Fath al-Rabbani

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had the rules of Zakat written down, but they had not yet been sent to the officials when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away. Then Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) sent that document to the officials and it continued to be acted upon until his death. After him, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) also sent the same document to his officials and it continued to be acted upon. At the time of Sayyiduna Umar’s martyrdom, that document was present with his will. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: The following details were written in it: For up to twenty-four camels, one goat is prescribed as Zakat for every five camels. When there are twenty-five camels, one bint makhad (a one-year-old she-camel) is obligatory. If there is no bint makhad, then an ibn labun (a two-year-old male camel) can be given. This amount of Zakat is up to thirty-five camels. When there are thirty-six, then up to forty-five camels, a bint labun (a two-year-old she-camel) is obligatory. Then from forty-six to sixty, a hiqqah (a three-year-old she-camel) is due. If they exceed this, then up to seventy-five, a jadh’ah (a four-year-old she-camel) is due. When the camels exceed this amount, then up to ninety (90), two bint labun will be given. After that, from ninety-one to one hundred and twenty, three hiqqahs are obligatory, and when the camels are more than this, then for every fifty, one hiqqah, and for every forty, one bint labun is prescribed as Zakat. As for the issue of Zakat on goats, from (40) to (120) goats, one goat is obligatory, and from (121) to (200), two goats are obligatory as Zakat. If they are more than this, then up to (300), three goats, and after that, if they reach (400), then four goats. If there are even more goats, then for every (100), one goat. To avoid Zakat, a herd should not be separated, nor should separate herds be combined. If Zakat becomes obligatory on the goats of more than one partner, they will divide it equally among themselves. No old or defective goat should be taken in Zakat.

Tariq says: Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) delivered a sermon to us and said in it: We do not have any special revelation or any separate writing from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). We have also been given the Book of Allah and the instructions from that scroll, which is tied to my sword. At that time, Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) had a sword with him, and its ornamentation was of iron. In it, the prescribed amount for Zakat was written.

(Second chain) Tariq says: I heard Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, saying: We have no separate writing that we read to you people, except for the Qur'an and this scroll. At that time, that scroll was in the sheath of his sword, whose ornamentation was of iron. I took this scroll myself from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. In it, the prescribed amounts for Zakat are written.

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) sent this written instruction to them (the people of Bahrain): This is the prescribed amount of Zakat which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) made obligatory upon the Muslims, and which Allah Almighty commanded His Messenger. Any Muslim from whom Zakat is collected according to this, should pay it, and whoever is asked for more than this, should not give it. (The details are as follows:) If the number of camels is less than (25), then for every five camels, one goat is due. From (25) to (35), one bint makhad or ibn labun; from (36) to (45), one bint labun; from (46) to (60), one hiqqah capable of mating; from (61) to (65), one jaz’ah; from (76) to (90), two bint labun; and from (91) to (120), two hiqqah. When the number of camels exceeds this, then for every (40), one bint labun, and for every (50), one hiqqah will be due as Zakat. If, in this matter of Zakat, the ages of the camels differ, i.e., if someone is required to give a jaz’ah in Zakat but does not have a jaz’ah, but has a hiqqah, then that will be taken from him, and along with it, if possible, he should give two goats or twenty dirhams. Similarly, if someone is required to give a hiqqah in Zakat but has a jaz’ah, that will be accepted from him, but the Zakat collector will return twenty dirhams or two goats to him. If someone is liable to give a hiqqah in Zakat but does not have it, rather has a bint labun, then that will be taken from him, but to make up for the deficiency, if possible, he will have to give two goats, otherwise twenty dirhams. Similarly, if someone is liable to give a bint labun in Zakat but has a hiqqah, that will be taken from him, but the Zakat collector will return twenty dirhams or two goats to him. Likewise, if someone is required to give a bint labun in Zakat but does not have it, rather has a bint makhad, then that will be taken from him, but along with it, if possible, goats, otherwise twenty dirhams will have to be given. If someone is required to give a bint makhad in Zakat but does not have it, rather has an ibn labun, then that will be accepted from him, but nothing extra will be taken along with it. And whoever has only four camels, Zakat is not obligatory on him; yes, if he wishes to give something voluntarily (as nafl), that is fine. The prescribed amount of Zakat for grazing goats is: from (40) to (120), one goat; from (121) to (200), two goats; and from (200) to (300), three goats will be taken as Zakat. After that, for every (100), one goat will be collected. An old, one-eyed, or male animal will not be taken in Zakat; if the owner wishes, he may give a male animal. To avoid Zakat, neither can separate herds be combined nor can a combined herd be separated. If there is a partnership of two people in a (herd), they will divide the (paid Zakat) equally. If the number of grazing goats is even one less than forty, Zakat will not be obligatory on them; yes, if the owner wishes to give voluntarily (as nafl), it is up to him. On silver, one-fortieth is obligatory as Zakat; if the silver is (190) dirhams, then Zakat will not be obligatory on it; yes, if the owner wishes to give voluntarily as nafl, it is up to him.