The statements of the jurists (fuqaha) and their analysis regarding combining different Nisabs (minimum thresholds) for Qurbani (sacrificial offering) and Zakat

Abstract

This article presents a detailed juristic analysis of the issue of combining various types of wealth to determine the nisab (minimum threshold) for Zakah and Qurbani. It opens by outlining the foundational differences between the two acts in terms of their nisab, followed by an exploration of the classical jurists (fuqaha al-mutaqaddimin) positions on the permissibility of asset combination. Two key methods damm bil-qimah (combining by value) and damm bil-ajza (combining by kind)—are examined, shedding light on the foundational legal reasoning behind each. The article also reviews the views and fatawa of scholars from the recent past and the present era to show how this classical debate continues to shape contemporary Islamic financial thought.

Further, the study provides a comparative evaluation of the Shafi and Zahiri positions, as well as the consensus view of the jumhur (majority of jurists). Particular attention is given to the opinions of Imam Abu Hanifah regarding damm bil-qimah and Imam Malik and the Hanafi sahibayn on damm bil-ajza. Through this critical analysis, the article seeks to identify the opinion most aligned with the needs of the modern age, considering practical financial realities while remaining grounded in classical jurisprudence. The findings aim to offer clarity for contemporary application and fatwa development in issues of Zakah and Qurbani.

Keywords: Nisab, Qurbani, Zakat.