8. The Chapters Regarding Zakat
The obligation of Zakat
'Ibn Abbas(RAH) narrated that: the Prophet send Muadh to Yemen, and said: “You are going to some people among the People of the Book. Call them to bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that I am the messenger of Allah. If they obey that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined upon them five prayers every day and night. If they obey that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined upon them charity (Zakat) from their wealth, to be taken from the rich and given to their poor. If they obey that, then beware of (taking) the best of their wealth. And beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between and Allah.”
What was narrated concerning withholding Zakat
'Abdullah bin Masud (RAH) narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “There is no one who does not pay Zakat on his wealth but a bald headed snake will be made to appear to him on the Day of Resurrection, until it encircles his neck.” Then the messenger of Allah recited the following Verse from the Book of Allah the Most High: “And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allah had bestowed on them of His Bounty(wealth) think that is good for them” Abu Dharr narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “There is no now owner of camels, sheeps or cattle who does not pay Zakat on them, but they will come on the Day of Resurrection as big and as fat as they ever were, butting him with their horns and trampling him with their hooves. Every time the of them has passed, the first of them will come back to him, until judgment is passed upon the people.” 'Abu Hurairah narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “The camels on which the dues (i.e. Zakat) were not paid will come, trampling their owners with their hooves. And cattle and sheep will come and trample at their owners with their hooves and butt them with their horns, And hoarded treasure will come in the form of a bald-headed snale, and will meet its owner on the Day of Resurrection. Its owner will flee from it two time, then it will come to him and he will flee again, and will say: 'What do I have to do with you?' and it will say: 'I am your hoarded treasure, I am your hoarded treasure.' He will try to shield himself with this hand and it will devour it.”
Wealth on which Zakat is paid is not 'hoarded treasure'
Khalid bin Aslam, the freed slave of Umar bin Khattab, said: “I went out with Abdullah bin Umar, and a Bedouin met him and recited to him the words of Allah: 'And those who hoard up gold and silver (the money, the Zakah of which has not been paid) and spend them not in the way of Allah.' Ibn Umar Said to him: 'The one who hoards it and does not pay Zakat due on it, woe to him. But this was before the (ruling on) Zakat was revealed. When it was revealed, Allah made it a purification of wealth.' Then he turned away and said: 'I do not mind if I have the (the equivalent of) Uhud in gold, provided that I know how much it is and I pay Zakat on it, and I use it in obedience of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime'” Abu Hurairah narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “When you pay Zakat on your wealth, then you have done what is required to you.” Fatima bint Qais narrated that: she heard him, meaning the Prophet say: “There is nothing due on wealth other then Zakat.”
Zakat on silver and gold
Ali narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “I have exempted you from having to pay Zakat on horses and slaves, bring one quarter of one-tenth of every forty Dirhan: one Dirham.” Ibn 'Umar and 'Aishah narrated that: that from every twenty Dinar or more. The Prophet used to take half a Dinar and from forty Dinar, one Dinar.
One who acquires wealth
It was narrated that : Aishah said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) say: 'There is not Zakat on wealth until Hawl (one year) has passed.' ”
Wealth on which Zakat is required
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri narrated that : he heard the Prophet say: ”There is no sadaqah on anything less than five Awsaq of dates, five Awaq of silver and five camels.” It was narrated from Jabir bin 'Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "There is no Sadaqah on less than five camels; there is no Sadaqah on less than five Awaq; and there is no Sadaqah on less than five Awsaq."
Paying Zakat before it is due
Ali bin Abu Talib narrated that : Abbas asked the Prophet about paying his Sadaqah before it is due, and he granted him permission to do that.
