Jurists who agree that zakah is compulsory on the funds of sane Muslims after puberty, disagree on whether it is compulsory on the funds of the child and the insane individual. There exist two contrasting points of view. The first is that zakah is either not obligatory at all or only mandatory on specific kinds of wealth of children and the insane, and the second asserts that zakah is obligatory on all of their assets.

A. Abu 'Ubaid reports from Abu Ja'far al Baqer and al Sha'bi that there is no zakah on the funds of the orphan.18 Ibn Hazm mentions a similar view from al Nakh'i and Shuraih.19

B. It Is reported from al Hasan that there is no zakah on the wealth of the orphan except on agricultural products and livestock.20 Ibn Hazm reports in al Muhalla that Ibn Shabrumah had a similar view.21

C. In al Amwal, Mujahid is reported as saying that any form of wealth of the orphan that has growth potential such as livestock, agricultural products, and business funds, should be zakated, and any kind of wealth that is stagnant is not zakatable until the orphan reaches puberty, and should then be given to him.22 Al Lakhmi,, a Malikite jurist, stated that foregoing zakah on a child whose wealth does not grow is like the case in which the owner cannot make the wealth grow, e.g. buried treasure whose whereabouts are unknown, or an inheritance not know to the heir. Ibn Bashir explains that incapacitation in the case of the child is related to the nature of his ownership.

There is no disagreement that for the person who must pay zakah, inability to invest his wealth is not sufficient reason to waive zakah except for the case where the property is of a stagnant Character. Ibn al Hajeb contends that the argument of al Lakhml is weak.23

D. Abu Hanifah and his disciples argued that zakah is obligatory on agricultural products only, all other assets are exempt.24 Ibn Hazm commented that he knew of no one who preceded Abu Hanifah with such a distinction. But the author of al Bahr al Zakhkhar of the Zaidi school reported it from Zaid bin 'Ali and Ja'far al Sadiq,25

contemporaries of Abu Hanifah.26 However, it seems incredible that this view of Zaid, al Sadiq, and al Naser, who are of Ahl al Bait contradicts what is correctly reported from 'Ali. 'Ali used to pay zakah on funds of Abu Rafi's children, who were orphans. When Zaid was asked about this he replied, "We of Ahl al Bait deny this report."27

A. This group of scholars looked mainly at the second consideration mentioned earlier, i.e. that zakah is a pure worship, which requires intention. Children and the insane cannot fulfill this requirement. They are not, therefore, addressed with the command of worship. Prayer is not required from them, and for the same reason, zakah should not be.28

B. This opinion is supported by sunnah. Prophet Muhammad (p) said, "The Pen is suspended from three: The child until puberty, the sleeping until awakening, and the insane until recovery.29 Suspension of the Pen stands for cessation of the recording of sins and for the release from obligations, since obligation applies only to those who understand the address of God. Childhood, insanity, and sleep prevent that understanding.

C. Their stance is also supported by the holy verse, "of their goods, take zakah that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them."30 Purification is needed from sins and evil.

The child and the insane have none of these, and need no purification or sanctification, so they should not be among those from whom zakah must be taken.

It is ironic to notice that these three arguments do not stand in support of the Hanafite stance that zakah is obligatory on some kinds of the child's wealth and not others. On the other hand, these arguments may bolster the view of al Baqir, al Sha'bi, al Nakh'i and Shuraih since they perceive zakah as not required on all kinds of wealth belonging to the child and the insane.

D. The well-being of the child and the insane demands that their wealth stay intact and not be used up by zakah payments. Growth is not realized in the assets of the child and the insane because of their weakness and inability to sustain their matters. There is always the fear that the repetitive collection of zakah over years may consume all their wealth and leave them poor and in need.

This may be the reason behind the opinion of Mujahid that zakah is mandatory on that kind of wealth of the child and the insane that grows of its own such as agricultural products and livestock, and wealth that grows by action such as money used in business.

