Animals Subject to Zakat and Those Not Subject to Zakat

“The two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said that ’Ameer ul-Mo’mineen, levied two dinar of Zakat on every Arabian horse every year and one dinar of Zakat on non-Arabian horse.”

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), if there is Zakat on mules. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, Zakat is not due on it.’ I then said, ‘How is it that there is Zakat on horses but not on mules?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because mules do not reproduce but mares do so and Zakat is not due on horses.’ I then asked are donkeys subject to Zakat?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not subject to Zakat.’ I then asked, ‘Are horses and camels that one uses for riding subject to Zakat?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, Zakat is not due on whatever one feeds. Only that which is left in pastures land to graze for one year is subject to Zakat, while in one’s possession. Other than this is not subject to Zakat.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Slaves are not subject to Zakat unless they are for business purposes, because they are from assets that are subject to Zakat.”

“They asked abu Ja‘far and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about slaves. They (the two Imam), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, said, ‘Zakat which is more than one Sa’ of date is not due per-head, when one year passes. There is nothing on what is paid as his price unless he has remained in one’s possession for one year.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who has not paid Zakat for his camel or sheep for two years then sells to another man who, as part of the deal, is asked to pay its Zakat. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, Zakat is collected from him and the seller pursues him for payment or himself pays its Zakat.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who has a camel or cow or sheep or other assets. One year passes and the camel, cow or sheep dies and the asset is destroyed because of fire. He (the Imam) said, ‘He does not owe anything.’”

“’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), would not demand Zakat for small camels until one year passed as well as for working camels. It seems as if Zakat is not due on male (camels) because it is used to carry loads.”