- Zakat On Saima (Animals)

Definition of Saima
Zakah is necessary on three types of animals that are Saima, i.e. camels, cows and goats. Saima is those animals who spend most of the year grazing and their purpose is to gain milk or their young or just to keep [Tanweer, Bahar].

If hay or grass is brought to them in your home or the animals are used to shift loads or carry loads or are used for travelling on, then even if they graze, they are not Saima and their Zakah is not necessary.

In the same way if they are kept to eat meat then Zakah is not necessary even if the animal grazes in the wild. If the animal is for sale and is kept to graze, then this is also not Saima, however, the value is to be calculated as business goods and the Zakah is to be given as normal [Durr-e-Mukhtar, Radd-ul-Mohtar, Bahar]. 

Zakah on Camels
Zakah is not necessary on less than five camels. When you have five or more than five but less than twenty-five, then on every five camels one goat is given as Zakah. Therefore if you have five then one goat is to be given and if you have ten then two are given etc etc [Hidaya, Durr-e-Mukhtar].

1) The goat that is given in Zakah is not to be less than one year old. The goat can be male or female, the choice is yours [Radd-ul-Mohtar].

2) If you have more than one Nisaab but less than two Nisaabs (more than five but less than ten) then Zakah on the extra amount is forgiven and is not necessary, meaning if you had seven or eight then only the one goat is necessary [Durr-e-Mukhtar].

3) If you have twenty-five camels then one small camel is given that is more than one year old and less than two years old, the same rule applies to upto thirty-five camels, meaning one small camel.
If you have between thirty-six and upto forty-five then one camel more than two year's old is to be given. If you have between forty-six and upto sixty then one camel that is more than three year's old.
If you have between sixty-one and upto seventy-five then one camel that is more than four year's old is to be given.

If you have between seventy-six and upto ninety then two camels that are older than one year's old are to be given as Zakah.

If you have between ninety one and upto one-hundred and twenty then you must give two camels older than two year's old.

For more than one hundred and twenty upto one hundred and forty five then you must give two camels older than three year's old and one goat for every five extra. For example, if you have one hundred and twenty five then you give two camels (older than three year's old) and one goat, the same amount of camels are given for one hundred and thirty but two goats etc. Then if you have one hundred and fifty then give three camels (older than three years old). 

Zakah on Cattle
1) If you have less than thirty cows then Zakah is not necessary. When you have thirty then the Zakah is one calf older than one year. If you have forty then the Zakah is one calf older than two year's old. This rule applies to upto fifty nine cattle. On sixty cattle the Zakah is two calves older than two year's old. Then the rule is on every thirty one calf one year old and on every forty one calf two year's old. For example on seventy you would give two calves one calf that is one year old and one calf that is two year's old. For eighty you would give two calves that are both two year's old etc.etc.

2) The same rule applies to cows and buffaloes and if you have a mixture, then they would be added together. For example, if you have ten cows and twenty buffaloes then Zakah would have to be given. The Zakah given is the calf of the animal that there is more in quantity, e.g. if you have more cows than buffaloes then a calf of a cow would be given. If the amount is equal then the calf of the animal is given that is worth more in value [Alamgiri]. 

Zakah on Sheep and Goats
If you have less than forty sheep or goats then Zakah is not necessary. Between forty and one hundred and twenty then you would give one goat or sheep, meaning regardless of the quantity between this figure, only one goat is sufficient. Two goats are given for the quantity between one-hundred and twenty one and two hundred. Then upto between 201 and 300, three goats are to be given. Between 301 to 400, four goats are given in Zakah. Then for every hundred extra one extra goat is given and for any goats that are between the hundred mark, then there is no extra Zakah.

1) The choice is yours as to whether you give a male or female, however it is necessary that the animal is not younger than one year old. If this is the case then the value of a one year old goat would have to be given [Durr-e-Mukhtar, Bahar].

Lamb, sheep or goat are all regarded as the same and if you do not have a complete set of one kind then they are to be mixed together and you can give sheep or lamb in Zakah but they must be older than one year [Durr-e-Mukhtar].

If someone has a mixture of camels, cattle and goats but none complete their individual Nisaabs then there is no need to add them together and Zakah is not necessary.

F14.2 If you have horses, donkeys or mules then even if they are for grazing they are not Saima. If they are for business then they would be treated as business stock and one fortieth is to be given on their value.