What is to be said when Zakat is paid
Abdullah bin Abu Awfa said: “Whenever a man brought Sadaqah to the Messenger of Allah, he would bless him. I brought him the Sadaqah of my wealth and he said: 'Allhumma, salli ala ali abi awfa(O Allah! Send blessing upon the family of Abu Awfa).' ” Abu Hurairah narrated that : the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: “When you give Zakat, do not forget its reward, and say 'Allahummaj-'alha maghnaman wa la taj-'alha maghrama (O Allah! Make it a gain and do not make it a loss).' ” (Maudu')
Sadaqah due on camels
Ibn Shihab narrated from Salim bin Abdullah, from his father, from the Prophet(ﷺ): Ibn Shihab said: “Salim read to me a letter that the Messenger of Allah had written concerning Sadaqat, before Allah caused him to pass away, in which it was said: 'For five camels one sheep; for ten, two sheep; for twenty, four sheep. For twenty five, a Bint Makhad(a one year old she-camel), up to thirty-five; if there is no Bint Makhad, then a Bin Labun ( a two-year-old male camel). If there are more than thirty-five even one, then a Bint Labun ( a two-year-old she-camel) must be given up to forty-five. If there are more than forty-five, even one, then a Hiqqah (a three-year-old she-camel), up to sixty camels. If there are more than sixty, even one more, then a Jadha'ah ( a four-year-old she-camel) must be given, up to seventy-five. If there are more than seventy-five, even one more, then two Bint Labun must be given, upto ninety. If there are more than ninety, even one more, then two Hiqqah must be given, up to one hundred and twenty. If there are many camels, then for each fifty, one Hiqqah must be given and for each forty a Bint Labun' ” It was narrated that: that Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri said: “The Messenger of Allah said: 'There is no Sadaqah on any less then five camels, or for four. If the number of camels reaches five then one sheep must be given, up to nine. If the number reaches ten, then two sheep must be given, up to fourteen. If the number reaches fifteen, then three sheep must be given, up to nineteen. If the number reaches twenty, then four sheep must be given, up to twenty-four. If the number reaches twenty-five, then a Bint Makhad (a one year old she-camel), must be given up to thirty-five; if there is not Bint Makhad, then a Bin Labun (a two-year-old male camel). If there are more camels then a Bint Labun (a two-year-old she-camel) up to forty-five. If there are more camels then a Hiqqah (a three-year-old she-camel) must be given up to sixty. If there are more camels then a Jadha'ah (a five-year-old she-camel) must be given up to seventy-five. If there are more camels, then two Bint Labun must be given, up to ninety. If there are more camels, then two Hiqqah must be given, up to one hundred and twenty. The for each fifty, one Hiqqah, and for each forty, a Bint Labun.' ”
When the Zakat collector receives an animal that is one year younger or one year older than required
Anas bin Malik narrated that: Abu Bakr Siddiq wrote to him: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This is the obligation of Sadaqah which the Messenger of Allah enjoined upon the Muslims, as Allah commanded the Messenger of Allah. The ages of camels to be given (in Zakat) may be made up in sheep. So if a man has camels on which the Sadaqah is a Jadha'ah (a four-year-old she-camel) and he does not have a Jadha'ah but he has a Hiqqah (a three year old she-camel), then the Hiqqah should be accepted from him, and two sheep should be given (in addition), if they are readily available, or twenty Dirham. If a man has camels on which the Sadaqah is a Hiqqah, and he only has a Bin Labun( a two-year-old she-camel), then the Bint Labun should be accepted from him, along with two sheep or twenty Dirhams.If a man has camels on which the sadaqah is a Bint Labun, and he does not have one, but he has a Hiqqah, then it should be accepted from him, and the Zakat collector should give him back twenty Dirham or two sheep. If a man has camels on which Sadaqah is a Bint Labun, and he does not have one, but he has a Bint Makhad(a one-year-old she-camel), then the Bint Makhad should be accepted from him, along with twenty Dirham or two sheep. If a man has camels on which the Sadaqah is a Bint Makhad, and he does not have one, but he has a Bint Labun, then the Bint Labun should be accepted from him, and the Zakat collector should give him back twenty Dirhams or two sheep. Whoever does not have a Bint Makhad, but he has a Bint Labun (a two-year-old male camel), then it should be accepted from him and nothing else should be given along with it.' ”
What kind of camels should be taken
It was narrated that: Suwaid bin Ghafalah said: ”The Zakah collector of the Prophet came to us, and I took him by the hand and read in his order: 'Do not gather separate herds and do not separate herd for fear of Sadaqah'. A man brought him a huge, fat she-camel, but he refused to accept it. So he brought him another of lower quality and he accepted it. He said: 'What land would shelter me, if I came to the Messenger of Allah having taken the nest of a Muslim man's camels?' ” Jarir bin Abdullah narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “The Zakat collector should not come back unless the people are pleased with him.”
