Does exchanging a Zakat-assessable property for a different species break the Zakat year (Hawl)?

Chapter on Zakat on Sheep

Al-Mughni

Book of Zakat

Book 8 · Issue 4 · Bab 3

Open in Qurani

Primary text

When a Nisab is exchanged for a non-same species, the Zakat year is broken, and a new year must commence, except in the case of exchanging gold for silver, or regarding trade goods (Urood al-Tijarah). Gold and silver are treated as a single category because they serve as compensatory values for injuries and damaged property, and thus are joined together in Zakat calculations. Similarly, if trade goods are purchased with a Nisab of currency, or if trade goods are sold for a Nisab, the Hawl is not broken because Zakat is due on the value of the goods, which is the currency, making them one class.

Supporting text

If one holds that gold and silver are not combined, then the Hawl of one cannot be built upon the other, analogous to different species of livestock. However, the Hawl for trade goods is always built upon the Hawl related to currency.