Complete Shar‘i Ruling on Zakat for Livestock Grazing Half the Year

Zakat Ruling on Livestock Grazing for Only Half the Year​

Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām

General Ruling:​

• Livestock that graze only for half the year or part of the year do not have zakat due on them.
• Condition for zakat on livestock: They must graze freely (sā’imah) for the entire lunar year or more.

If Grazing Year-Round:​

• If animals graze for a full year or longer, zakat becomes obligatory according to the prescribed niṣāb for each type of livestock.

If Grazing Less Than a Year:​

• No zakat is due unless they are kept for trade purposes.

If Kept for Trade:​

• Such animals are treated as trade goods (‘urūḍ al-tijārah).
• In that case:
  
  1. At the end of the lunar year, assess their market value.
  2. Pay 2.5% of the total value as zakat.

Conclusion:

• Half-year grazing → No zakat unless for trade.
• Full-year grazing → Zakat due as per livestock rules.
• Trade intention → Zakat as trade goods at 2.5% of value.

وَالله أعلم بالصواب