Whether the dams themselves amount to a niṣāb or fall short of it—and whether the camels are pure Arab stock, Bactrian, freely pasturing, or used for labor—all of that is treated alike in Mālik’s view.

If several lunar years pass over a man’s herd and he has paid no zakāt, he first discharges the levy for the earliest year on what he presently owns, then looks at what remains: if the residue still reaches the zakātable threshold he pays for the second year, and if not, no further zakāt is due.

With regard to the single sheep taken from nine camels, some have said that it is counted against the five while the additional four are excused, whereas others hold that it is taken on account of the full nine. The same difference of opinion applies to every awqāṣ (the intermediate numbers that lie between two niṣābs) in all classes of livestock.

As for the sheep required as zakāt on camels, a jadhaʿ (year-old) and a thanī (two-year-old) are equally acceptable, whether taken from sheep or goats, unlike sacrificial or votive animals. According to the established position of Mālik, if the entire flock is emaciated nothing may be taken; only an animal that would be valid for sacrifice—sound and free of defects—can be accepted. Yet Ibn al-Qāsim relates that ʿUthmān ibn al-Ḥakam asked Mālik about a collector who finds all of a man’s livestock emaciated, and he replied: “He should take from them even if they are emaciated.”

Aṣbagh said that this is also the opinion of Ibn Wahb, though it is reported as disliked by both Mālik and Ibn Shihāb. Sahnūn added that it is likewise the view of al-Makhzūmī.