wheat, barley, raisins and dates. It is in mursal form and is transmitted in <i>Sharh as-sunna</i>.

‘Attab b. Usaid reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying regarding the <i>zakat</i> on vines, “They are to be estimated as palm-trees are, then the <i>zakat</i> is to be paid in raisins as the <i>zakat</i> on palm-trees is paid in dried dates.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Sahl b. Abu Hathma related that God’s messenger used to say, “When you estimate take them leaving a third, and if you do not leave a third leave a quarter.” * Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it. * This is interpreted by some as meaning that a third or a quarter was not to be reckoned when assessing the tax.

'A’isha said the Prophet (ﷺ) used to send 'Abdallah b. Rawaha to Jews, and he would make an estimate of the palm trees when the fruit was in good condition before any of it was eaten. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying regarding honey, “A skin is payable on every ten.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying its <i>isnad</i> is criticised and that little on this subject is soundly reported from the Prophet.

Zainab the wife of ‘Abdallah said God’s messenger addressed them saying, “You women should give alms even if it consists of your jewellery, * for you will be the majority of the inhabitants of jahannam on the day of resurrection.” Tirmidhi transmitted it. * There is a difference of opinion as to whether this means simply giving some of their jewellery, or whether it means that <i>zakat</i> must be paid on jewellery which they possess.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib on his father’s authority said that his grandfather told of two women wearing gold bangles on their wrists coming to God’s messenger, who asked them whether they paid <i>zakat</i> on them. On their replying that they did not, he asked them whether they wanted God to put two bangles of fire on them, and when they replied that they did not, he told them to pay the <i>zakat</i> due on them. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying something similar to this tradition has been transmitted by al-Muthanna b. as-Sabbah from ‘Amr b. Shu'aib; but al-Muthanna b. as-Sabbah and Ibn Lahi'a are declared to be weak in tradition; and nothing on this subject is soundly reported from the Prophet.

Umm Salama said she was wearing gold ornaments and asked God’s messenger whether that was a treasure,* to which he replied, “Whatever reaches a quantity on which <i>zakat</i> is payable is not a treasure when the <i>zakat</i> is paid.” Malik and Abu Dawud transmitted it. * The word kanz which means a treasure is used as a technical term for property liable to <i>zakat</i> on which the <i>zakat</i> is not paid.

Samura b. Jundub said God’s messenger used to order them to deduct the <i>sadaqa</i> from what they prepared for trade. Abu Dawud transmitted it.