إِذَا كَانَ مَوْضُوعاً فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ زَكَاةٌ وَ إِذَا عَمِلْتَ بِهِ فَأَنْتَ لَهُ ضَامِنٌ وَ الرِّبْحُ لِلْيَتِيمِ.
‘If it (asset) is not active (not used in business) Zakat is not due on it. If you use it in business, then you are responsible for it and its profit belongs to the orphan.’”
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَالُ الْيَتِيمِ يَكُونُ عِنْدِي فَأَتَّجِرُ بِهِ فَقَالَ إِذَا حَرَّكْتَهُ فَعَلَيْكَ زَكَاتُهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُحَرِّكُهُ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَ أَدَعُهُ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ قَالَ عَلَيْكَ زَكَاتُهُ[1].
“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the assets of orphans which are with me and I use it in business. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you move it, its Zakat is up on you.’ I then said, ‘I move it for eight months and leave it for four months.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Zakat due on it is on you.’”
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هَلْ عَلَى مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ زَكَاةٌ قَالَ لَا إِلَّا أَنْ يُتَّجَرَ بِهِ أَوْ يُعْمَلَ بِهِ.
“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if there is Zakat on orphan’s assets. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, Zakat is not due unless it is used in business or is made to work.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ لَيْسَ عَلَى مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ زَكَاةٌ وَ إِنْ بَلَغَ الْيَتِيمُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ لِمَا مَضَى زَكَاةٌ وَ لَا عَلَيْهِ فِيمَا بَقِيَ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَ فَإِذَا أَدْرَكَ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِ زَكَاةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلُ مَا عَلَى غَيْرِهِ مِنَ النَّاسِ.
“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Zakat is not due on orphans’ assets even when they become adults; they are not liable for Zakat of the previous years or of the remaining time, but when they become adults, they are required to pay Zakat. They are held responsible as others are held responsible.’”
أَنَّهُمَا قَالا لَيْسَ عَلَى مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الدِّينِ وَ الْمَالِ الصَّامِتِ شَيْءٌ فَأَمَّا الْغَلَّاتُ فَعَلَيْهَا الصَّدَقَةُ وَاجِبَةٌ.
“Zakat is not due on loans people owe to orphans’ as well as on the orphans immoveable assets; however, it is obligatory to pay Zakat for the orphans’ grains.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ لَيْسَ فِي مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ زَكَاةٌ إِلَّا أَنْ يُتَّجَرَ بِهِ فَإِنِ اتُّجِرَ بِهِ فَالرِّبْحُ لِلْيَتِيمِ فَإِنْ وُضِعَ فَعَلَى الَّذِي يَتَّجِرُ بِهِ.
“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Zakat is not due on the assets of orphans unless it is used in business, in which case the profit belongs to the orphans’ and if it (using it in business) is assigned to someone, then Zakat is upon the one who uses it in business.’”
أَرْسَلْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّ لِي إِخْوَةً صِغَاراً فَمَتَى تَجِبُ عَلَى أَمْوَالِهِمُ الزَّكَاةُ قَالَ إِذَا وَجَبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الصَّلَاةُ وَجَبَتِ الزَّكَاةُ قُلْتُ فَمَا لَمْ تَجِبْ عَلَيْهِمُ الصَّلَاةُ قَالَ إِذَا اتُّجِرَ بِهِ فَزَكِّهِ.
When Salah (prayer) becomes obligatory up on them, Zakat also become obligatory; however, in the case of those of them on whom Salah (prayer) is not obligatory but their asset is used in business, you must pay Zakat for such assets.’”
كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْوَصِيِّ أَ يُزَكِّي زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرَةِ عَنِ الْيَتَامَى إِذَا كَانَ لَهُمْ مَالٌ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ ع لَا زَكَاةَ عَلَى يَتِيمٍ[3].
‘Zakat is not due on orphans.”