The Nisab of Zakah on Dates and the Time for Paying It

The questioner:
He says: I read in one of the books that if dates reach six hundred and twelve kilograms, zakah becomes obligatory on them. I have some questions about this topic. May Allah reward you with good. First, does the amount of the nisab for zakah on dates include what the farmer and his family eat, what he gives in charity, and what he gives as gifts?

The Shaykh:
First, the amount of the nisab (minimum threshold for zakah) for dates, as stated in the hadith: by the Nabawi sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg). So, if the total is three hundred sa' by the Nabawi sa', and the Nabawi sa' is approximately three kilograms, the known kilograms, then if the dates reach this amount or more, zakah (the obligatory alms) is due on them. It is one-tenth if these dates are watered without expense, or half of one-tenth if they are watered with expense and cost.

The presenter:
The rest of the question asks: Does the amount of the nisab for zakah include what the farmer and his family eat, what he gives in charity, and what he gives as gifts?

The Shaykh:
What befalls the farmer from the calamities, such as what he and his children eat before the dates are harvested, or what he spends on this fruit before it is harvested, there is no zakah on it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the assessors who estimate the fruit to leave for the farmer, to leave for him between one-third and one-quarter for his expenses, and what remains of the fruit. Yes.
And what he obtains after the harvesting, he pays zakah from it. So, zakah becomes obligatory when the fruit ripens. If the fruit ripens, zakah becomes obligatory on it, but it does not become established until it is complete, harvested, and obtained. At that time, the zakah becomes established. So, if the fruit is destroyed before that without negligence on the part of its owner, and he was unable to harvest it, then he owes nothing; because he was unable to obtain it, and it was destroyed by a heavenly decree. Yes, there is no human action in it, so he is not required to do anything; because it was destroyed before the obligation became established. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good and do you good. So, what the farmer and his family eat, what he gives in charity, and what he gives as gifts, does not enter into the nisab, Shaykh Salih?

The Shaykh:
What he eats before the obligation becomes established.

The presenter:
Before the existence becomes established, when does the existence become established, may Allah preserve you?

The Shaykh:
In the harvesting.

The presenter:
Before the drying.

The Shaykh:
The ability to obtain it and placing it in the threshing floor, as our brother says.

The presenter:
May Allah preserve you. It is known, as our brother says, that the harvesting process takes a period of time, so it takes a month or more. So when does he pay the zakah? At the beginning of the harvest or at the end?

The Shaykh:
He pays the zakah when he takes possession of it and obtains it from the harvesting. He pays the zakah from it. And if he pays it before that, there is no harm. Good, yes.

The presenter:
So, is it not required that he finish harvesting all the dates from the palm trees and then pay the zakah?

The Shaykh:
This is not required.

The presenter:
It is not required, whether it reaches the nisab or not.

The Shaykh:
What does not reach the nisab has no zakah on it.

The presenter:
May Allah do you good, may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh:
The obligation and the obtaining of the women.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good. If I pay the zakah on the dates at the time of their harvest, and I store the rest for a year or more, am I required to pay the zakah a second time?

The Shaykh:
The zakah on grains and fruits is paid only once. So, if he stores them for his need, there is no zakah on them, even if they remain for more than a year.