Agricultural Zakat From The Islamic Perspective

Agricultural zakat that is practiced in Malaysia is imposed on staple food of a particular region that has met the nisab (minimal value). However, there are issues of non-uniformity estimation of agricultural zakah for instance inconsistency nisab setting for metric weights, and the applied rate variability. What are the root causes of the problems? Therefore, this paper is an attempt to highlight some issues inherent in the conceptualisation of agricultural zakat from Islamic perspective by analysing the definition of zakat, crops that have to be imposed with zakat, nisab, the rates imposed based on irrigation, and the deduction of some costs prior to the imposition of zakat.  A qualitative methodology was employed to analyse the data through inductive, deductive, comparative approaches. The findings identified non-uniformity estimation of agricultural zakah occurred due to the varied interpretation enriching the Islamic legal tradition by different schools of juristic thought. These findings will assist the policy makers and the management of zakat institutions to harmonise agriculture zakat framework based on the authenticity of Islamic law for the social and economic development in Malaysia. Abstrak Di Malaysia, zakat pertanian hanya diwajibkan ke atas makanan asasi sesuatu tempat dan telah mencukupi nisab. Namun, terdapat isu ketidakselarasan taksiran zakat pertanian misalnya ketidakselarasan penetapan nisab bagi timbangan metrik gantang, dan kepelbagaian kadar yang dikenakan. Persoalannya, apakah faktor utama kepada isu ini? Justeru, kertas kajian ini merupakan usaha untuk mengetengahkan beberapa isu yang timbul dalam pendekatan konseptual  zakat pertanian dari perspektif Islam dengan menganalisa definisi zakat pertanian, tanaman yang dikenakan zakat, nisab, kadar yang dikenakan berdasarkan pengairan, dan potongan kos-kos tertentu sebelum diwajibkan zakat. Metodologi kualitatif digunakan bagi menganalisa data melalui kaedah induktif, deduktif, dan perbandingan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa ketidakselarasan taksiran zakat pertanian merupakan natijah daripada kepelbagaian cara berfikir dalam menentukan hukum menurut perspektif syarak bagi setiap mazhab. Implikasi kajian ini dapat membantu pembuat dasar dan pengurusan Institusi Zakat untuk menyelaraskan rangka kerja zakat pertanian berdasarkan keaslian undang-undang Islam bagi pembangunan dan pemantapan sosio ekonomi Malaysia.