Ibn al-Qayyim said: The correct view is that a single khāris (crop estimator) is sufficient, just as one mu’adhdhin (caller to prayer) or one person who indicates the qiblah suffices in their respective matters.

The Hanbali authorities add that this estimator must be knowledgeable about khars, trustworthy and upright. Moreover, he is required to leave out of his estimate either one-third or one-quarter of the crop, on account of the ḥadith: “When you make an estimate, take some and leave one-third; if you do not leave one-third, then leave one-quarter” (reported by Aḥmad and others). Setting aside that amount is meant as a concession to the owner—a view selected by the Shaykh (Ibn Taymiyyah) and others.

Sixth: Shaykh al-Islām said that Imām Aḥmad held zakat to be obligatory on honey, because of the collection of reports he gathered on the subject, even though other scholars did not judge those reports sound except through a weak chain.