up to nine. For 10 camels, the due zakat is 2 sheep, up to 14. For 15, it is 3 sheep, up to 19. For 20, 4 sheep, up to 24. When the herd reaches 25, one bint makhāḍ (a year-old she-camel) is due, up to 35; if no bint makhāḍ is available, a male ibn labūn (a two-year-old camel) is taken, and if he has neither, the owner must purchase and provide a bint makhāḍ.

For 36 camels, one bint labūn (a two-year-old she-camel) is due, up to 45; for 46, one ḥiqqah is due, up to 60. The ḥiqqah is the she-camel that has entered and completed her fourth year and is fit for conception and for being covered by the stallion.

For 61 camels, one jadhʿah (a five-year-old she-camel) is due, up to 75; for 76, two bint labūns, up to 90; for 91, two ḥiqqahs, up to 120. When the number exceeds 120, one bint labūn is due for every 40 camels and one ḥiqqah for every 50, no matter how large the herd becomes.

There is unanimous agreement that for 130 camels the obligation is 1 ḥiqqah and 2 bint labūns. The jurists disagree about what is due on a herd numbering more than 120 but less than 130. One opinion holds that only 3 bint labūns are required until the herd reaches 130, and this is the correct view and the one I adopt. A second opinion says that 2 ḥiqqahs are due until it reaches 130. A third opinion states that the zakat collector has discretion, for any number above 120 up to 130, to take either 2 ḥiqqahs or 3 bint labūns, just as he is given a choice, when the herd reaches 200, between 4 ḥiqqahs and 5 bint labūns.

All of this represents the position of Mālik and his companions. The choice rests with the collector, whether both age-classes are present or not; if only one of the two is available, the owner of the camels is not obligated to provide anything else.

We have set out the ages of camels and their corresponding zakat requirements in full in al-Tamhīd and also in al-Istidhkār.