Is Zakat due on fruits that do not become typical dates or raisins, such as Khamri grapes or Barniba/Haliyath dates?

Chapter on Zakat on Crops and Fruits

Al-Mughni

Book of Zakat

Book 8 · Issue 3 · Bab 4

Open in Qurani

Primary text

Zakat is due on grapes that do not yield raisins, like Khamri, and on dates that do not yield good dates, like Barniba and Haliyath. The justification for this is that such produce is generally storable, even if it is not stored in this specific instance because taking it while fresh is more beneficial. This characteristic of storability prevents the exemption from Zakat. However, Zakat is only obligatory when the yield reaches the minimum threshold of five wasqs, either as dates or raisins, according to one narration.

Supporting text

If it were argued that Zakat is not due because it is not stored, similar to vegetables or the male palm's spathe (ṭalaʿ al-faḥḥāl), the response is that it is generally storable, and the exemption does not apply merely because harvesting it fresh is more advantageous.