[This ruling is] agreed upon (10). As-sa'imah (grazing livestock) refers to those that graze [on wild pasture], and it is said 'samati, tasumu, sawman' when they graze. 'Asamtuha' means you let them graze, and 'sawwamtuha' means you made them sa'imah (grazing). From this is the saying of Allah the Almighty: "And from it are trees which you use for pasture (tusimun)" (11)—meaning you let them graze. The mention of 'as-sa'imah' acts as a restriction excluding 'al-ma'lufah' (fodder-fed livestock) and 'al-'awamil' (working animals), for there is no Zakat upon them according to the majority of scholars. It has been recounted from Malik that there is Zakat on the camels used for irrigation (al-nawadih) (14) and fodder-fed livestock (12), due to the generality of his (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) statement: "In every five, there is a sheep." Ahmad said: There is no Zakat on working animals, though the people of Medina hold the view that there is Zakat on them, yet they have no foundational evidence for this. Our evidence is the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "In every grazing (sa'imah) [herd of] forty, there is a bint labun," in the hadith of Bahz ibn Hakim (15). He restricted it to 'as-sa'imah,' which indicates that there is no Zakat on other than them; their hadith is general and is thus interpreted in light of the restricted one. Furthermore, the attribute of growth (nama') is considered in Zakat, and fodder for 'al-ma'lufah' consumes its growth, unless one prepares them for trade, in which case the Zakat of trade applies to them.
(10) Reported by Al-Bukhari in: "The Chapter on What Has Had Its Zakat Paid Is Not a Treasure," "The Chapter on Zakat of Silver," "The Chapter on There Is No Charity on Less Than Five Camels," and "The Chapter on There Is No Charity on Less Than Five Wasaq," from the Book of Zakat. Sahih al-Bukhari 2/133, 143, 144, 148, 156. And by Muslim in: The beginning of the Book of Zakat. Sahih Muslim 2/674, 675. Also reported by Abu Dawud in: "The Chapter on That Upon Which Zakat Is Due," from the Book of Zakat. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/357. And Al-Tirmidhi in: "The Chapter on What Has Been Said Regarding Zakat on Crops, Dates, and Grains," from the Chapters on Zakat. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 3/120, 121. And Al-Nasa'i in: "The Chapter on Zakat of Camels," "The Chapter on Zakat of Silver," "The Chapter on Zakat of Grains," and "The Chapter on the Amount Upon Which Charity Is Due," from the Book of Zakat. Al-Mujtaba 5/12, 26, 30, 31. And Ibn Majah in: "The Chapter on What Zakat Is Due On from Wealth," from the Book of Zakat. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/572. And Al-Darimi in: "The Chapter on What No Charity Is Due On from Grains, Silver, and Gold," from the Book of Zakat. Sunan al-Darimi 1/384. And Imam Malik in: "The Chapter on What Zakat Is Due On," from the Book of Zakat. Al-Muwatta 1/244, 245. And Imam Ahmad in: Al-Musnad 2/92, 402, 403, 3/6, 30, 45, 59, 60, 73, 74, 79, 86, 296. (11) Surah An-Nahl: 10. (12) In manuscript 'M': "al-'alufah." (13) Omitted from manuscript 'M'. (14) 'Nadaha al-ba'ir al-ma'' (The camel carried water): It carried it from a river or well for irrigating crops; thus it is a 'nadih' (irrigator). (15) Preceded on page 7.
