Are sheep and camels that have reached the niṣāb and upon which a ḥawl has passed, and which eat from cultivated grasses and for which food is purchased at the owner's expense, and for which care costs are paid, considered sāʾimah or not?
There is no zakat on livestock (Bahīmat al-Anʿām) that are fed and not free-grazing, according to the majority of scholars, unless they are intended for trade. There is a disagreement regarding whether animals that graze on privately owned fodder are considered free-grazing (sāʾimah) or fed (maʿlūfah). Some hold that they are free-grazing if the cost of the fodder is negligible, while others consider them fed if there is a cost incurred for their growth. If the owner buys or cultivates fodder for the livestock, there is no zakat on them due to the absence of free-grazing. Therefore, zakat is not obligatory on your camels and sheep as long as they remain in this state. However, paying zakat as a precautionary measure and to avoid disagreement is considered good and recommended.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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