❖ Zakat on Slaves and Horses: An Explanation Based on Hadith ❖
✍ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
✿ Zakat on Slaves and Horses
It is narrated from Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“لَيْسَ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ فِي فَرَسِهِ وَغُلَامِهِ صَدَقَةٌ“
(Bukhārī: 1464; Muslim: 982; Abū Dāwūd: 1595; Tirmidhī: 628; Nasā’ī: 5/35; Ibn Mājah: 1812)
Translation: “There is no Zakat upon a Muslim in his horse or his slave.”
This Hadith refers to:
◈ A slave kept for personal service, not for trade.
◈ A horse kept for personal use or transportation, not as merchandise.
Therefore, Zakat is not obligatory on them in such cases. However, if the horse or slave is owned for commercial purposes, then they are treated as trade goods, and Zakat becomes obligatory accordingly.
❖ Position of Ahl al-Ẓāhir and Ibn Ḥazm رحمه الله
According to the literalist school (Ahl al-Ẓāhir) and Ibn Ḥazm رحمه الله:
Zakat is not obligatory even on slaves or horses intended for trade.
Reference: [Al-Muḥallā by Ibn Ḥazm: 5/209]
❖ Exception: Zakat al-Fiṭr on Slaves
However, Zakat al-Fiṭr (charity at the end of Ramadan) must be paid on behalf of a slave. As the Prophet ﷺ said:
“لَيْسَ فِي الْخَيْلِ وَالرَّقِيقِ زَكَاةٌ إِلَّا زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ فِي الرَّقِيقِ“
(Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 1409; Abū Dāwūd: 1594 – Kitāb al-Zakāh: Chapter on Charity for Slaves)
Translation: “There is no Zakat on horses and slaves, except for Zakat al-Fiṭr which is obligatory on slaves.”
This indicates that while regular Zakat is not due, Zakat al-Fiṭr is still required for each slave owned at the time of Eid al-Fiṭr.
