Towards A Unified Zakat System

wild plants used for wood and wild grass. The reason forthis disagreement is that the Qur'an has made generalreferences to all plants while the Prophet's teachings havemade exact references to the four main products: wheat,barley, dates and raisins. Some Muslim scholars havethought, therefore, that Zakat is only a duty on those fourproducts. Others have thought Zakat is due on all productsthat have the characteristics of these four products. Athird group are of the opinion that Zakat is due on allproducts and the precise mentioning of the four products inthe Prophet's teachings were because they were the mainproducts grown at that time (Shahata, 1977). It seemsreasonable to accept the view, as correct, of those who seeZakat as an obligation that should be paid on allagriculture products because of the general reference toZakat on all products by the Qur'an; not excluding anyproduct specifically mentioned by the Prophet (Abujindi,1988). In this regard, Al-Qaradawi (1986) says thisdirection is what agrees with the wisdom of the legislator.It is not wise - as it appears to us - that thelegislator would obligate the grower of wheat and barley topay Zakat and not do the same to someone who owns groves ofapples, oranges and/or mangos.127