Sadaqah due on cattle
It was narrated that: Suwa Mu'adh bin Jabal said: “The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) send me to Yemen and commanded me; for every forty cows, to take a Musinnah and for every thirty, a Tabi or Tabi'ah.” Abdullah narrated that: the Prophet said: “For every thirty cattle, Tabi or Tabi'ah and for every forty a Musinnah.”
Sadaqah due on sheep
It was narrated from Ibn Shihab, from Salim bin Abdullah, from his father, from the Messenger of Allah: Salim said: “My father read to me a letter that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had written about Sadaqat before Allah caused him to pass away. I read in it: 'For forty sheep, one sheep, up to one hundred and twenty. If there is more than that - even one - then two sheep, up to two hundred, If there is one more than that - even one = then three sheep, up to three hundred. If there are many sheep, then for each hundred, one sheep.' And I read in it: 'Separate flocks should not be combined, and a combined flock should not be separated.' And I read in it: 'And a male goat should not be taken for Sadaqah, nor a decrepit nor defective animal.' ” Ibn Umar narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “The Sadaqah of Muslims should be taken at their watering places.” Ibn Umar narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “For forty sheep, one sheep up to one hundred and twenty. If there is one more. Then two sheep, up to two hundred. If there is one more, then three sheep, up to three hundred. If there are more than that, then for every hundred one sheep. Do not separate combined flock and do not combine separate flocks for fear of Sadaqah. Each partner (who has a share in the flock) should pay in proportion to his shares. And the Zakat collector should not accept any decrepit or defective animal, nor any male goat, unless he wishes to.”
What was narrated concerning the collectors of Zakat
Anas bin Malik narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “The one who is unjust in Sadaqah is like the one who withholds it.” It was narrated that: Rafi bin Khadij said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'The person who is appointed to collect the Sadaqah - who does so with sincerity and fairness is like one who foes out to fight for the sake of Allah, until he returns to the house.' ” Abdullah bin Unais said that he and Umar bin Khattab were speaking about Sadaqah one day, and: Umar bin Khattab said: “Did you not hear the Messenger of Allah when he mentioned Ghulul with the Sadaqah (and said): 'Whoever steals a camel or a sheep from it, he will be brought carrying it on the Day of Resurrection?' ” Abdullah bin Unais said: “Yes.” Ibrahim bin Ata, the freed slave of Imran bin Husain, said: “My father told me that 'Imran bin Hussain was appointed to collect the Sadaqah. When he came back, it was said to him: 'Where is the wealth?' He said: 'Was it for wealth that you sent me? We took it from where we used to take it at the time of the Messenger of Allah, and we distributed it where we used to distribute it.' ”
Sadaqah due on horses and slaves
Abu Huraitah narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “The Muslim is not obliged to pay Sadaqah on his slave not his horse.” Ali narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “I have exempted you from having to pay Sadaqah on horses and slaves.”
Wealth on which Zakat is due
Mu'adh bin Jabal narrated that: the Messenger of Allah sent him to Yemen and said to him: “Take grains from grains, sheep from sheep, camels from camels and cows from cows” It was narrated from Amr bin: Shu'aib, form his father, that his grandfather said: “The Messenger of Allah only prescribed Zakat on these five things: wheat, barley, dates, raisins and corn.”
Sadaqah due on crops and fruits
Abu Hurairah narrated that: the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “For crops that are irrigated by the sky (i.e. rain) and springs, one-tenth. For those that are irrigated by watering, one half of one-tenth.” Salim narrated that: that his Father said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'For whatever is irrigated by the sky, rivers and springs, or draws up water from deep roots, one-tenth. For whatever is irrigated by animals (i.e. by artificial means) one half of one-tenth.' ” It was narrated that: Mu'adh bin Jabal said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me to Yemen and commanded me to take one-tenth of that which was irrigated by deep roots, and to take one half of one-tenth of that which was irrigated by means of buckets.”
