Zakat on Livestock (زكاة الأنعام)
Livestock (الأنعام) includes camels, cattle, and sheep/goats. It is one of the first types of wealth subject to Zakat in Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "There is no owner of camels, cattle, or sheep who does not pay their Zakat, except that they will come on the Day of Resurrection larger and fatter than they were, trampling him with their hooves and goring him with their horns..." — Al-Bukhari (1460) and Muslim (987)
1. Animals Subject to Zakat
📋 The Three Categories (الأنعام الثلاثة)
| Category | Animals | Arabic |
|---|
| Camels | Dromedaries, camels | الإبل |
| Cattle | Cows, oxen, buffalo | البقر |
| Sheep/Goats | Sheep, ewes, goats | الغنم |
⚠️ Animals NOT Subject
| Animal | Reason |
|---|
| Horses | Not in the Sunnah (majority) |
| Donkeys, mules | Not in the Sunnah |
| Poultry | Not part of أنعام |
| Working animals | For use, not accumulation* |
*The Malikis hold that working animals are not zakatable.
2. Conditions for Zakat on Livestock
📋 The 5 Conditions
| # | Condition | Explanation |
|---|
| 1 | Nisab | Minimum number required |
| 2 | Hawl | One complete lunar year |
| 3 | Free grazing (السوم) | Fed by pasture most of the year |
| 4 | Complete ownership | Full possession |
| 5 | Not for work | Not for plowing or transport |
📌 The Grazing Condition (السوم)
| School | Rule |
|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | Must be سائم (free-grazing) most of the year |
| 🟢 Hanafi | Same condition |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | Same condition |
| 🟣 Hanbali | Same condition |
💡 Maliki Position: If the breeder buys fodder to feed their livestock most of the year (معلوف), there is no Zakat because it is considered a productive investment, not hoarding.
3. Nisab and Rates for Camels (الإبل)
📋 Camel Nisab Table
| From | To | Zakat Due |
|---|
| 1 | 4 | Nothing |
| 5 | 9 | 1 sheep (شاة) |
| 10 | 14 | 2 sheep |
| 15 | 19 | 3 sheep |
| 20 | 24 | 4 sheep |
| 25 | 35 | 1 بنت مخاض (1-year-old she-camel) |
| 36 | 45 | 1 بنت لبون (2-year-old she-camel) |
| 46 | 60 | 1 حِقَّة (3-year-old she-camel) |
| 61 | 75 | 1 جَذَعَة (4-year-old she-camel) |
| 76 | 90 | 2 بنت لبون |
| 91 | 120 | 2 حِقَّة |
| 121+ | ... | For every 40: 1 بنت لبون, for every 50: 1 حِقَّة |
📌 Camel Terminology
| Term | Age | Arabic Meaning |
|---|
| بنت مخاض | 1 year complete | Daughter of one that just gave birth |
| بنت لبون | 2 years complete | Daughter of one that nurses |
| حِقَّة | 3 years complete | Fit for mating |
| جَذَعَة | 4 years complete | Adult |
4. Nisab and Rates for Cattle (البقر)
📋 Cattle Nisab Table
| From | To | Zakat Due |
|---|
| 1 | 29 | Nothing |
| 30 | 39 | 1 تَبِيع (1-year-old calf) |
| 40 | 59 | 1 مُسِنَّة (2-year-old cow) |
| 60 | 69 | 2 تَبِيع |
| 70 | 79 | 1 مُسِنَّة + 1 تَبِيع |
| 80 | 89 | 2 مُسِنَّة |
| 90 | 99 | 3 تَبِيع |
| 100 | 109 | 2 مُسِنَّة + 1 تَبِيع |
| 110 | 119 | 2 تَبِيع + 1 مُسِنَّة |
| 120+ | ... | For every 30: 1 تَبِيع, for every 40: 1 مُسِنَّة |
📌 Cattle Terminology
| Term | Age | Description |
|---|
| تَبِيع / تَبِيعَة | 1 year complete | Still follows its mother |
| مُسِنَّة | 2 years complete | Has adult teeth |
📌 Reference Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ told Mu'adh ibn Jabal: "Take from every 30 cattle a تَبِيع, and from every 40 a مُسِنَّة" — Abu Dawud (1576), At-Tirmidhi (623)
