What is the minimum taxable amount (Nisab) for saffron, cotton, and similar measured goods?
Chapter on Zakat on Crops and Fruits
Al-Mughni
Book of Zakat
Primary text
The Nisab for saffron, cotton, and other items considered measured goods (mawqutat) is one thousand six hundred Iraqi pounds, as these items are not measured by volume (kayl) but by weight, and thus their weight takes the place of volume measurement. This position was mentioned by Al-Qadi in Al-Mujarrad.
Supporting text
One opinion suggests that Zakat becomes due on saffron if its value reaches the Nisab threshold of the lowest class of agricultural produce subject to Zakat. This view is attributed to Abu Yusuf for saffron, arguing that since saffron cannot be evaluated on its own terms, it should be evaluated by something else, similar to commercial goods whose Zakat is taken from the lesser of two price thresholds. Furthermore, scholars affiliated with Al-Shafi'i stated that Zakat is obligatory on saffron whether it is little or much.