Assessment of date palms and grapevines
Attab bin Asid narrated that: the Prophet used to send to the people one who would assess their vineyards and fruits. Ibn Abbas narrated that: when the Prophet conquered Khaibar, he stipulated that the land, and all the yellow and white, meaning gold and silver belonged to him. The people of Khaibar said to him: “We know the land better, so give it to us so that we may work the land, and you will have half of its produce and we will have half.” He maintained that, he gave it to them on that basis. When the time for the date harvest came, he sent Ibn Rawahah to them. He assesses the date palms, and he said: “For this tree, such and such (amount).” They said: “You are demanding too much of us, O Ibn Rawahah!” He said: “This is my assessment and I will give you half of what I say.” They said: “This is fair, and fairness is what haven and earth are based on.” They said: “We Agree to take (accept) what you say.”
Prohibition of giving the worst of one's wealth as sadaqah
It was narrated that: Awf bin Malik Al-Ashja'i said: “The Messenger of Allah went out, and a man had hung up one or more bunches of dates. He (the Prophet) had a stick in his hand and he started hitting that bunch of dates repeatedly, saying: 'If the owner of these dates wanted to give in charity, he should have given something better than these. The owner of this charity will eat rotten and shriveled dates on the Day of Resurrection.' ” It was narrated that: Bara bin Azib said concerning the Verse: “And of that which We have priduced from the earth for you, and don not aim at that which is bad to spend from it. ” [Al-Baqarah 2:267] “This was revealed concerning the Ansar. At the time of the new date-palm harvest, they would take a bunch of dates that were beginning to ripen and hang it on a rope between two of the pillars in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and the poor emigrants would eat from it.” One of them deliberately mixed a bunch containing rotten and shriveled dates, and thought this was permissible because of the large number of dates that had been put there. So the following was revealed about the one who did that: '… and do not aim at that which is bad to spend from it'. Meaning do not seek out the rotten and shriveled dates to give in charity: '…(thought) you would not accept it save if you close your eyes and tolerate therein.' Meaning, if you were given this as a gift you would only accept it because you felt embarrassed, and you would get angry that he had sent something of which you have no need. And know that Allah has no need of your charity.”
Zakat due on honey
It was narrated that: Abu Sayyarah Al-Muta said: “I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! I have bees.' He said: 'Give one-tenth.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah!' Protect it for me.' And he protected it for me.” Abdullah bin 'Amr narrated that: the Prophet took one-tenth of honey (as Zakat).
Sadaqat al-Fitr
Ibn Umar narrated that: the Messenger of Allah enjoined Zakatul-Fitr, one Sa of dates or one Sa of barley.Abdullah said: The people made two Mudd (equal to half of a Sa) of wheat as its equivalent. It was narrated that: Umar said: “The Messenger of Allah enjoined Sadaqatul-Fitr, one Sa, of barley or one Sa of dates for every Muslim, free or slave, male or female.” It was narrated that: Ibn Abbas said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) enjoined Zakatul-Fitr as a purification for the fasting person from idle talk and obscenities, and to feed the poor. Whoever pays it before the (Eid) prayer, it is an accepted Zakah, and whoever pays it after the prayer, it is (ordinary) charity.” It was narrated that: Qais bin Sa'ad said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) enjoined Sadaqatul-Fitr upon is before (the command of) Zakat was revealed. He neither ordered us (to pay) nor forbade us (from paying it), so we did it.” It was narrated that: Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri said: “We used to pay Zakatul-Fitr when the Messenger of Allah was among us, one Sa of food, one Sa of dates, one Sa of barley, one Sa of sun-baked cottage cheese, one Sa of raisins. We continued to do that until Mu'awiyah came to us in Al-Madinah. One of the things he said to the people was: 'I think that two Mudd wheat from Sham is equivalent to one Sa of this (i.e. dates).' So the people followed that.”Abu Sa'eed said: “I'll continue to pay it as I used to pay it at the time of Messenger of Allah for as long as I live.” It was narrated from Ammar bin Sa'eed, the Mu'adhdhin of the Messenger of Allah from his father,: that the Messenger of Allah enjoined Sadaqatul-Fitr, one Sa of dates, one Sa of barley, or one Sa of Sult (a kind of barley without skin on it, resembling wheat).
