Zakat in Shi‘a Fiqh by Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi

A sister from Toronto had sent questions to me in 1999 about zakat and I had written a detailed response to her explaining the Shi‘i perspective on zakat.

Recently an article appeared in Federation Samachar (Tanzania) on issue of poverty and it was critical of the Shi‘a jurists (mujtahidin) for not making zakat obligatory in all wealth as it is done by the Sunnis. Since my 1999 response deals with the issues raised in that article, I have decided to publish it with revisions and additions for the benefit of the general audience.

 

The items of Wajib Zakat

Question:

“Zakat as we Shia calculate is payable on 9 items only. These items were the measure of wealth in those times and therefore should we not apply the principle to our wealth in general, as the Sunnis do, and not just to those 9 items?”

The Islamic shari‘ah (code of laws) is based on a system within which they are formulated and worked out. In Shi‘a Islam, the two main sources of laws are the Qur’an and the sunnah of the Prophet and Imams (may peace be upon them all).

The Qur’an, while ordering us to pay zakat, has not outlined the items on which zakat is applicable.

Interestingly, the case of salat is also the same. While the Qur’an has ordered us to say the daily salat in more than 25 verses, nowhere does it tell us how to perform the daily salat. In these cases, we have to refer to the sunnah for further details.

When Shi‘a jurists refer to the sunnah, after studying and analyzing all the authentic ahadith on this subject[1], they reach to the following two conclusion conclusions:

1) Zakat is wajib (obligatory) on the following nine items:

Coins: silver; gold

Cattle: cows; sheep and goats; camels

Crops: wheat; barley; dates; raisins

2) Zakat is mustahab (recommended) on other items that can be weighed or other things that grow from the earth.[2]

In conclusion, the jurist (mujtahid) is bound to follow the sources; if the sources clearly confine the items of compulsory zakat to nine, then they cannot go by their personal inclination and extend that list. In order to extend that list, they need clear proof in the religious sources to suggest that these items were only applicable to those days and may be increased in future. But there are no such indications in the ahadith.

One of the decisive ahadith on this issue is presented here as an example in which Muhammad at-Tayyar asked Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.) about the items on which zakat is wajib.

The Imam (a.s.) listed the nine items as fixed by the Prophet himself and then said, “The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) exempted the zakat from other items.”

A person then asked the Imam, “May Allah protect you; we have abundance of a grain (not listed by you) with us.”

The Imam asked, “And what is that?”

The person replied, “It is rice.”

The Imam remarked, “Yes, it is plentiful (in your area).” Then the person asked, “Is there zakat in it (i.e., in rice)?”

Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.) scolded him by saying: “I am telling you that verily the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) has exempted the zakat from other items and you are still saying ‘We have abundance of a grain; is there zakat in it?’”[3]

The statement of Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.) is clear that there were other items such as rice and other grains known to the people of that time and area as “wealth,” but still he insisted that you cannot include those in the list of items for wajib zakat.

Zakat in the Quran

Question:

“When I read in Qur’an I find great stress on ‘salat and zakat’ in many, many verses and so I feel afraid to advise my children to be conscientious about paying khums from their salary but not to pay zakat. May Allah (swt) forgive me because I am not alim and not in a position to interpret Qur’an and also as a Shi‘a I have to do taqlid but my heart is not at peace about this matter of zakat.

In every respect I feel Shi‘a are superior to Sunni but on this matter I am confused. How come all of them (Sunni) who have any wealth have the honour of fulfilling this duty whereas we do not?”

First of all, the repeated occurrence of an item in the Qur’an does not mean that it is more important than the other orders that have been mentioned fewer times.

For example, the laws of inheritance have been mentioned only once. That one occurrence does not make the laws of inheritance any less important than zakat. Similarly, the order of going for hajj and fasting during the month of Ramadhan has occurred only once respectively even though both are part of the five arkan (pillars) of Islamic teachings.[4]

Or, for example, there are more verses that describe the spiritual aspect (intention and sincerity) of giving recommended charity (sadaqa) than the verses on how to pay zakat. This does not diminish the importance of wajib zakat.

Secondly, the term “zakat” as used in the Qur’an does not necessarily mean the same as the “zakat” listed in the furu‘-e din or the five pillars of Islamic teachings. Majority of our people read the Qur’anic term “zakat” in the light of what they have been taught about “zakat” as one of the wajib taxes in Islam. The reality is otherwise.

In many places, the Qur’an uses the term “Sadaqa” for the wajib zakat, and conversely it uses the term “zakat” for recommended charity.

