What Is Ushr? Zakat on Crops

22 June 2026 · gndzlp · ~8 min read

Ushr literally means "one-tenth," and in fiqh it refers to the zakat due on produce harvested from the land. While the zakat on cash, gold and trade goods is paid once a year at 2.5%, the zakat on crops has its own distinct time, rate and calculation. In this article we look — with simple examples — at which produce ushr is due on, when it is paid, at what rate, and why the rate is split in two.

Note: This article is for general guidance only. For rulings specific to your situation, please consult a qualified scholar or a reliable religious authority such as Turkey's Diyanet.

The basis for ushr

The zakat on crops is explicitly commanded in the Qur'an: "…And give its due (its ushr) on the day of its harvest; and do not be wasteful…" (Surah al-An'am, 141). This verse indicates both the time at which the zakat is to be given (harvest time) and that there is a "due right" within the bounty of the land. For it is Allah who brings forth the crop, sends down the rain and grants the blessing; ushr is a thankfulness for this bounty and the share within it that belongs to those in need.

Three differences between ushr and zakat

In the broad sense, ushr is a type of zakat; however, it differs from the zakat on cash and trade goods in three respects:

• Time: Ushr has no requirement of waiting a full year (hawl). The produce is subject to zakat at every harvest; if two crops are taken in a year, ushr is given twice.
• Rate: While the zakat on cash is 2.5%, ushr is 10% or 5% (explained below).
• Subject matter: The subject of ushr is not accumulated wealth, but produce freshly brought forth from the land.

Why is the rate split into 10% and 5%?

Here lies the most refined and most just aspect of ushr: the rate changes according to how the produce is irrigated.

• Watered by rain, river, spring or snowmelt — that is, without labor or cost: one-tenth (10%).
• Watered by bucket, water-wheel, motor pump or purchased water — that is, with labor and expense: one-twentieth (5%).

The wisdom here is clear: less is asked of the farmer whose costs are high. Because the net earnings of someone who spends labor and money on irrigation are lower, the zakat rate is halved as well. This is a fine example of Islam's balanced approach in zakat, one that takes cost and labor into account. (For the hadith source, see Bukhari, Zakat.)

Which produce is ushr due on?

On this point there is a difference of opinion among the schools of law:

• According to the Hanafi school: Ushr is due on every product that is deliberately cultivated from the land and has some benefit (wheat, barley, rice, corn, vegetables and fruit, cotton, and so on). Whether the amount is small or large makes no difference.
• According to the majority (Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali): Ushr is due only on staple foods that can be stored — such as wheat, barley, dates and raisins. Quickly perishable vegetables and fruit are exempt from ushr.

Is there a nisab?

Here too there are two approaches:

• The Hanafis: No nisab is sought for crops; ushr is due whether the amount is little or much.
• The majority: The nisab is five wasq, that is, around 653 kg. No ushr is required on a harvest below this amount. The basis: "There is no zakat on produce that is less than five wasq." (Bukhari, Muslim.)

Example calculation

Suppose a farmer irrigated their field with rain alone and harvested 2,000 kg of wheat:

Had the same farmer drawn the water with a motor pump and at a cost, the rate would be halved:

Ushr may be given, at the giver's choice, in kind from the produce itself or as cash based on the current market value. Whether modern farming costs such as fertilizer, pesticides and labor may be deducted from the calculation is a matter of fiqh debate; on this point it is best to refer to the current view of the Diyanet.

To whom is ushr given?

Since ushr also has the ruling of zakat, it is given to the categories named in the Qur'an (Surah at-Tawbah, 60): the poor, the needy, those in debt, the stranded traveler and others. Priority most often goes to those in need within the local area.

Related: What Is Zakat, and How Is It Calculated? →

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