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ZAKAT ON BUSINESS GOODS → ← The niṣāb for cows

The niṣāb for sheep

Ruling 1928. There are five niṣābs for sheep.

1.
Forty sheep, and the zakat on them is one sheep. As long as the number of sheep does not reach this amount, zakat is not liable on them.

2. 121
sheep, and the zakat on them is two sheep.

3. 201
sheep, and the zakat on them is three sheep.

4. 301
sheep, and the zakat on them is four sheep.

5. 400
sheep and above, and the zakat on every 100 sheep is one sheep. It is not necessary that zakat be given from the same sheep; rather, it is sufficient if some other sheep or the monetary value of the sheep is given.

Ruling 1929. Giving zakat is not obligatory on the number of sheep between two niṣābs. Therefore, if the number of sheep that a person owns is more than the first niṣāb, which is forty sheep, but it does not reach the second niṣāb, which is 121 sheep, he must give zakat on only forty sheep, not on more than that. The same applies to all the other niṣābs.

Ruling 1930. Zakat is obligatory on camels, cows, and sheep that reach the niṣāb, irrespective of whether all of them are male, or all of them are female, or some of them are male and others are female.

Ruling 1931. In matters of zakat, cows and buffaloes are counted as one species, and Arabian and non-Arabian camels are counted as one species. Similarly, goats, ewes, and year-old lambs are not considered differently for the purposes of zakat.

Ruling 1932. If a person gives one sheep as zakat, then based on obligatory precaution, it must be at least in its second year; and if one gives a goat, then as an obligatory precaution, it must be in its third year.

Ruling 1933. There is no problem if the value of the sheep that is given as zakat is slightly lower than his other sheep. However, it is better that he give a sheep whose value is higher than his other sheep. The same applies to cows and camels.

Ruling 1934. If a few people are partners, the one whose share reaches the first niṣāb must give zakat. Zakat is not obligatory for those whose shares are less than the first niṣāb.

Ruling 1935. If a person owns cows, camels, or sheep in various places and their combined total reaches the niṣāb, he must give zakat on them.

Ruling 1936. If the cows, sheep, and camels that a person owns are sick or have a defect, they are still liable for zakat.

Ruling 1937. If all the cows, sheep, and camels that a person owns are sick, have a defect, or are old, he can give the zakat on them from them. However, if they are all healthy, have no defect, and are young, he cannot give the zakat on them from sick animals, those that have a defect, or are old. In fact, if some of them are healthy and others sick, or some have a defect and others do not, or some are old and others young, then the obligatory precaution is that for their zakat he must give those animals that are healthy, do not have a defect, and are young.

Ruling 1938. If before the eleventh month is complete one exchanges the cows, sheep, and camels that he owns with something else, or he exchanges the niṣāb he owns with a niṣāb of the same species – for example, he gives forty sheep and procures another forty sheep in return – then zakat is not obligatory for him as long as this is not done with the intention to escape giving zakat. However, if it is done with such an intention, then in case both sets of animals confer the same type of benefit – for example, both sets of sheep are milk-giving sheep – then the obligatory precaution is that he must give zakat on them.

Ruling 1939.* If a person who must give zakat on cows, sheep, and camels gives it from other wealth that he owns, he must give zakat on the animals every year as long as their number does not fall below the niṣāb. If he gives the animals themselves as zakat and their number falls below the first niṣāb, then zakat is not obligatory for him. For example, if someone who owns forty sheep gives zakat on them from his other wealth, then as long as the number of sheep does not fall below forty, he must give one sheep every year; and if he gives sheep as zakat, then zakat is not obligatory for him until the number of sheep reaches forty.
ZAKAT ON BUSINESS GOODS → ← The niṣāb for cows
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