 “Sadaqa” in the Meaning of Wajib Zakat

1) While ordering the Prophet to take the zakat from the people, Allah (s.w.t.) says:

“Take from their wealth the Sadaqa, you would cleanse them and purify them thereby, and pray (Salli) for them; surely your prayer (Salat) is a relief to them; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing. Do they not know that Allah accepts the repentance from His servants and takes the Sadaqat. And surely Allah is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (9:103-104)

As you see in this verse, the words “Sadaqa and Sadaqat” refer to the wajib zakat, and the word “Salli and Salat” refer to du‘a and not to the daily prayers.[5]

2) While describing the causes for which wajib zakat is to be used, the Qur’an says:

“The Sadaqat are only for the poor, the needy, their collectors, those whose hearts are conciliatory (towards Islam), the emancipation of slaves, the debtors, in Allah’s way, and the stranded traveler.” (9:60)

Based on this verse, all the Muslim scholars have outlined the causes for which the wajib zakat is to be utilized.[6]

 “Zakat” in the Meaning of Recommended Charity (i.e., Sadaqa)

1) The famous incident in which Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) gave charity to the beggar while he was in the position of ruku‘ has been described in the Qur’an as follows:

“Your master is only Allah, His Messenger, and those who believe: those who establish the prayer and pay the zakat while they are in ruku‘.” (5:55)

The commentators of the Qur’an say that the last phrase of this verse refers to Imam ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) when he gave the ring from his finger to the beggar while he was in ruku‘.[7]

It is worth noting that none of the schools of law in Islam enlist the ring or personal jewelry as an item for wajib zakat.[8]

2) Wherever the Qur’an quotes the pre-Islamic prophets talking about “zakat,” it is surely not talking about the wajib zakat as defined in the Islamic laws. In the historical context of those prophets, the Qur’an uses the term “zakat” in meaning of charity. For example:

– Prophet ‘Isa (a.s.): “…and He has enjoined on me prayer (salat) and charity (zakat) for as long as I live…” (19:31)

– Prophet Isma‘il (a.s.): “And he enjoined on his family prayer (salat) and charity (zakat)…” (19:55)

– Referring to other prophets: “…and We revealed to them the doing of good, the establishing of prayer (salat) and the giving of charity (zakat)…” (21:73)

Thirdly, now that the variety in the meaning of zakat as used in the Qur’an is clear, let us deal with the question that: Why does the Qur’an mention “salat and zakat” so many times?

In majority of the cases where “salat” and “zakat” are mentioned together, the word “zakat” covers all forms of financial obligations that we have upon one another in a Muslim society. “Salat” represents God’s rights upon us and “zakat” represents the rights of other people that God has placed upon us.

By combining “zakat” with “salat,” we are being constantly reminded that Islam is not a religion that only gives importance to fulfill the rights that God has upon us, it also gives importance to the rights that other human beings have upon us.

In this sense, the word “zakat” (just like the term “infaq”) encompasses all the rights of other people including khums, fitra, anfal, etc. For example, in the very beginning of Chapter Two of the Qur’an, when Allah (s.w.t.) describes the qualities of the righteous people, He says: “Those who believe in the unseen, who establish the prayer, and who give in charity (yunfiqun, verb form from infaq) out of what We have given them…”

Finally, there is no need to feel that others are more superior to us. No one has stopped any Shi‘a from paying 2.5% (or, for that matter, from paying 10%) from his or her salary as the “zakat” in the meaning of recommended charity (Sadaqa). But you cannot make something that is not wajib as wajib by your own whim and desire!

Why should a Shi‘a think of himself as inferior by paying khums which has been mentioned once in the Qur’an? Does its occurrence only once make it a lesser obligation? Should we not be questioning the other Muslims who have totally suspended the obligation of khums even though it has been mentioned —even if once— in the Qur’an?[9]

They should be asked why they have suspended khums whereas all Islamic schools of law believe that zakat cannot be given to someone who is from the Banu Hashim, the family of the Prophet.

The Shi‘as have not suspended the zakat; we from day one have believed that zakat is wajib in the nine items and recommended in other items that can be weighed or that grows from the earth, and have not suspended that law that all!

Zakat on Currency

The Sunni schools of Islamic law believe that zakat is wajib on any kind of gold and silver, whereas the Shi‘a school believes that zakat is wajib on gold and silver only if they are in form of coins.

As for currencies, three of the four Sunni schools say that it is wajib to pay zakat on currencies provided they reaches to the minimum value (equivalent to 4.8 grams of gold) and provided they were under one’s continuous possession for a year.

The fourth Sunni school (Hanbali) believes that it is not wajib to pay zakat on currencies unless one converts them into gold or silver.[10] This position is closest to the Shi‘a position that believes that zakat on currencies will become wajib only when one converts them into gold or silver coins.

