Detailed Evidences on the Ruling of Zakat of Trade Merchandise

প্রশ্ন · Question

Can you please provide a hadith that proves that trade merchandise is
one of the categories that one pays its Zakat, or is it considered as one
of the categories under opinion and Ijtihad?

উত্তর · Answer

Wa Alaikum Assalaam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu,
Trade merchandise did not come under the categories of Zakat
through opinion and Ijtihad, but through detailed evidences that are
explained in the book: The Funds in the Khilafah "Caliphate" State,
page 148 (English version):
"Trade merchandise is everything other than currency which is used for
trading, buying and selling, for the sake of profit e.g. foodstuffs,
clothing, furniture, manufactured goods, animals, minerals, land,
buildings and other goods that are bought and sold.
Zakat is obliged on merchandise taken for trade by the agreement of
the Companions; From Samura b. Jundub who said: «أما بعد، فإن رسول
الله كان يأمرنا أن نخ رج الصدقة من الذي نعد للبيع » "See! Verily the Messenger
of Allah used to command us to give Sadaqah on what we prepared
for sale" (narrated by Abu Dawud).
Abu Dharr narrated from the Prophet who said: «وف ي اليَْ ر صدقته » "There
is Sadaqah in Bazz." Al-Bazz are clothes and woven material used for

trading. Abu ‘Amra b. Hamas narrated from his father who said: «مرّ بري
عمر بن الخطاب، فقال: يا حماس، أدّ زكاة مالك، فقلت: ما لي مال إلاّ جعاب، وأدم. فقال:
قوّمها قيمة، ثمّ أدّ زكاتها » "‘Umar ibn Al -Khattab passed by and said: ‘O
Hamas, pay the Zakat on your property'. I said: ‘I don't have any
property except for Ji'b (quivers) and leather'. He said: ‘Estimate them,
then pay their Zakat.'"
AbdurRahman b. Abdul-Qari said:«كنت علَّ بيت المال، زمن عمر بن الخ ط اب،
فكان إذا خرج العطاء جمع أموال التجار، ثمّ حسبها، شاهدها وغائبها، ثمّ أخذ الزكاة من
شاهد المال علَّ الشاهد والغائب » "I was appointed over Bait ul -Mal in the
time of ‘Umar ibn Al -Khattab. When the gifts were given out, the
wealth of the traders was collected and counted, of what was present
or absent. Zakat was then taken from the present wealth for what was
present and absent."
From ibn ‘Umar who said: «ما كان من رقيق أو بزّ يُراد به التجارة، ففيه الزكاة »
"There is Zakat on Raqeeq (slaves) and Bazz suits upon which trade is
intended." End.
Your brother,
Abu Yasin