Zakaat is not Obligatory on minors and lunatics

Zakaat is not Obligatory on minors and lunatics

 

Zakaat is not Obligatory on children and on lunatics

The Hadith says that Zakaat will be taken from the affluent folk.  It is written in Mirqaat and in ‘Umdatul Qaari that the word used in the Hadith (aghniyaaihim) means those to whom the rules of Zakaat apply, i.e. those sane and adult Muslims with wealth that meets the prescribed criterion.  That’s why Zakaat is Obligatory on sane and not on lunatics and similarly Zakaat will be Obligatory on adults and not on minors.

This is supported by the Hadith related by the mother of the believers Hadhrat ‘Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The pen has been lifted from three people i.e. neither are their deeds recorded nor will they have to face any reckoning.  First a person who is sleeping until he (or she) awakens.  Second, a kid until he becomes an adult and third a lunatic, until he becomes sane.

On this basis, Sufyan Thauri, ‘Abdur Rahmaan bin Mubarak, Abu Waail, Sa’eed bin Jubayr, Nakha’ee, Sha’abi, Hasan Basri (May Allah shower His Mercy on them all) hold the opinion that Zakaat is not Obligatory on the wealth of an orphan.  It is related on the authority of Hadhrat Hasan Basri (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) that there is a consensus of opinion among the Companions that there is no Zakaat on the wealth of an orphan.  This is the position of Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) and his students.

Sa’eed bin al Musayyib has said that the person on whom Salaat and fasting are Obligatory, Zakaat will also be Obligatory on that person.  We learn from this that as Salaat and fasting are not Obligatory for a minor and a lunatic, Zakaat also will not be Obligatory on them.  It has been reported that this was also the position of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) that Zakaat is not Obligatory on lunatics and minors.

It is written in Mabsoot that Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) was also of this opinion that Zakaat is not Obligatory on lunatics and minors.  Imam Ja’afar Sadiq (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has related the same from his father Imam Baquar Muhammad (May Allah shower His Mercy on him).  Qaadhi Shurayh was also of this opinion that Zakaat is not Obligatory on lunatics and children, as is related by Nasaai.  This whole discussion is excerpted from Binaaya and ‘Umdatul Qaari.

Zakaat is not Obligatory on the wealth of an orphan

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) that there is no (obligation of) Zakaat on the wealth of an orphan.

Imam Muhammad has related this Hadith in Al Aathaar.

Ibrahim Nakha’i has also related similarly.

Zakaat is not Obligatory on the wealth of a minor

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them), he says that Zakaat is not Obligatory on the wealth of a minor until Salaat does not become Obligatory on him (i.e. when the child becomes an adult, then like Salaat Zakaat will also become Obligatory).

Daraqutni has related this Hadith.

[Excerpted from Noor ul Masabeeh, Vol. 4, Kitaab uz Zakaat]