Muwatta Imam Malik (Riwayat Yahya)

It is narrated from Hazrat Zuraiq bin Hayan, who was appointed over the revenue office of Egypt during the times of Walid, Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik, and Umar bin Abdul Aziz, that Umar bin Abdul Aziz wrote to him: "Whoever among the Muslims passes by you, then whatever of their wealth is apparent from the trade goods, take from it one dinar out of every forty dinars, that is, the fortieth part. And if it is less than forty dinars, then according to the same calculation up to twenty dinars. If it is even one-third of a dinar less than twenty dinars, then leave that wealth, take nothing from it. And if any non-Muslim under your responsibility passes by you, then from his trade goods take one dinar out of every twenty dinars, and if it is less, then according to the same calculation up to ten dinars. If it is even one-third of a dinar less than ten dinars, then take nothing. And for whatever you take, write a separate receipt for the whole year."

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: In our view, the ruling is that once a trader has paid the zakat on his goods, and then in exchange for those goods he buys merchandise, cloth, or a slave, male or female, and then before a full year passes from the date of zakat payment he sells it, and if he does not sell that wealth for several years, then zakat will not be due on it. When he sells it, only one zakat will be required.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: In our view, the ruling is that if a person buys wheat or dates in exchange for gold or silver for the purpose of trade, then the goods remain with him until a year passes, and when the goods are sold, zakat will be obligatory on it if it reaches the amount of nisab. Its example will not be like that of agriculture or plucking fruit.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: If a trader possesses merchandise but does not have enough cash accumulated for zakat to be obligatory, then within one month of the year, the value of the goods and the cash will be combined and considered. If it reaches the amount of nisab, then zakat will be obligatory on it.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Whether one engages in trade or not, zakat will be obligatory on the wealth only once every year.