What is the ruling regarding Zakat on twenty-five camels if payment is delayed for several years, specifically concerning the requirement to pay the Zakat from the asset itself?
Chapter on Zakat on Sheep
Al-Mughni
Book of Zakat
Primary text
If a person owns twenty-five camels and several years pass without payment, one Bint Makhad is due in the first year, and four sheep are due for each subsequent year. It is permissible to pay Zakat exceeding the value of a Bint Makhad if the asset allows for payment of a higher value, as the Zakat obligation can attach to the specific camels due to the possibility of payment being rendered from them.
Supporting text
It is argued that if there is no Bint Makhad available among twenty-five camels, the due Zakat should be paid from other means, and therefore the Zakat amount should not diminish in subsequent years either. However, this is refuted by stating that if the payment made is greater than a Bint Makhad, it is accepted because the obligation could initially attach to the asset, unlike twenty camels, from which a single sheep is not accepted.