زكاة الأنعام
Zakat on livestock
Grazing camels, cattle, sheep and goats, with the scales handed down in Abu Bakr’s letter.
Calculate my zakat The calculator applies these rules with today’s prices, according to the school you choose.
The conditions
- The species: camels, cattle (buffalo included), sheep and goats (agreement of the scholars). No zakat on horses, mules and donkeys unless kept for trade (majority).
- One year of ownership.
- Grazing: the animal grazes freely for most of the year (Hanafi, Shafi‘i and Hanbali schools; Ibn Baz, Ibn ‘Uthaymin); according to the Maliki school, zakat is due even on fed and working animals.
- No working animals (ploughing, irrigation) according to the majority.
- Animals raised for sale count as trade goods, at their value.
References Bukhari 1454 (Abu Bakr’s letter) · Abu Dawud 1575 (“on every grazing camel”) · Majmu‘ Fatawa Ibn Baz 14/58
Camels
Nothing is due between two thresholds. Above 120, the majority count one bint labun per forty and one hiqqa per fifty; the Hanafi school starts the scale again from the beginning.
| Number | Due |
|---|---|
| 5 to 9 | 1 sheep or goat |
| 10 to 14 | 2 sheep or goats |
| 15 to 19 | 3 sheep or goats |
| 20 to 24 | 4 sheep or goats |
| 25 to 35 | 1 bint makhad (one-year-old she-camel) |
| 36 to 45 | 1 bint labun (two-year-old she-camel) |
| 46 to 60 | 1 hiqqa (three-year-old she-camel) |
| 61 to 75 | 1 jadha‘a (four-year-old she-camel) |
| 76 to 90 | 2 bint labun |
| 91 to 120 | 2 hiqqa |
| 121 and over | 1 bint labun per 40 and 1 hiqqa per 50 (majority) |
References Bukhari 1454 · al-Majmu‘ 5/389-390; al-Mughni 2/435
Cattle
Scale handed down in the hadith of Mu‘adh and accepted by the four schools.
| Number | Due |
|---|---|
| 30 to 39 | 1 tabi‘ (one-year-old calf) |
| 40 to 59 | 1 musinna (two-year-old cow) |
| 60 | 2 tabi‘ |
| 70 | 1 tabi‘ and 1 musinna |
| 80 | 2 musinna |
| 90 | 3 tabi‘ |
| 120 | 4 tabi‘ or 3 musinna |
| Then | 1 tabi‘ per 30, 1 musinna per 40 |
References Abu Dawud 1576, al-Tirmidhi 623 (hadith of Mu‘adh) · al-Mughni 2/443
Sheep and goats
Sheep and goats are added together. An average animal is given: not the best (a milking, pregnant or fattened animal) unless the owner wishes, nor a sick or very old one.
| Number | Due |
|---|---|
| 40 to 120 | 1 sheep or goat |
| 121 to 200 | 2 |
| 201 to 399 | 3 |
| 400 and over | 1 per hundred |
References Bukhari 1454 · Quran 2:267
Frequently asked questions
My sheep are fed on hay all year. Is zakat due?
According to the Hanafi, Shafi‘i and Hanbali schools, no, since they do not graze; according to the Maliki school, yes. If they are raised for sale, they count as trade goods, at their value.
How many sheep before zakat is due?
40 sheep or goats owned for a year and grazing: one sheep is then due, up to 120.
A calculation aid, not a religious ruling. If in doubt, ask a qualified person.