the Prophet said: "There is no charity due on less than five camels, and there is no charity due on what is less than five Uqiyah (of silver), and there is no charity due on what is less than five Wasaq."
Hadith Text & Reference
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "There is no charity due on less than five camels, and there is no charity due on what is less than five Uqiyah (of silver), and there is no charity due on what is less than five Wasaq."
Source: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 626 | Book: The Book on Zakat | Author: Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Explanation of Nisab Thresholds
Five Camels: This establishes the minimum quantity (nisab) for zakat on livestock. Below five camels, no zakat is obligatory, reflecting the Islamic principle that zakat is only due on wealth exceeding basic needs.
Five Uqiyah of Silver: One Uqiyah equals 40 dirhams, making five Uqiyah equivalent to 200 dirhams (approximately 595 grams of pure silver). This was the standard nisab for silver currency and represents the minimum wealth threshold for zakat eligibility.
Five Wasaq: One Wasaq equals 60 Sa' (approximately 653 kg), making five Wasaq about 3,265 kg of staple crops. This threshold applies to agricultural produce from irrigated land, ensuring zakat is only due on substantial harvests.
Legal Rulings & Wisdom
This hadith establishes three fundamental nisab thresholds in Islamic law, demonstrating that zakat is not imposed on small-scale wealth but rather on surplus assets that indicate financial stability.
The wisdom behind these specific measures includes: protecting the poor from being burdened, ensuring the zakat system only affects those with true financial capacity, and creating clear, measurable standards that prevent ambiguity in religious obligation.
Scholars have determined that these measurements remain the basis for contemporary zakat calculations, with modern equivalents being established through careful scholarly research while maintaining the original prophetic proportions.