Ushr on Agricultural Produce

Written by: Shaykh Hafiz Abdul Sattar Al-Hammad (حفظ اللہ)

Arabic Text:

لَيْسَ فِيمَا أَقَلُّ مِنْ خَمْسَةِ أَوْسُقٍ صَدَقَةٌ

“There is no charity (Ushr) on produce less than five Awsuq.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Zakah: 1484]

Key Points:​

1. Nisab (Minimum Threshold) for Ushr:
   
   • Ushr is not obligatory on agricultural produce less than five Awsuq. This minimum amount is considered the basic annual sustenance for the farmer's household.
   • What is one Wasq?
     • A Wasq equals 60 Sa‘.
     • According to modern measurements:
       • One Sa‘ is approximately 2.04 kilograms, making one Wasq around 122.4 kilograms.
       • Five Awsuq, therefore, equals 630 kilograms.
     • Some scholars consider one Sa‘ equivalent to 2.5 kilograms, making five Awsuq approximately 750 kilograms.
2. Quranic Reference:
   
   • Allah commands:
     “Pay the due (Zakah) when you harvest.”
     [Al-An‘am: 141]
   • The specific amount to be given is further clarified in the Sunnah.
3. Ushr (One-Tenth) and Nisf Ushr (One-Twentieth):
   
   • The Prophet (ﷺ) explained:
     • One-tenth (10%) Ushr is due on crops irrigated naturally, such as by rain, springs, or rivers.
     • One-twentieth (5%) Nisf Ushr is due on crops irrigated through manual labor or machinery, such as wells or pumps.
       [Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Zakah: 1483]
4. Modern Context:
   
   • In regions where farmers rely on irrigation systems requiring labor and expenses, 5% Nisf Ushr is applicable.
   • Expenses incurred for cultivation and irrigation are not deducted from the produce before calculating Ushr or Nisf Ushr.

Conclusion:​

Ushr is an obligatory form of charity on agricultural produce exceeding five Awsuq. The rate depends on the irrigation method—10% for natural irrigation and 5% for manual or mechanical irrigation. Farmers should ensure they fulfill this obligation as part of their religious duty, adhering to the prescribed guidelines without deductions for cultivation costs.