Understanding Zakat on Livestock
In Islamic Finance, Zakat is not limited to gold, silver, and cash. It is also obligatory on certain types of wealth, including agricultural produce and livestock. The calculation for Zakat on Livestock (An'am) is uniquely detailed in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Which Animals Require Zakat?
Zakat is obligatory on three specific categories of livestock:
- Camels (Nisab is 5)
- Cows and Buffaloes (Nisab is 30)
- Sheep and Goats (Nisab is 40)
Other animals, such as horses, mules, or poultry, do not have a specific livestock Zakat unless they are bred and sold as trade goods, in which case they are subject to standard Zakat on trade goods (2.5% of market value).
The Grazing Condition (Sa'imah)
According to the majority of Islamic scholars, Zakat is only due on livestock if they are Sa'imah. This means the animals graze freely on public or unowned pastures for more than half of the lunar year. If you purchase feed for your animals for the majority of the year (stall-fed), or if they are primarily used as working animals (e.g., for plowing fields or carrying water), they are exempt from this specific livestock Zakat.
How is the Zakat Paid?
Unlike Zakat on cash, which is a flat 2.5%, Zakat on livestock is paid "in kind" by giving away animals from the herd. As the size of the herd increases, the age and number of animals required to be given as Zakat also increase according to strict brackets established in the Sunnah. Our calculator simplifies these complex brackets to tell you exactly what is owed.