Livestock and the Forgotten Zakat Categories

Many people today think of Zakat only in terms of money, gold, silver, or cash. While these are certainly among the categories subject to Zakat, Islam’s concept of Zakat is far broader. The Qur’an and Sunnah make clear that Zakat applies not only to monetary wealth but also to livestock, crops, fruits, minerals, and treasures.

We will explore each of these categories, beginning with Zakat on livestock, which was one of the earliest forms of Zakat practiced during the time of the Prophet ﷺ.

Livestock Subject to Zakat

There is consensus among scholars that Zakat is due on:

·        Sheep and goats (الضأن والمعز)

·        Cows and buffalo (البقر والجاموس)

·        Camels (الإبل)

Additionally, according to the Hanafi School, horses are also subject to Zakat, although this is a minority opinion.

Evidence from the Qur’an

Allah ﷻ commands:

"خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا"

“Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to increase.” (Qur’an 9:103)

The term “wealth” here encompasses more than coins and currency. For those who own livestock, animals are considered part of their wealth.

Evidence from the Sunnah

The clearest evidence comes from the instructions of the Prophet ﷺ that Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) documented after the Prophet’s passing and sent with Anas (رضي الله عنه) to Bahrain. This document outlines the obligations of Zakat on camels, cattle, and sheep, specifying the required numbers, thresholds (nisāb), and ages of animals.

For example, Abu Bakr wrote:

“…If the camels reach 25–35, then a one-year-old she-camel is due. If they reach 36–45, then a two-year-old she-camel is due. If they reach 46–60, then a three-year-old she-camel is due…” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1454)

Similarly, the Prophet ﷺ instructed Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal (رضي الله عنه) when sending him to Yemen:

“Take from every thirty cows a young calf (male or female), and from every forty a mature cow. From every adult, collect a dinar or its equivalent in Ma‘āfir cloth.” (Abu Dawud: 1576)

Do Horses Really Have Zakat on Them? Scholars Disagree…

It is reported in a hadith: “For every pasturing horse, one dinar or ten dirhams (is due).” (Narrated by al-Daraqutni). However, scholars have graded this narration as weak. In contrast, an authentic hadith states:

“There is no zakat on a Muslim’s slave or horse.” (Agreed upon).

Horses in the Prophetic Hadith

The Prophet ﷺ divided horses into three categories:

1. Horses tied and maintained for the sake of Allah – their owner is rewarded.

2. Horses kept for livelihood and modest means they serve as protection without sin.

3. Horses kept for pride, show, and rivalry their owner incurs sin.

Reports from the Companions

• People from al-Sham came to ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb (رضي الله عنه) requesting that zakat be applied to horses and slaves. He consulted the Companions, including ʿAli (رضي الله عنه), who said: “It is good, provided it does not become a fixed tax imposed on people after you.”

• ʿAli (رضي الله عنه) also narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “I have exempted you from zakat on horses and slaves.” (Abu Dawud, al-Nasa’i, al-Tirmidhi who authenticated it).

The Jurists’ Views

• The Majority (Malikis, Shafiʿis, Hanbalis): No zakat is due on horses, unless they are intended for trade, in which case they are treated as trade goods and zakat is paid accordingly.

• Imam Abu Hanifa: Obligated zakat on horses under specific conditions:

• They must be pasturing (grazing most of the year).
• They must be females, or a mix of females and males.
• They are not used for riding or direct jihad.

The owner has two options:

• Pay one dinar (4.25 gm of pure gold) or ten dirhams (29.5 gm of pure silver) per horse.
• Or appraise their value and pay 2.5% (one-fortieth).

Conclusion

• The majority view: No zakat is due on horses.

• Abu Hanifa’s view: Zakat is obligatory under certain conditions.

• The stronger opinion: Since the narrations obligating zakat on horses are weak, the ruling remains as the majority affirmed – no zakat is due on horses unless they are for trade.

Conditions for Livestock Zakat

From the Hadith and scholarly consensus, the following conditions must be met before Zakat becomes obligatory:

1.    Animals must graze freely (سائمة) for most of the year, not be fed by the owner at personal expense.

2.    They are not for personal use (e.g., riding or milk for the household).

3.    They are not work animals (e.g., ploughing, carrying loads).

4.    The nisāb (minimum threshold) is reached:

•  Sheep and goats: 40
• Cows and buffalo: 30
• Camels: 5

5.    One lunar year (ḥawl) passes while the animals are owned.

Zakat on Camels

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“There is no Zakat due on less than five camels, no Zakat on less than five ounces of silver, and no Zakat on less than five wasqs (of crops).” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1484)

The Zakat due on camels is as follows:

·        1–4 camels → No zakat due

·        5–24 camels → One sheep for every five camels

·        25–35 camels → One she-camel, one year old or older (bint makhāḍ)

·        36–45 camels → One she-camel, two years old or older (bint labūn)

·        46–60 camels → One she-camel, three years old or older (ḥiqqah)

·        61–75 camels → One she-camel, four years old or older (jadh‘ah)

·        76–90 camels → Two bint labūn

·        91–120 camels → Two ḥiqqah

·        Above 120 camels → One bint labūn for every forty, or one ḥiqqah for every fifty

Zakat on Cows and Buffalo

·        Nisāb begins at 30 cows.

·        At 30 cows → One tabī‘ (a one-year-old calf, male or female).

·        At 40 cows → One musinnah (a two-year-old cow).

The same rules apply to buffalo, as they are considered a type of cattle.

Zakat on Sheep and Goats

·        40–120 animals → One sheep/goat

·        121–200 animals → Two sheep/goats

·        201–399 animals → Three sheep/goats

·        400 and above → One sheep/goat for every 100

The Prophet ﷺ did not specify the age or gender of sheep for Zakat, but he did specify this for Udhiyah. Jabir (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Do not slaughter except a musinnah, unless it is difficult, then you may slaughter a jadha‘ah from sheep.” (Muslim)

·        Sheep (jadha‘ah): 6 months

·        Goats (thaniyyah): 1 year

·        Cows/buffalo (thaniyyah): 2 years

·        Camels (thaniyyah): 5 years (some say 4 entering the 5th)

Some jurists recommend analogy to Udhiyah for Zakat, setting the minimum age at one year and above. There is consensus across all madhāhib on this requirement, though a few jurists allow sheep from six months.

Between Nisāb Levels (Waqiṣ)

If the number of animals falls between two thresholds, the Zakat due remains the same until the next level is reached. For example:

·        Camels: Between 5 and 9 → Zakat is still only one sheep/goat.

·        Cows: Between 30 and 40 → Zakat is still only one tabī‘.

·        Sheep/goats: Between 40 and 120 → Zakat is still only one sheep/goat.

Alternative Payment Options

If the required type of livestock is unavailable, it is permissible to substitute:

·        With a younger animal plus additional sheep, or 20 dirhams (or its equivalent value in currency).

·        With an older animal, and the owner will take one sheep, or 20 dirhams (or its equivalent).

·        With an equivalent value in cash.

·        Majority view: Zakat should be paid in kind (from the actual livestock).

·        Other scholars (Imam Abū Ḥanīfah, Imam Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, Imam al-Bukhārī, Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah, Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn) allow cash payment if it benefits the poor more or eases hardship for the payer.

Conclusion

Zakat is not limited to money; it covers every form of wealth that Allah has blessed us with, including livestock. By purifying our wealth, whether in the form of cash or animals, we fulfill a core obligation of Islam while supporting the poor and needy.

In the next part of this series, we will explore Zakat on agricultural produce (fruits and crops), another often-overlooked category in modern times.