5. Nisab and Rates for Sheep/Goats (الغنم)
📋 Sheep/Goats Nisab Table
| From | To | Zakat Due |
|---|
| 1 | 39 | Nothing |
| 40 | 120 | 1 شاة (1 sheep or goat) |
| 121 | 200 | 2 شاة |
| 201 | 399 | 3 شاة |
| 400+ | ... | 1 شاة for every 100 |
📌 Characteristics of the شاة
| Criterion | Maliki Rule |
|---|
| Minimum age (sheep) | 1 year complete (جَذَعَة) |
| Minimum age (goat) | 2 years complete (ثَنِيَّة) |
| Quality | Medium, neither the best nor the worst |
| Male or female | Both accepted |
📌 Reference Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said: "For sheep on pasture: from 40 to 120, one شاة..." — Al-Bukhari (1454)
6. Important Rules
📋 Mixed Flocks (الخُلْطَة)
| Type | Description | Effect |
|---|
| خُلطة أعيان | Same owner, separate herds | Considered as one |
| خُلطة أوصاف | Different owners, shared herd | Calculated together, then divided |
📌 Conditions for Khulta
| Condition | Explanation |
|---|
| Same shepherd | Kept by the same person |
| Same pasture | Graze in the same place |
| Same watering place | Drink from the same source |
| Same enclosure | Sleep in the same place |
| Same breeding male | For mating |
⚠️ Rule Against Manipulation
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not combine what is separate, nor separate what is combined, out of fear of Zakat." — Al-Bukhari (1450)
7. Special Cases
📋 Commercial Livestock
| Situation | Rule |
|---|
| Livestock for resale | Trade Zakat (2.5% of value) |
| Livestock for breeding | Livestock Zakat (per tables) |
| Mixed | According to primary intention |
📋 Substitution When Lacking Required Age
| If lacking... | Replacement |
|---|
| بنت مخاض | ابن لبون (2-year-old male) |
| Higher age | Give lower age + 2 sheep or 20 dirhams |
| Lower age | Receive 2 sheep or 20 dirhams |
8. Modern Application
📋 Intensive Farming
| Type | Zakat? | Reason |
|---|
| Farm with purchased feed | ❌ No* | معلوف (fed, not grazing) |
| Natural pasture | ✅ Yes | Condition fulfilled |
| Mixed (more pasture) | ✅ Yes | Majority of year on pasture |
*According to the Maliki position, if livestock is mostly fed with purchased fodder, it is not subject to livestock Zakat, but the profits from their sale are subject to monetary Zakat.
📋 Modern Commercial Breeding
| Case | Rule |
|---|
| Commercial farm | Trade Zakat on value |
| Traditional breeding | Livestock Zakat |
| Slaughterhouse / Butcher | Trade Zakat |
🎯 Nisab Summary
| Animal | Minimum Nisab | First Zakat |
|---|
| Camels | 5 heads | 1 sheep |
| Cattle | 30 heads | 1 تَبِيع (1-year-old calf) |
| Sheep/Goats | 40 heads | 1 شاة (sheep/goat) |
📋 Maliki Rules Summary
| Point | Rule |
|---|
| السوم condition | Required (natural pasture) |
| معلوف livestock | No livestock Zakat |
| Working animals | No Zakat |
| Khulta | Calculated together |
| Commercial | Trade Zakat (2.5%) |
📚 Sources
- Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book of Zakat, Hadiths no. 1450, 1454, 1460
- Sahih Muslim, Hadith no. 987
- Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith no. 1576
- Jami' At-Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 623
- Al-Muwatta by Imam Malik
- Al-Mudawwana by Imam Malik
- Mukhtasar Khalil