It could also be the reason for the report that al Hasan al Basri and Ibn Shabrumah only excluded the child's gold and silver from zakah. As for fruits, produce, and livestock, they have considered them zakatable since growth is realized in them, whereas money, gold and silver do not grow except through business ventures and investment. The child and the insane cannot engage in such ventures, so they are exempt from zakah on this kind of wealth.

This opinion is expressed by 'Ata', Jabir bin Zaid, Tawus, Mujahid, and al Zuhri, all of them are Followers. Of the Second Generation, Rabi'ah, Malik, al Shafi'i, Ahmad, Ishaq, al Hasan bin Saleh, Ibn Abi Laila, Ibn 'Uyainah, Abu 'Ubaid, and Abu Thawr agreed. This view is expressed by al Hadi and al Mu'ayad Billah of the Shiites; it is also the view of the Companions 'Umar, his son, Ali, 'Aisha, and Jabir. These did not make any exceptions like those made by Mujahid, al Hasan, Ibn Shabrumah, and Abu Hanifah.

1. They argue that the verses and authentic sayings about the mandate of zakah on the assets of the wealthy are general. They do not exclude children or the insane. Take as an example the verse "Of their wealth take zakah that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them." Ibn Hazm explains, "and see how general it is. It includes the child, the adult, the sane and the insane. All these are in need of purification and sanctification of God. They are all believers." Similarly, the Prophet told Mu'adh before he left for Yemen: "And inform them that God imposes on their funds a zakah to be taken from the wealthy and rendered to the poor among them." Children and the insane receive zakah if they are poor, so they must pay it if they are rich. Ibn Hazm continues, 'This general text is addressed to all wealthy Muslims, including the child and the insane.'31

2. Al Shafi'i reported from Yusef bin Mahak that the Messenger of God, (p) said:

"Invest the fund of the orphans so they may not be used up by zakah." The chain of narrators of this saying is correct, as confirmed by al Baihaqi and al Nawawi. But Yusef is a Follower who never met the Messenger of God (p) so his saying is mursal.

However, al Shafi'i says that this mursal saying is supported by the general implication of other texts and by what is authentically reported from the Companions that zakah is compulsory on the assets of orphans.32

Al Tabarani reported in his al Mu'jam al Awsat from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of God (3) said. "Make trading with the funds of the orphans so the funds may not be consumed by zakah." Referring to al Hafez Zain al 'Iraqi, al Haitami said in Majma' al Zawa'id33, "I was told by my teacher and shiekh that the chain of this saying is correct.34 Al Tirmidhi reported from 'Amr bin Shu'aib from his father from his grandfather from the Prophet (p) ''He who is a guardian of an orphan should make business for the orphan and not let his assets be used up by zakah." The chain of this hadith is controversial but its meaning is reported authentically as being said by 'Umar bin al Khattab. Al Baihaqi reported through Sa'id bin al Musayyib that 'Umar bin al Khattab said, "make business with the funds of the orphans so they may not be consumed by zakah." Al Baihaqi found the chain to be correct and bolstered by other reports.35 Accordingly, these ordinances of the Prophet (p) indicate that zakah is compulsory on the wealth of orphans since the guardians are not permitted to make any voluntary contributions out of such wealth because these contributions make the orphans unnecessarily poorer

The evidence provided by those who regard zakah as mandatory on funds of children and the insane seems to outweigh that of the other view. It is the stance of the majority of scholars from among the Companions, the Followers, and later generations.

A. The universality of the texts and their covering of children and adults, sane and insane is a sound argument that should not be underestimated. God made zakah a right of the poor, the needy, and other deservants on the affluent. These texts did not make special provisions regarding the age or sanity of the rich, in spite of special attention Shari'ah gives to preserving the funds of orphans. 'Those who want to exclude children and the insane from zakah are called upon to furnish evidence from Qur'anic texts or from hadith.

B. The saying reported by Yusef bin Mahak commanding the investment of the funds of orphans in order not to let zakah payment wear them out is an authentic one.

Though it is mursal, it has corroberating reports and it is within the general trend of the texts. Additionally, it is supported by sayings of the Companions, as well as the saying of Anas reported by al Tabarani and confirmed by al Haitami and al 'Iraqi.