The Shi‘a school believes that it is not wajib to pay zakat on currencies. There is a very logical explanation for why zakat is not wajib in currencies:

1) If a person says that “the currencies or bank notes represent the gold or silver coins that are in the government’s treasury,” we would still say that zakat is not wajib on them. Why? Because a person who possesses the currencies does not possess the gold or silver coins, he just possesses the right to ask the government for gold or silver coins. For zakat to become wajib, one must possess the actual coins for a whole year.

2) If a person says, “the currencies or bank notes represent the gold or silver ingots that are in the government’s treasury,” we would still say that zakat is not wajib on them. Why? Zakat becomes wajib on silver and gold only in form of coins.

3) If a person says that “the currencies or bank notes are like promissory notes that prove the indebtedness of the government to that person for certain number of gold or silver coins that are in its treasury,” we would still say that zakat is not wajib on them. Why? What a person has given to someone else as loan is not deemed to be in his possession and therefore it is not liable for zakat.[11]

Moreover, there was a time when the value of US dollar, the main paper currency of our time, was fixed to an ounce of gold based on the gold reserves in the US Federal Reserve. But the costly Vietnam War drained US gold reserves and so, in August 1971, Nixon broke the Bretton Woods agreement, and refused to redeem dollars for gold since he had not enough gold to give. The US dollar is now fixed only to the printing press of the Treasury and Federal Reserve.

I hope this clarifies the issue of zakat in the Qur’an and the way the Shi‘as have believed in it.

Final Comments

By looking at the tone of the article published in Federation Samachar and the conclusions that some readers have derived, it is necessary to make the following remarks:

First of all, I am really surprised that when it comes to their personal issues, people in our community always seek “expert advice;” but when it comes to religious issues, it becomes a plain field for everyone to make their decisions and even allow themselves to judge others’ motivations and think of it as “sazish/conspiracy” by the ‘ulama when they don’t like what they hear! It is implied that the majority of our jurists were sayyids, therefore they promote khums and ignore zakat![12]

Such people don’t realize that such thoughts eventually lead to accusing the Prophet of Islam himself of promoting his descendants! On this judgmental attitude, even the publishers are responsible for allowing this article to be published without getting it checked with the experts in the field for accuracy or at least allowing a response to it on the same issue.

Secondly, the reason why religious speakers talk more about some issues and less about some other issues has nothing to do with the so-called “sazish.” It all depends on what is relevant to the people in that time and area. Khoja community at large –in Africa and the West– are not in agriculture or raising cattle or in keeping gold/silver coins, and therefore these issues are not discussed that frequently or in detail just as judiciary matters or rules of the minor jihad are not discussed because they are not relevant to the community in these parts of the world.

The same can be said about discussion on khums. Khums is wajib on seven items but even when I wrote the book on that subject, I only dealt with two of the seven items. The others items (mines & minerals; precious stones obtained from sea by diving; treasures; land that a dhimmi kafir buys from a Muslim; the spoils of war) have not been discussed. Why? Those items were not discussed simply because they are not relevant to our times and our locations.

Finally, what is even more disturbing is a trend seen among some of those who like to promote a good cause, they always try to contrast it with something else even though the two would be unrelated. Obvious examples that come to mind of such artificial contrast between issues are niyaz versus charity, ‘azadari versus namaz, khums versus zakat, rituals versus socio-political activism.

One can always promote charity without attacking niyaz; stopping niyaz is not going to divert that money towards the poor relief. One can always encourage the obligation of doing namaz without putting down ‘azadari; instead of creating that contrast, use ‘azadari to promote namaz. One can always urge people to give more in charity without putting down khums; highlight the importance of giving sadaqa which has been greatly emphasized in Islam and by the Ahlul Bayt.

One can always impress upon people the importance of participation in socio-political issues without putting down rituals. By creating unnecessary tension or contrast between two unrelated issues, one achieves nothing but failure in the actual cause that he is promoting.

However, this mentality is not new; it reminds me of an interesting discussion during the reign of ‘Umar ibn Khattab. Someone mentioned to ‘Umar the issue of the excess of the ornaments that were donated for the Ka‘bah and proposed that he should use those ornaments for financing the needs of the Muslim army. “What would the Ka‘bah do with the ornaments?” Indeed a very progressive idea! ‘Umar liked this idea, but then he turned to Imam ‘Ali and asked his opinion on it. Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) said:

“When the Qur’an descended upon the Prophet (s.a.w.), the wealth was of four types:

1. The property of the Muslims which he distributed among the heirs according to the fixed shares [in the Qur’an].
2. The tax (fay’) which he distributed among those who were deserving of it.
3. The khums which Allah has fixed the way of its disposal.
4. The charities (Sadaqat) whose disposal also was fixed by Allah.

