Zakah on Gold and Silver
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Musa to90 "Instruct Muslim women in your area to pay zakah on their ornaments." But this is not authentically reported from 'Umar.91 Ibn Abi Shaibah quotes al Hasan as saying, "I know that none of the [four] Successors said that ornaments are zakatable."92 Al Baihaqi reports from 'A'ishah, "It is all right to wear jewelry if its zakah is paid,"93 But we have on hand a correct report from 'A'ishah contradicting this, as will be seen later. It is reported that 'Abd Allah bin 'Amr used to write his treasurer Salim instructions to pay zakah on the ornaments of his daughters every year.94 Abu 'Ubaid reports from him that he gave his three daughters ornaments worth six thousand dinars. He used to send his slave Jalid every year to pay their zakah.95 The chains of all the above reports are controversial. Abu 'Ubaid comments, "We have nothing authentic about zakah on ornaments from any of the Companions except from Ibn Mas'ud.96 Ibn Hazm says "The report of Ibn Mas'ud is topmost in its authenticity."97 Among those who believe that ornaments are zakatable are Sa'id bin Musayyib, Sa'ad bin Jubair, 'Ata, Mujahid, 'Abd Allah bin Shaddad, Jabir bin Zaid, Ibn Shabrumah, Maimun bin Mahran, al Zuhri, al Thawri, Abu Hanifah, and his disciples, al Awza'i and al Hasan bin Hay.98 Evidence supporting this opinion 1. The general implication of the verse, "and there are those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of God. Announce unto them a most grevious penalty." Gold and silver mentioned in this verse include that which is used in women's ornaments as much as it includes money and bullion. Consequently, unless zakah is paid, the owner will be branded with its heat on the Day of Resurrection. 2. The general meaning of the sayings of the Prophet (p), "On silver, one-fourth of one-tenth is obligated; no sadaqah is required on what is less than five uqiyyah." This implies that silver is zakatable once it reaches five uqiyyah, as do the general texts of zakah on gold, such as "There is no owner of gold that does not pay its zakah . . . etc. 3. There are a few sayings about zakah on ornaments in particular that are considered correct by some leading scholars. Among these sayings are the following: (a) Abu Daud reports from 'Amr bin Shu'aib from his father from his grandfather, that a women99 with her daughter came to the Prophet (p). On the wrist of her daughter were two thick bracelets of gold. the Prophet asked, "Do you give zakah on this? She replied "No." "Does it please you for God to embrace you with two bracelets of fire on the Day of Resurrection?" he warned. The narrator says, "She took them off and tossed them to the Prophet (p), saying, They belong to God and His Messenger."100 (b) Abu Daud, al Daraqutni, al Hakim, and al Baihaqi report from 'A'ishah that "The Messenger of God (p) entered my room and found in my hand a few rings of silver. He said, A'ishah, what is this?' I said, 'I made them in order to use them as ornament [to please you] O Messenger of God.' He said, Do you pay their zakah?' I answered 'No,' or negatively. He said, 'That would be enough for you of the fire,'101