Tirmidhi

Benefits and Issues:
SR Question: Is zakat (ushr) obligatory on vegetables?
ER
Answer: Zakat (ushr) is not obligatory on vegetables.
Please consider the following evidences:

Consensus of the Ummah:
The scholars are unanimous that zakat (ushr) is not obligatory on vegetables, as:

◈ Imam Abu Ubayd Qasim bin Sallam states:
«فالعلماء اليوم مجمعون من أهل العراق، والحجاز، والشام على أن لا صدقة فى قليل الخضر ولا فى كثيرها، إذا كانت فى أرض العشر»
“The scholars of Iraq, Hijaz, and Sham are today agreed that whether vegetables are in small or large quantity, if they are grown on land subject to ushr, there is no zakat on them.” [كتاب الأموال : 502]

◈ After mentioning the statement of Imam Malik rahimahullah in this regard, he writes:
«وكذٰلك قول سفيان، وأهل العراق جميعا، غير أبى حنيفة، فانه قال: فى قليل ما تخرج الارض وكثيره الصدقة۔۔۔ وخالفه اصحابه، فقالوا كقول الاخرين، وعليه الآثار كلها، وبه تعمل الامة اليوم»
“The same is the position of Imam Sufyan Thawri rahimahullah and all the scholars of Iraq, except for Imam Abu Hanifah, who says that zakat is obligatory on all produce of the land, whether little or much... Even the students of Imam Abu Hanifah have opposed him in this matter and have given fatwa in accordance with the rest of the scholars. All the traditions also indicate this. And today, the entire Ummah acts upon this (that there is no zakat on vegetables).” [كتاب الأموال : 501]

◈ Imam Tirmidhi rahimahullah says:
«والعمل على هذا عند اهل العلم انه ليس في الخضراوات صدقة»
“The practice among the scholars is that there is no zakat on vegetables.” [سنن الترمذي : 638]

Nothing contrary to this is established.

Prophetic Hadith:
❀ Sayyiduna Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri radi Allahu anhu narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
«ليس فيما اقل من خمسة اوسق صدقة»
“There is no zakat on less than five wasq.” [صحيح بخاري : 1484، صحيح مسلم : 2266]

◈ Hafiz Khattabi rahimahullah (319–388 AH) writes in the benefits of this hadith:
“Those scholars who hold that zakat is not obligatory on any vegetable have deduced from this hadith, because, according to them, vegetables are not measured, whereas zakat in the hadith is prescribed only for that which can be measured, such as grains and cereals. Things that are not measured are exempt from zakat, such as fruits and vegetables, etc. Most scholars say this, except for Imam Abu Hanifah, who considers zakat obligatory even on vegetables.” [معالم السنن : 2؍14]

◈ Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah writes:
“Imam Ibn al-Mundhir rahimahullah has transmitted consensus that there is no ushr on agricultural produce less than five wasq, except for Imam Abu Hanifah, who says that ushr is due on everything cultivated for the purpose of land’s growth, except for wood, bamboo, hemp, and trees that do not bear fruit.” [فتح الباري : 3؍350]

Practice of the Predecessors of the Ummah:
◈ The great Tabi‘i Maymun bin Mihran rahimahullah was asked about zakat on vegetables, so he replied:
«ليس فيها زكاة، حتٰى تباع، فإذا بيعت وبلغت مأتي درهم، فإن فيها خمسة دراهم.»
“There is no zakat on vegetables, unless they are sold. When they are sold and their price reaches two hundred dirhams (the nisab), then five dirhams of zakat will be due.” [كتاب الأموال : 502، وسنده حسن]

◈ The same position is held by Imam Muhammad bin Muslim, Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri rahimahullah. [أيضا، وسنده حسن]

◈ The scholar of Kufa, Imam Hakim bin ‘Utaybah rahimahullah says:
«ليس في الخضراوات صدقة.» “There is no zakat on vegetables.” [مصنف ابن ابي شيبة : 139/3، و سنده حسن]