“The ornaments of the Ka‘bah did exist in those days but Allah left them as they were, and He did not leave them out of omission nor were they unknown to Him. Therefore, you should leave them where Allah and His Messenger have placed them.” ‘Umar left the ornaments of Ka‘bah as they were and said to Imam ‘Ali: “If it had not been for you, we would have been humiliated.”[13]

Let us not exercise the ijtihad of ignorance in religious matters and not impose our views on the views of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and his Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). Always remember the message of Almighty Allah:

O you who believe!

Do not venture ahead of Allah and His Messenger,

and be wary of Allah. Indeed Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

O you who believe!

Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, and do not speak aloud to him as you shout to one another,

lest your good deeds should become futile while you are unaware of it.

(49:1-2)

———————————————————————

References

[1] See, for example, the narrations by ‘Ubaydullah bin ‘Ali al-Halabi, Abu Basir, al-Hasan bin Shahab and Muhammad aṭ-Tayyar in al-Hurr al-‘Amili, Wasa’ilu ’sh-Shi‘ah, vol. 6, p. 36 and also the narrations by ‘Ali bin Mahzyar, Muhammad bin Muslim and Zurarah bin A‘yan on p. 39-40.

[2] An in-depth analysis of these ahadith can be seen in Shaykh Murtaza al-Burûjardi, Mustanadu ’l- ‘Urwati ’l-Wuthqa (transcript of the lectures of the late Ayatullah al-Khu’i), vol. 1, p. 138-142. Majority of jurists consider the payment of zakat from the business merchandise as a recommended zakat. However, Ayatullah Sistani has made that ihtiyat-e wajib, (obligatory based on precaution). See Ayatullah as-Sistani, Minhaju ’s-Salihiyn, vol. 1. p. 367; also see Islamic Laws, p. 350.

[3] See footnote no. 2.

[4] A famous hadith of our Imams (a.s.) says: “The religion is based on five pillars: salat, sawm, zakat, hajj and wilayah of us the Ahlul Bayt.”

[5] See At-Tabrisi, Majma‘u ’l-Bayan, vol. 5, p. 68; at-Tabataba’i, al-Mizan, vol. 9, p. 397; also see the famous Sunni tafsir of Fakhru ’d-Din ar-Razi, at-Tafsir al-Kabir, vol. 16, p. 141.

[6] Majma‘u ’l-Bayan, vol. 5, p. 41; at-Tafsir al-Kabir, vol. 16, p. 91.

[7] Majma‘u ’l-Bayan, vol. 3, p. 210; also see the Sunni author’s at-Tafsir al-Kabir, vol. 12, p. 23.

[8] See Jawad al-Mughniyya, The Five Schools of Islamic Law, p. 149.

[9] For more information on the Qur’anic basis of khums and how the Sunni jurists have dealt with it, see my Khums: An Islamic Tax. There you will see that the issue of khums was suspended in order to deprive the Ahlul Bayt and the Prophet’s descendants of their right.

[10] The Five Schools of Islamic Laws, p. 153.

[11] For the arguments on bank notes, I am indebted to the late Ayatullah Shaykh Husayn al-Hilli. See transcript of his lectures by ‘Izzu ’d-Din Bahru ’l-‘Ulúm, Buhúth Fiqhiyya (Beirut: Daru ’z-Zahra’, 1973).

[12] It is interesting to review Shi‘a history during the ghaybat and see that the vast majority of our mujtahdin have been non-sayyids: starting from the four special representatives during the ghaybat-e sughra to later times: al-‘Ummani, Ibn Junayd, Saduq, Mufid, Tusi going on to the era of Ibn Idris, Muhaqqiq al-Hilli, ‘Allamah al-Hilli, Shahid al-Awwal, Muhaqqiq Karaki, Shahid Thani on to the time of Wahid Bahbahani, Kashiful Ghita’, Muhammad Hasan an-Najafi, Shaykh Murtaza al-Ansari, Mirza Shirazi, Akhund Khurasani, Mirza Na’ini – all were all non-sadaat. The presence of sadaat in the last generation’s senior mujtahidin (Hakim, Khu’i, Khumayni, Gulpaygani, Najafi) was exception to the norm—and probably that has been taken by some as the norm among the Shi‘as ‘ulama’!

Even in the following generation of senior mujtahidin, you will see that the majority are from the non-sadaat: Wahid Khurasani, Nasir Makarim, Safi Gulpaygani, Jawad Tabrizi, Fazil Lankarani (all in Qum); and Shaykh Fayyaz and Bashir Najafi (in Najaf).

[13] See Nahju ’l-Balagha, saying no. 270.