Zakaat on agricultural products

Zakaah is the most important pillar of Islam after Prayer. The word
"Zakaah" means both 'purification' and 'growth'; so, our possessions
are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need. The
obligatory nature of Zakaah is firmly established in the Quran, the
Sunnah, the consensus of the Prophet'sCompanionsand the Muslim
scholars
One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things
belong to Allaah, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in
trust. Allaah also has set limits and restrictions on how to dispose
of our wealth in order to strike a balance in the Muslim society.
Allaah Almighty promised those who fulfill this duty a great reward in
this world and the Hereafter, and whosoever doesn'tfulfill it is
sternly warned of the grave consequences.
Zakaah on plants, fruits and grains
Plants and fruits are included in the types subject to Zakaat. Allaah
Says )what means(:"O you who believed, spend from the good things
which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you
from the earth..." ]Quran 2: 267[ And)what means(: "…and give its
due]Zakaah[ on the day of its harvest…"]Quran 6: 141[
Allaah also Says )what means(:"And He it is who causes gardens to
grow, ]both[ trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of
different ]kinds of[ food and olives and pomegranates, similar and
dissimilar. Eat of]each of[ its fruit when it yields and give its due
]zakaah[ on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He
does not like those who commit excess."]Quran 6: 141[
The Prophetenjoined Zakaah on the agricultural yield as shown in a
Hadeeth narrated by Muslim: "A tenth is payable on what is watered by
rivers, or rains, and a twentieth on what is watered by camels."
Types subject to Zakaah:
The scholars agree that Zakaah is obligatory on wheat, barley, dates
and raisins, almonds and pistachios. There is, however, disagreement
over whether or not all other types of agricultural yield are
exempted.
The majority of the scholarshold the view that all types of
agricultural yield )except vegetables and fresh fruits( which can be
stored, or used as regular food, or dried, and are planted by human
beings, are subject to Zakaah.
As for fresh fruits and vegetables, nothing is confirmed from the
Messenger of Allaahconcerning their Zakaah. However, it is still
recommended to give something from them to the poor and the neighbors
due to the generality of Allaah's statement )which means(:"And spend
of the good things you have earned and from what we brought out for
you from the earth."]Quran 2: 267[
Nisaab of the Zakaah:
Nisaab is an Arabic word which technically )i.e. in Islamic
jurisprudential terminology( refers to the minimum amount of wealth on
which Zakaah is legitimately levied.
Most scholars say that there is noZakaah due on plants or fruits until
they attain the amount of five Wasaqs. Five Wasaqs equal, according to
the majority of scholars, 651.4 kg. The Prophetsaid:"No Zakaah is
payable in less than five Wasaqs of dates or grain."]Muslim[
The time for paying Zakaah:
Zakaah of agricultural products isdue as soon as they are harvested.
So, it is not permissible to delay giving out the Zakaah after the
harvest of the crops. Allaah Says )what means(:"… and give its
due]Zakaah[ on the day of its harvest…"]Quran 6: 141[
Zakaah is due on plants when thegrains mature and are ready to be
rubbed off and on the fruit when it is ripened. In the case of dates,
for example, the indicationwill be their brightness or red color, and
with grapes their sweetness. Zakaah on the grains is only due after
removing the dust, husk, straw and chaff. However, Zakaah on fruits is
due at the time of harvesting. It is sinful for the owner to dispose
ofanything before paying Zakaah.
If the farmer sold his grain after it had matured, and the fruit after
it had ripened, then its Zakaah should be paid by him and not the
buyer. This is because the obligation to pay Zakaah became due when
the produce was still in the owner's possession. On the other hand, if
the owner sold his harvest beforeit ripens, Zakaat should be paid out
by the buyer.
The passage of a year )i.e. possession of property for one complete
lunar year( is not a condition for paying Zakaah on plants and fruits.
It is to be paid once only even if the rest of this kind of property
is kept, or not spent, in many years.
Combining different kinds of grains and fruits to complete the Nisaab:
The scholarsagree that the different types of one product)e.g.
different types of dates( may be added together to complete the
Nisaab. But Zakaah is to be paid out from each type separately.
Likewise, if there are different grades or qualities, Zakaat is to be
paid out from each grade, or from the medium)i.e. not the best nor the
worst(. Thus, different kinds of raisins may also be combined
together, and so can the various kinds of wheat and cereals.
Regarding combining various categories of grains, the scholarshave
different views. The predominant opinion is that no two things can be
combined together to complete the Nisaab. The Nisaab must be
considered on every category by itself. Therefore, barley cannot be
added to wheat, and this is also applicable to dates, raisins,
chickpeas and lentils. However, aswe have mentioned above, different
types of wheat can be combined together because all ofthem belong to
the same category.
The Rate of Zakaah:
The rate of Zakaah differs according to the method of irrigation. If
it is watered naturally without the use of artificial means, then the
due Zakaah is 10 % of the harvest. However, if it is irrigated by
machinery or with purchased water, then the Zakaah payable is5 % of
the harvest.
Ibn 'Umarreported that the Prophetsaid:"On that which is watered by
the heavens )i.e. rain( or springs or its own roots, 10 % of the
harvest is due, and onthat which is watered by a well or a stream
)i.e. purchased water(, 5 % of the harvest."]Al-Bukhaari and others[
In case the land is watered equally by artificial as well as natural
means, then Zakaah payable will be 7.5 % of the crop.
All of the costs involved in harvesting, transportation, threshing,
cleaning, storing, and others should be deducted before Zakaah is
paid.
Ibn 'Abbaas and Ibn 'Umarhold that whatever is borrowed for the
purpose of tilling, planting, and harvesting should first be taken
out. ]Yahyaa Ibn Aadam related this in Al-Kharaaj[