C. There is no doubt that the agreement of many Companions such as 'Umar, 'Ali, ' Aisha, Ibn 'Umar, and Jabir has great importance in such an issue of public concern and frequent occurrence, especially in a society in which martyrs and orphans were plenty.

No scholar would dare to neglect this agreement in understanding especially since these Companions lived at the same time as the Messenger, and were fully aware of the warnings to those who wasted the assets of orphans. It is significant that there is not a single report from any Companion to the effect that zakah is not mandatory on the funds of orphans. What is narrated by Ibn Mas'ud and Ibn 'Abbas is weak to the extent that it could not stand critical analysis.44

D. If we look carefully at the objective of zakah we may come to the conclusion that funds of a wealthy child or insane person should be covered by zakah, like other financial responsibilities on their funds. There is no doubt that zakah is a right of other people. It is covered by the verses, "and in their wealth, there is a defined right for he who asks and he who is destitute" and "zakah is only for the poor, the needy,...etc." This was the perception of the First Successor as seen in his saying to 'Umar: "By God I shall fight he who differentiates between prayer and zakah, since zakah is the right on wealth." This is reported in the two correct books (of hadith). There is universal agreement among scholars that the assets of the child and the insane are subject to the right of other people. Childhood and insanity do not preclude financial liability to others, including fines, due expenses, and other contractual responsibilities.45

A. Those who do not obligate zakah on the child and the insane claim that they are not covered by the verse, "of their wealth take zakah that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them" because purification means cleansing from sins and the child and the insane are not sinful. However, the fact that purification is not merely removal of sins should be emphasized. Purification includes moral uplifting, psychological growth, and training to be helpful and merciful; it also means purification of the assets themselves.

Even if we accept purification to be only for sins, the meaning of the verse need not be limited, according to al Nawawi.47 Zakah is not only purification. It is undisputed that there is another reason for zakah, i.e. fulfillment of the needs of Muslims. The child and the insane, as Muslims, can share in such a fulfillment.

B. As for the saying, "The Pen is suspended from three,,,etc.", it means according to al Nawawi that those three may not be held sinful. No one claims that they are sinful.

No one says zakah must be payed by them personally. My opinion is that zakah is obligatory on their assets. Their guardians are required to pay it just as they are asked to dispose of other financial responsibilities.48 The suspension of Pen from them does not imply waiving their financial responsibilities toward others, such as wives and other relatives. Why should the responsibilities toward the needy and the wayfarer be abandoned?

C. There is the argument that zakah is a form of worship just like prayer and requires intention. Since the child and the insane are not liable to having intentions, they should not be required to pay zakah. The reply to this is that we all agree that zakah is a worship, the twin of prayer and one of the pillars of Islam, but it should be added that zakah is a distinct worship because of its financial and social character. It is a financial worship that can be done by proxy. Rules applicable to rights of others (huquq al 'ibad)

apply to it. According to the Hanafites, a person of the pledge can be assigned to pay it on behalf of the zakah payer. Ibn Hazm adds, it is true zakah needs intention, but Muslims and Muslim governor are ordered to collect zakah by the verse, "take zakah out of their wealth." Therefore, if the zakah collector has that intention, he can take it from the funds of the absentee, the person who is in coma, the insane, and the child, without any need for their own intention.49

In summary, zakah is a financial worship that can be done by proxy, and the guardian, as an operator on behalf of the child or the insane, can fulfill it. It is unlike bodily worship such as prayer and fasting that need to be done by the person himself.

Zakah is obligatory on the property of children and the insane. It is a right on those assets that is not waived by young age or insanity. It makes no difference whether those assets are in the form of livestock, agricultural produce, fruits, business assets, or money, except for liquid cash earmarked for future necessary expenditure, whereby it is not considered in excess of essential needs. The guardian of the child or the insane is required to pay zakah on their behalf. It is preferred, according to some Malikites, that a court order be sought so the guardian can protect himself against future claims based on Hanafite’s viewpoint.