Chapter: Zakat on Grains and Fruits

The basis for the obligation of zakat on grains and fruits is the saying of Allah, Exalted is He:

“O you who believe, spend from the good things you have earned and from what We have brought forth for you from the earth.” [al-Baqarah 2:267]

Here, the word “from” indicates partiality, both with respect to the category and to the individual item; that is, not everything produced, nor every kind of produce.

And His saying, Exalted is He:

“He is the One Who produces gardens, both cultivated with trellises and untrellised; and date palms, and crops of diverse kinds; and olives and pomegranates, alike and unlike. Eat of their fruit when they bear fruit, and give its due on the day of harvest.” [al-An‘am 6:141]

And the Prophet ﷺ said: “A tenth is due on that which is watered by rainwater or springs, or which is naturally irrigated; and half of a tenth is due on that which is irrigated by artificial means.” (1)

And the Prophet ﷺ said: “No charity is due on less than five wasqs.” (2)

These texts indicate that zakat is obligatory on what the earth produces—but not on every thing, nor on every type. Rather, it is restricted with respect to type and stipulated with respect to quantity.