Explanation of the author's statement: "If he acquired it through his own action with the intention of trade, and its value reached the nisab, he pays zakah on its value."
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The Shaykh : However, the obligation of zakah on trade goods is subject to conditions, which the author indicated by his statement "If he acquired it through his own action". This is the first condition: that his ownership of it be through his own action, such as buying, receiving as a gift, accepting a present, or the like. The meaning is that it entered his ownership by his choice.
The second condition is the intention of trade. This means he did not buy it or acquire it through his own action with the intention of keeping it, or with any other intention other than trade. He must acquire it through his own action with the intention of trade.
The third condition is that its value reached the nisab, in which case he pays zakah on its value. What is meant is its value. Thus, the conditions are three, in addition to the five previous conditions in the chapter on zakah, because these conditions are specific, whereas those mentioned at the beginning of the book on zakah are general. The author benefited us with his statement "If he acquired it" by informing us that it applies by whatever means he acquired it, whether by buying, by the consideration of a lease, by receiving as a gift, by the consideration of khul', by a mahr, or by any other type of acquisition. It is general; every acquisition counts. For example, if a man buys a car to make a profit from it, this is a trade good. If its value reaches the nisab and he intended trade at the time of purchase, it is zakatable. If he bought a car for personal use and then decided to sell it, it is not a trade good because he did not intend trade at the time he acquired it. Therefore, he must intend trade from the moment of acquisition. If he bought something for trade but it does not reach the nisab, and he has nothing to add to it to reach the nisab, he owes no zakah, because reaching the nisab is a condition for the obligation of zakah.
The second condition is the intention of trade. This means he did not buy it or acquire it through his own action with the intention of keeping it, or with any other intention other than trade. He must acquire it through his own action with the intention of trade.
The third condition is that its value reached the nisab, in which case he pays zakah on its value. What is meant is its value. Thus, the conditions are three, in addition to the five previous conditions in the chapter on zakah, because these conditions are specific, whereas those mentioned at the beginning of the book on zakah are general. The author benefited us with his statement "If he acquired it" by informing us that it applies by whatever means he acquired it, whether by buying, by the consideration of a lease, by receiving as a gift, by the consideration of khul', by a mahr, or by any other type of acquisition. It is general; every acquisition counts. For example, if a man buys a car to make a profit from it, this is a trade good. If its value reaches the nisab and he intended trade at the time of purchase, it is zakatable. If he bought a car for personal use and then decided to sell it, it is not a trade good because he did not intend trade at the time he acquired it. Therefore, he must intend trade from the moment of acquisition. If he bought something for trade but it does not reach the nisab, and he has nothing to add to it to reach the nisab, he owes no zakah, because reaching the nisab is a condition for the obligation of zakah.