based on instruction received from the Prophet. His statement that he had heard nothing from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, concerning fewer than thirty indicates that he had heard from him concerning thirty and forty.

Explanation: An ibn makhād (one-year-old male camel) has completed one year and entered its second. An ibn labūn (two-year-old male camel) has completed two years and entered its third. This is because a she-camel suckles her calf during the first year, then becomes pregnant in the second, or is classed with pregnant camels even if she does not conceive. A she-camel does not conceive every year; rather, she is pregnant one year and suckles her calf the next. Thus, in its second year, her calf is called an ibn makhād, because its mother suckled it during the first year and then became pregnant in the second. In its third year, it is called an ibn labūn, because its mother suckled it during the first year, became pregnant in the second, and gave birth in the third. She then produces milk, so her calf from the first pregnancy is called an ibn labūn. A hiqqa (three-year-old she-camel) has completed three years and entered its fourth, becoming fit to carry loads and to be covered by a breeding male. A jadha‘a (four-year-old she-camel) has completed four years and entered its fifth. This is the oldest age category taken as zakat.

The wording, “For grazing sheep and goats,” does not indicate that zakat is not obligatory on those that do not graze, because they are grazing animals by nature. Even if confined to pasture, that does not prevent them from being described as grazing animals. Another explanation given is that the hadith was spoken in response to a question, but the first explanation is preferable.

Regarding the wording, “No he-goat, decrepit animal or defective animal is to be given as zakat, unless the musaddiq so wishes,” the transmitted reading is musaddiq (the zakat collector), with an i-vowel. Abū ‘Ubayd said, “I consider it to be musaddaq (the livestock owner), with an a-vowel.” This is correct: if the animal falls below what the collector is entitled to receive, he may not take it under any circumstances; and if it exceeds his entitlement, he may take it only with the livestock owner’s consent. Thus, the correct reading is musaddaq, with an a-vowel.

As for the he-goat that is prohibited as a zakat payment, one explanation is that it means a male goat other than a mature breeding male. The collector may not agree to accept it, because it falls below his entitlement: only a female may be taken from goats, according to Ibn Habīb. This is also his position in al-Mudawwana. The he-goat is inferior to the breeding male and is classed with defective animals, decrepit animals, and young lambs and kids. Another explanation is that it means the breeding male that mates with the flock, whether a ram or a he-goat,