◈ The Mufti of Makkah, the great Tabi‘i, Imam ‘Ata bin Abi Rabah rahimahullah also says the same. [مصنف ابن ابي شيبة : 139/3، و سنده صحيح]

◈ The Imam of the people of Sham, Mak‘hul al-Tabi‘i rahimahullah says:
«ليس فى الخضر زكاة؛ الا ان يصير مالا، فيكون فيه زكاة»
“There is no zakat on vegetables, but if they are sold and become wealth, then zakat will be due on that.” [مصنف ابن ابي شيبة : 139/3، و سنده حسن]

The Evidence of the Hanafis:
SA “On the produce of land irrigated by rain, one-tenth zakat is due, and on that irrigated by animals or wells, whether the produce is little or much, one-twentieth zakat is due.” [التحقيق فى مسائل الخلاف لابن الجوزي : 962، نصب الراية للزيلعي : 385/2] EA SH Commentary: EH

This is a fabricated narration, because:
➊ Abu Muti‘ Balkhi, the narrator, is extremely “weak.” Not even the slightest word of authentication is established for him.
➋ His teacher is also, by consensus of the hadith scholars, “weak.”
➌ There is consensus among the hadith scholars that Aban bin ‘Ayyash is “weak” and “abandoned.”
◈ Imam Shu‘bah rahimahullah says:
«لأن أزني احب إلي من أن أحدث عن أبان بن أبي عياش.» [المجروحين لابن حبان : 97/1، وسنده صحيح]
◈ ‘Allamah Zayla‘i Hanafi writes:
«فضعيف جدا» “This narrator is extremely weak.” [نصب الراية :385/2]
◈ Regarding this narration: Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi says:
«وهٰذا إسناد لا يساوي شيئا.» “This chain is of no use.” [التحقيق فى مسائل الخلاف : 962]

SA ◈ Muhammad Yusuf Banuri Deobandi (d. 1397 AH) writes:
«إنه تابعه عن أنس عند البزار.»
“Imam Qatadah has followed up this narration from Sayyiduna Anas radi Allahu anhu in Musnad al-Bazzar.” [معارف السنن : 5 203] EA ↰ But in reality, no such corroboration exists. Whether this is due to lack of knowledge or misstatement, Allah Ta‘ala knows best.

➍ There is an intermediary “a man” in the chain, and he is “unknown and anonymous.”

↰ It is thus established that to claim zakat is obligatory on every produce of the land, whether little or much, is baseless and without evidence.

◈ The scholar of Kufa, Imam Hakim bin ‘Utaybah rahimahullah says:
«فيما حفظناعن اصحابنا انهم كانو يقولون : وليس فى شيء من هذا شيء؛ الا فى الحنطة والشعير والتمر والزبيب.»
“We have learned from our companions that they did not consider zakat obligatory on any produce of the land except wheat, barley, dates, and raisins.” [مصنف ابن أبى شيبة : 139/3، وسنده صحيح]

Contrary to the consensus of the Ummah, the hadith of the Messenger, and the explicit statements of the scholars, some people mention general evidences and persist in claiming the obligation of zakat on vegetables. In the scholarly world, such an approach holds no weight.

English Commentary:
1:
Although this narration is weak, since it is transmitted through multiple chains, it is strengthened and thus becomes suitable for use as evidence. For this reason, the scholars have made a specification (takhsis) of the general texts regarding zakat with this hadith, and have stated that there is no zakat on vegetables. This is established from this hadith, and it is also made clear by dozens of other narrations that during the time of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the Companions radi Allahu anhum, correspondence in writing took place between the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the Companions, among the Companions themselves, and between non-Muslim kings, chieftains, and leaders and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. This practice continued during the Prophetic era and the era of the Companions. Esteemed readers are warned against the falsehood and fabrications of the deniers of hadith; these very people are the true enemies of the original religion.

Note:
(In the chain, Hasan ibn ‘Ammarah is weak, but due to corroborating evidences, this hadith is authentic. See: Irwa’ al-Ghalil, no. 801)