Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As Salaam Alaikkum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

I would like to know whether the same is applicable in case if the parents are in need? ie. to parents is to fulfill their rights or even that is too counted in Zakah

How is the Zakah for the fruit giving trees/plants at home be evaluated?

Ie.  palm tree - coconut, jack fruit etc.  

Jazakhumullah Khair

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Zakah on fruit trees

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 60:

60      Alms are for the poor, and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds), for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the Truth), for those in bondage and in debt, in the Cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

 

Allah Subhanah has prescribed that ‘zakah’ should be paid to any of the above eight listed categories:

1. To the poor
2. To the needy
3. To those who are employed to administer the zakah funds
4. To those whose hearts have recently been reconciled to the Truth of Islam (new-muslims)
5. For those in bondage
6. For those in debt
7. In the Cause of Allah
8. To the way-farer or traveler

 

Allah Subhanah has Commanded and Guided the believers that ‘Zakah’ must be distributed to any of the above eight categories only; for all other categories, one may help them through voluntary and supererogatory charity or ‘sadaqah’ but not through ‘Zakah’ funds.

 

The only people one is prohibited in Shariah to give ‘zakah’ to, even if they fall amongst the above listed eight eligible categories are those individuals whose financial upkeep is ones obligatory responsibility and duty in Shariah: like one’s parents, one’s wife and one’s children. 

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 215:

215    They ask thee (O Prophet (saws)) what they should spend (in charity).  Say: ‘Whatever ye spend that is good is for parents, and kindred, and orphans, and those in want, and for wayfarers.  And whatever ye do that is good Allah Knows it well.’

 

One can and should obviously spend on one’s parents, but it cannot be from one’s ‘zakah’ dues.

 

Your Question: ….How is the Zakah for the fruit giving trees/plants at home be evaluated? Ie.  palm tree - coconut, jack fruit etc.  

If one has a small vegetable garden, or a few fruit trees adjacent to one’s house….and one consumes these vegetable or the fruits themselves or feeds their family, there is no ‘zakah’ on such growth.

 

But if one trades or sells the vegetables or fruits grown, then indeed one would be liable to pay the ‘zakah’ on their produce at 10% if irrigated naturally (by rain), and 5% if irrigated through artificial means (wells, tubes, etc.).

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan