camels, along with the zakat on the sheep, because what is intended is all of his property, and the text admits both interpretations.

When the wording admits both interpretations, the apparent course is that we adopt the less burdensome of the two, because anything beyond that is doubtful, and the basic principle is that a Muslim’s property is inviolable.

However, if people become persistently negligent and defiant in this matter, withholding the zakat, and the ruler considers it appropriate to adopt the other interpretation—taking the zakat and half of all his property—then he may do so.

The evidence for this is that Umar, may Allah have mercy on him, doubled the punishment for one who drinks wine, increasing it to the least of the prescribed punishments, namely eighty lashes. (1)

Zakat Is Due on the Property of a Child and an Insane Person

His statement: “And it is due on the property of a child and an insane person.”

“It is due”: the pronoun refers to zakat.

His statement, “on the property of a child and an insane person,” has already been mentioned when we stated that Islam is among the conditions for zakat to be obligatory, while we did not stipulate puberty or soundness of mind. This is because it is an obligation connected to wealth.

Thus, insofar as it is an act of worship that entails legal accountability, the stronger view is that it is waived. For this reason, some scholars held that it is not due on the property of a child or an insane person, since they are not legally accountable. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The Pen has been lifted from three, among them: a child until he reaches puberty, and an insane person until he regains his senses.” (2)