`Ushr and Kharaj
It was narrated: that Ala bin Hadrami said: “The Messenger of Allah sent me to Bahrain or Hajar. I used to go to a garden that was shared by some brothers, one of whom had become Muslim. I would take the Ushr (one-tenth of the harvest) from the Muslim, and Kharaj from the Mushrik.”
A Wasq is sixty Sa`
Abu Sa'eed narrated and attributed to the Prophet: “A Wasq is sixty Sa.” It was narrated that: Jabir bin Abdullah said: “The Messenger of Allah said: 'A Wasq is sixty Sa.' ”
Giving charity to relatives
It was narrated that: Zainab, the wife of Abdullah said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'Will it be accepted as charity on my part if I spend on my husband and the orphans in my care?' The Messenger of Allah said: 'She will have two rewards, the reward for charity and the reward for upholding ties of kinship.'” It was narrated that: Umm Salamah said: “The Messenger of Allah enjoined charity upon us. Zainab, the wife of Abdullah said: 'Will it be accepted as charity on my part if I give charity to my husband who is poor, and to the children of a brother of mine who are orphans, spending such and such on them, and in all circumstances?' He said: 'Yes.'”
Begging is disliked
It was narrated from Hisham bin Urwah, from his father, that: his grandfather said: “The Messenger of Allah said: 'If one of you were to take his rope (or ropes) and go to the mountains, and bring a bundle of firewood on his back to sell, and thus become independent of means, that would be better for him than begging from people who may either give him something or not give him anything.'” Abdur-Rahman bin Yazid narrated that: Thawban said: “The Messenger of Allah said: 'Who will commit himself to one thing, I will guarantee him paradise?' I said: 'I will.' He said: 'Do not ask people for anything.' So Thawban would drop his whip while he was on his mount, and he would not say to anyone: 'Get that for me' rather he would dismount and grab it.”
One who asks when he is not in need
Abu Hurairah narrated that: the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: “Whoever begs from people so as to accumulate more riches, he is asking for alive coal from hell, so let him ask for a lot or a little.” Abu Hurairah narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “Charity is not permissible for a rich person, or for one who is strong and healthy. ” Abdullah bin Mas'ud narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever begs when he has enough to suffice him, his begging will come on the Day of Resurrection like lacerations on his face. ” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah, what is sufficient for him?” He said: “Fifty Dirham or their value in gold.”
For whom is charity permissible
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “Charity is not permissible for a rich man except in five cases: One who is appointed to collect it, a warrior fighting in the cause of Allah, a rich man who buys it with his own money, a poor man who receives the charity and gives it as a gift to a rich man, and a debtor.”
The virtue of charity
Sa'eed bin Yasar narrated that: he heard Abu Hurairah say: “The Messenger of Allah said: 'No one gives charity from good sources - for Allah does not accept anything but that which is good - but the Most Merciful takes it in His right hand, even if it is a date, and it flourishes in the Hand of the Most Merciful until it becomes bigger than a mountain and he tends it as anyone of you would tend to his colt (i.e., young pony) or his young (weaned) camel.'” Adi bin Hatim narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “Each one of you will be spoken to by his lord, with no mediator between them. He will look in from of him and the fire will be facing him. He will look to his right and will not see anything but something that he had sent on before. He will look to his left and will not see anything but something that he had sent on before. Whoeever among you can save himself in Fire, even with half a date, let him do so.” Salman bin Amir Dabbi narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “Charity given to the poor is charity, and that given to a relative is two things: charity and upholding the ties of kinship.”