The Book 1 of Za k a a t By Imaam Aboo Zakareyyaa Muhyee Al Ddeene ben Sharaf Al Nnawawee (Born 631 Hejrah and passed away 676 Hejrah) Translation, additional explanatory notes and a summary of the Book of Zakaat By Dr. Hassan Sheikh Hussein Osman,DVM Published by Daaru Al Seerah P. O. Box. 200984 - Boston, MA 02120 U.S.A.
Besme Allaahe Al Rrahmaane Al 2 Rraheeme Laws on the Zakaat of the Wealth Zakaat is an Arabic word which means (1) "to grow", because it makes the wealth from which it is paid grow and protects it from decrease, damage and destruction, and grows the economy of the receiver as well; (2) "to purify", because it purifies and cleanses the person who gives it and the wealth from which it is given; (3) "blessing", because Allaah, Most High, blesses the wealth from which it is paid; (4) "praise", for the person who gives it. The word Zakaat is reported 30 times in the Quraan, and 28 times out of these is mentioned together with the Salaat in one Aayah, therefore it is also called "The sister of the Salaat". Zakaat is a defined portion of a person's wealth allocated, by Allaah, Most High, for determined persons. Why give Zakaat? Zakaat is the third Pillar of Islam. Allaah, Subhaanahu wa Ta'aalaa, commands in the Quraan: "Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it". (Quraan 9: 103). The Prophet, Sallaa Allaahu 'Alayhe Wasallam said: "Allaah has made obligatory for them Sadaqah (Zakaat) to be taken from their rich and handed over to their poor". (Al Bukhaaree and Muslim) Who must give Zakaat? Everyone who is: 1. Muslim, 2. adult, 3. sane, 4. free (not a slave), 5. has wealth that reached the Nesaab and 6. has full ownership and control over his wealth, 7. is free of debts, 8. gives out of what is in excess of the person's necessities and that of all those who that person legally supports, like his spouse, children, parents (if), other relatives, servants, in terms of housing, furniture, food, clothing, schooling, health care, transportation, work tools, books, weapons, jewelry of women and the likes, 9. owns this wealth for 12 Islamic calendar months or more, in some kinds of wealth, such as gold, money, trade, etc.
Which commodities 3 Zakaat must be given from? Gold, silver, money, livestock (camels, cattle, sheep and goats), grain and farm products, wealth from trade and business, products extracted from the earth's underground. Nesaab Nesaab is a fixed amount of wealth upon which Zakaat is due: less than that no Zakaat is due. Zakaat of Gold and Money Allaah Ta aalaa says: "And those who hoard up gold and silver (Al-Kanz, which means treasure, which is the money, the Zakaat of which has not been paid), and spend it not in the way of Allah, announce unto them a painful torment". (Quraan 9:34) The Nesaab of gold and money is 85 grams of gold, equivalent in this month of January 1999 to about 789 US Dollars. The Zakaat on 85 grams of gold or 789 US Dollars is 2.5%, which is 2.13 grams of gold or 19.73 US Dollars. If the wealth exceeds 85 grams or 789 US Dollars, 2.5% is calculated and given as Zakaat. Zakaat of Silver The Nesaab of silver is 595 grams, equivalent in this month of January 1999 to 94.5 US Dollars. The zakaat of silver is 2.5%. The Zakaat of 94.5 US Dollars is 2.36 US Dollars. Zakaat of Women's jewelry There is no zakaat on the jewelry of women, such as gold, silver or precious stones, for the Prophet, Sallaa Allaahu 'Alayhe Wasallam, said: "No Zakaat on Jewelry". (Al-Bayhaqee 4/138) Zakaat of wealth from trade or business Allaah Ta aalaa says: "O you who believe! Spend of the good things which you have (legally) earned ". (Quraan 2:267) It is reported that: "The Messenger of Allah, Sallaa Allaahu 'Alayhe Wasallam, commanded us to pay the Zakaat from our business". (Daarqutneyy and Aboo Daaood) At the end of
4 the 12th Islamic month, an inventory is made of the business, commodities, including credits expected soon, and profits, at that day's price, and 2.5% of the total is given as zakaat. Zakaat of farm products Allaah, Subhaanahu wa Ta'aalaa, says in the Quraan: "O you who believe! Spend of the good things which you have (legally) earned, and of that which We have produced from the earth for you". (Quraan 2:267). And then he, Most High, says: "Pay the due thereof (its Zakaat)on the day of its harvest". (Quraan 6: 141). The Prophet, Sallaa Allaahu 'Alayhe Wasallam, said: "On the land irrigated by rain water or by natural water channels or if the land is wet due to a near water channel 'ushr (1/10, one tenth) is compulsory (as