Section
This, then, is the zakat on monetary wealth and agricultural produce established by the preceding hadiths and the noble Quranic verses. As for “zakat on livestock”—camels, cattle, sheep and goats—it is established by authentic hadiths. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) issued written instructions concerning it, as did Abū Bakr, ʿUmar and other Companions. In the Sahīh, Anas ibn Mālik reports—the wording here is al-Bukhārī’s—that Abū Bakr wrote him the following document when he sent him to Bahrain:
“In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
“This is the obligatory zakat prescribed by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for the Muslims, and commanded by Allah and His Messenger. Any Muslim who is asked to pay it as prescribed should do so; whoever is asked for more should not pay the excess.
“For 24 camels or fewer, one sheep or goat is due for every five camels. When the number reaches 25 to 35, one one-year-old she-camel is due. When it reaches 36 to 45, one two-year-old she-camel is due. When it reaches 46 to 60, one three-year-old she-camel fit for mating with a male camel is due. When it reaches 61 to 75, one four-year-old she-camel is due. When it reaches 76 to 90, two two-year-old she-camels are due. When it reaches 91 to 120, two three-year-old she-camels are due