397 - Issue: Abu al-Qasim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "There is no Zakat due on less than five camels that graze on free pasture (sa'imah)."
Al-Khiraqi, may Allah have mercy on him, began by mentioning the Zakat of camels because they are more important, as they are the greatest of livestock in value and size, and the most common wealth among the Arabs; thus, giving them priority is more appropriate. The obligation of their Zakat is a matter upon which the scholars of Islam have reached a consensus, and the Sunnah regarding it has been authentically reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Among the best of what has been narrated in this regard is what Al-Bukhari reported in his "Sahih": He said: Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn al-Muthanna al-Ansari narrated to us, he said: My father narrated to me, he said: Thumamah ibn Abd Allah ibn Anas narrated to us that Anas narrated to him that Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, wrote this document for him when he was sent to Bahrain: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This is the obligatory charity which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made mandatory upon the Muslims, and which Allah commanded His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) [to fulfill]. Whoever is asked for it according to its proper manner, he should give it, and whoever is asked for more than that, he should not give it: "In..."
= in: "The Chapter on the Establishment of Intercession," from the Book of Faith. Sahih Muslim 1/172. And Imam Ahmad in: Al-Musnad 3/133, 134, 147, 163, 208, 269. (1) In manuscript 'M': "rawahu" (he narrated it). (2) Reported by Al-Bukhari in: "The Chapter on Not Combining Separated Property and Not Separating Combined Property," "The Chapter on When Two Partners Have Property, They Should Return the Zakat Between Them Equally," "The Chapter on Someone Whose Zakat Liability Reaches a Bint Makhad but Does Not Possess One," "The Chapter on Zakat of Sheep," and "The Chapter on Not Taking an Old or Defective Animal for Zakat..." from the Book of Zakat, and in: "The Chapter on Zakat and Not Separating Combined Property..." from the Book of Legal Stratagems (Hiyal). Sahih al-Bukhari 2/144, 145, 146, 147, 9/29. It was also reported by Abu Dawud in: "The Chapter on Zakat of Grazing Livestock," from the Book of Zakat 1/358-360. And Al-Nasa'i in: "The Chapter on Zakat of Camels," and "The Chapter on Zakat of Sheep," from the Book of Zakat. Al-Mujtaba 5/13, 14, 19, 20. And Ibn Majah in: "The Chapter on If the Zakat Collector Takes an Animal of a Younger or Older Age Group," from the Book of Zakat. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/575. And Imam Ahmad in manuscript 'M': Al-Musnad 1/11, 12. (3) In manuscript 'M': "and His Messenger". (4) In manuscript 'M': "from". (5) Omitted from manuscript 'M'.