Zakaat) and on land irrigated by the well half of an 'ushr (one twentieth, 1/20) is compulsory (as Zakaat) on the yield of the land". (Al Bukhaaree). Zakaat is given from grain staple that can be stored (such as corn, wheat, etc.), dates and grapes (where zakaat is paid as raisins after the grapes are dried). The Nesaab of farm products is 653 Kilograms. Zakaat of minerals Allaah, The Most High, says in the Quraan: "O you who believe! Spend of the good things which you have (legally) earned, and of that which We have produced from the earth for you". (Quraan 2:267) The zakaat of the minerals is 2.5% to be given immediately. Zakaat of the Rekaaz (treasure) Rekaaz are the treasures buried in the ground in the Pre-Islamic Period. The Prophet, Sallaa Allaahu 'Alayhe Wasallam, said: "Khumus (one fifth, 1/5) is compulsory on Rekaaz"(Al Bukhaaree) to be paid immediately. Allaah, Subhaanahu wa Ta'aalaa, says in the Quraan: "Do they not see that We have created for them of what Our Hands have created, the cattle, so that they are their owners(71)and We have subdued them unto them so that some of them they have for riding and some they eat(72)and they have (other) benefits from them (besides), and they get (milk) to drink, will they not be grateful(73)". (Quraan 37:71-73)
5 Rekaaz are the treasures buried in the ground in the Pre-Islamic Period. Zakaat of camels The Prophet, Sallaa Allaahu 'Alayhe Wasallam, said: "For twenty-four camels or less, sheep are to be paid as zakaat; for every five camels one sheep is to be paid, and if there are between twenty-five to thirty-five camels, one Bintu Makhaad is to be paid; and if they are between thirtysix to forty-five (camels) one Bintu Labun is to be paid; and if they are between forty-six to sixty (camels), one Hiqqah is to be paid; and if the number is between sixty-one to seventy-five (camels) one Jadh'ah is to be paid; and if the number is between seventy-six to ninety (camels) two Bintu Laboons are to be paid; and if they are from ninety-one to one hundred and twenty (camels), two Hiqqahs are to be paid; and if they are over one hundred and twenty (camels), for every forty (over one hundred and twenty) one Bintu Laboon is to be paid, and for every fifty camels (over one hundred and twenty) one Hiqqah is to be paid; and whoever has got only four camels has to pay nothing as zakaat, but if the owner of these four camels wants to give something, he can. If the number of camels increases to five, the owner has to pay one sheep as zakaat". (Al Bukhaaree) Zakaat of the cattle "The Messenger of Allah, Sallaa Allaahu 'Alayhe Wasallam, sent me to Yaman, and commanded me to take as Zakaat from every thirty heads of cattle one head of cattle, male or female, that has completed one year of age and is in the second year of its life, and to take as zakaat from every forty heads of cattle one head of cattle, female, that has completed two years of age and is in the third year of its life". (Ahmad, others) Zakaat of sheep and goats "The Messenger of Allah, Sallaa Allaahu 'Alayhe Wasallam, said: "As regards the Zakaat for the (flock) of sheep; if they are between forty and
6 one hundred and twenty sheep, one sheep is to be paid; and if they are between one hundred and twenty and two hundred (sheep), two sheep are to be paid; and if they are between two hundred to three hundred (sheep), three sheep are to be paid; and for over three hundred sheep, for every extra hundred sheep, one sheep is to be paid as zakaat. And if somebody has got less than forty sheep, no zakaat is required, but if he wants to give, he can ". (Al Bukhaaree) Who gets the wealth of Zakaat? Eight categories of persons. Allah, Subhaanahu wa Ta'aalaa, says in the Quraan: "Al Ssadaqaat (here it means Zakaat) are only for the 1. Al Fuqaraa (the poor) and 2. Al Masaakeenu (the needy) and 3. those employed to collect the (funds); and 4. for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and 5. to free the captives; and 6. for those in debt; and 7. Allah's Cause (i.e. for Mujahedoona - those fighting in Jihaad), and 8. for the wayfarer (a traveler who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All- Wise". (Quraan 9:60) What happens to those who do not pay the due Zakaat? Allah, Subhaanahu wa Ta'aalaa, says in the Quraan: "Announce unto them a painful torment(34)on the Day when that will be heated in the Fire of Hell and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks and their backs: this is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard." (Quraan 9:34/35)