What is the evidentiary basis for establishing Zakat obligations based on value or including small quantities of agricultural produce subject to Zakat?
Chapter on Zakat on Crops and Fruits
Al-Mughni
Book of Zakat
Primary text
The statement that Zakat is obligatory in small or large quantities of agricultural produce, or basing its obligation on value derived from other property, is rejected due to lack of supporting evidence or established principle. This is refuted by the Prophet's saying: 'There is no charity (Sadaqah) on less than five Wusq.' Establishing Zakat on both little and much contradicts the standards for all Zakat-liable wealth. Evaluating it based on another item contradicts all assets where one-tenth (Ashr) is due, as their measure is inherent. Evaluating it by the lowest value threshold of Zakat-liable property has no parallel. Analogizing it to commercial goods is invalid because Zakat on commercial goods is due on their value, not the commodity itself, whereas Zakat on agricultural produce must be taken from the produce itself.
Supporting text
The view that Zakat should be due on small quantities is further contradicted because this is wealth extracted from the earth where the requirement is one-tenth or half-tenth, so it should be treated like other items subject to those proportions. Also, for any wealth upon which Zakat is due, it is not incumbent upon small quantities, just as with other forms of wealth. Finally, there is no textual basis (Nass) or consensus (Ijma') for these opinions, nor do they fit the meaning of established principles; therefore, they must be discarded due to the absence of evidence.