The Early Opinions of Imam Mâlik on Zakât and the Process of their Transformation into Legal Rules within the Mâlikî School
Öz
This study is a comprehensive examination of Imam Mâlik’s views on zakât, analysed within the framework of the relationship between the early sources of the Mâlikî school and the subsequent juristic literature. Zakât, as one of the foundational institutions of Islamic law, functions not only as an act of worship but also as a mechanism of economic distribution. For this reason, the perspectives of the founding jurists on zakât hold importance not merely for determining individual legal rulings but also for their broader implications for social justice, wealth distribution, and economic stability. The study aims to identify how Imam Mâlik’s language of fatwâ influenced the formation of legal doctrine within the school and how this doctrinal structure was systematized in later periods. The primary sources of the research are the two essential works representing the early period of the Mâlikî school: al-Muwatta’ and al-Mudawwana. These texts constitute the most significant references that directly or indirectly transmit the views of Imam Mâlik. In the study, the statements contained in these works are evaluated in comparison with later Mâlikî literature, enabling the identification of points of continuity and divergence within the school across generations. This comparative analysis is carried out within the framework of classical Islamic legal methodology, employing the document analysis technique as a qualitative research method. The first stage of the research involves identifying Imam Mâlik’s fatwâs on zakât and examining the linguistic expressions he uses—for instance, terms such as “لا أرى بأساً” (I see no harm in it) and “تركها أحب إلي” (refraining from it is more preferable to me). The process through which these expressions gradually evolved into binding legal norms is then analysed through the works of later Mâlikî jurists. This sheds light on how the school systematized its fatwâ language and under what circumstances stricter or more flexible interpretations were adopted. The study addresses topics such as the nisâb requirement, zakât rates, the process of assessment for gold, silver, and other minerals, the hawl (one-year possession) condition, and the permissibility of paying zakât before its due time. These subjects are examined not only from a purely juristic perspective but also with attention to their economic implications and the internal differences of opinion within the school. Particular attention is devoted to contemporary juristic debates concerning the niṣāb, as well as to intra-madhhab discussions on whether minerals other than gold and silver are subject to zakāt. The analysis further addresses the range of Mālikī positions on the requirement that one lunar year (ḥawl) elapse over zakāt-liable wealth, and examines disagreements within the school regarding the permissibility of advance payment of zakāt (taʿjīl al-zakāt). These doctrinal divergences are also considered in relation to their practical application in Mālikī-dominant regions, particularly in Morocco. In this way, the study provides a holistic analysis of how Imam Mâlik’s early views on zakât evolved into formal legal doctrine and how these doctrines resonate within contemporary discussions. The findings of the research show that Imam Mâlik’s fatwâ style was transformed by later Mâlikî scholars into a structured legal language.
While the early period is characterized by concise, contextually grounded, and direct expressions, the later period developed these statements into detailed classifications of pillars, conditions, exceptions, and practical guidelines. This process strengthened intra-school coherence while also allowing the legal doctrine to adapt to the practical needs of different regions. From the perspective of Islamic economics, Imam Mâlik’s views on zakât contribute to maintaining a balanced distribution of wealth, stimulating economic circulation, and promoting social justice. The rules concerning zakât rates and payment timings have the effect of increasing the income of the poor while encouraging the wealthy to channel their resources toward productive investments. This study is significant in that it approaches zakât –often discussed in the literature primarily as a form of worship–through an integrated framework that brings together both its legal and economic dimensions. In conclusion, the study reveals how Imam Mâlik’s views on zakât underwent a long process of interpretation within the Mâlikî school and how this process yielded economic implications extending beyond the strictly juristic domain. The findings confirm that zakât is not merely an act of personal devotion but also a powerful instrument shaping the socioeconomic structure of society. Furthermore, an examination of Imam Mâlik’s fatwâ language provides key insights into the internal mechanisms of legal formation within the school as well as into how the foundational principles of Islamic law may be engaged in contemporary discourse.
Anahtar Kelimeler
İmam Mâlik’in Zekât Konusundaki Erken Dönem Görüşleri ve Mâlikî Mezhebinde Hükme Dönüşüm Süreci
Öz
Bu çalışma, İmam Mâlik’in zekât konusundaki görüşlerini derinlemesine analiz ederek onları Mâlikî mezhebinin erken dönem kaynakları ile sonraki dönem hukuk literatürü arasındaki süreklilik çerçevesine yerleştirmektedir. Zekât, hem ibadet boyutunu hem de bir yeniden dağıtım mekanizması olarak ekonomik işlevi bir arada barındıran, İslam hukukunun temel kurumlarından biridir. Bu nedenle, mezhep imamlarının konuya ilişkin görüşleri yalnızca pozitif hükümlerin tespiti açısından değil, aynı zamanda sosyal adalet, ekonomik denge ve servet dağılımı üzerindeki etkileri bakımından da önemli bir yere sahiptir. Erken dönemin iki temel eseri olan el-Muvatta ve el-Müdevvene, araştırmanın ana kaynaklarını oluşturmuştur. Bu eserlerde aktarılan görüşler, mezhebin daha sonraki metinleriyle karşılaştırılarak içsel devamlılıklar ve değişim noktaları tespit edilmiştir. Nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden biri olan doküman analizi çerçevesinde yürütülen bu inceleme, İmam Mâlik’in fetva dilinin karakteristik özelliklerini ortaya koymayı mümkün kılmıştır. “لا أرى بأساً” (bunda bir sakınca görmüyorum) ve “تركها أحب إلي” (bunu terk etmek bana daha sevimlidir) gibi ifadelerin zamanla mezhep içinde nasıl normatif bir anlam kazandığı incelenmiştir. Çalışma ayrıca nisâb eşiği, zekât oranları, altın, gümüş ve diğer madenlerin zekâta tâbi olup olmaması, hawl şartı ve zekâtın vadesinden önce ödenmesi gibi temel meseleleri ele almaktadır. Bu konulardaki mezhep içi görüş ayrılıkları ile Fas gibi Mâlikî geleneğinin hâkim olduğu bazı ülkelerdeki çağdaş uygulamalar da değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlar, İmam Mâlik’in kısa ve bağlamsal üslubunun, sonraki dönem fakihleri tarafından sistematik bir fıkıh dili hâline getirildiğini göstermektedir. Bu süreç, mezhebin hem iç tutarlılığını güçlendirmiş hem de farklı sosyoekonomik ihtiyaçlara uyum sağlamasına imkân tanımıştır. Ekonomik açıdan bakıldığında ise İmam Mâlik’in görüşleri, toplumsal dengeyi koruma, servet dolaşımını teşvik etme ve verimsiz birikimi önleme gibi temel hedeflerle uyumludur. Bu yönüyle Mâlikî zekât yaklaşımı yalnızca tarihsel bir ilgi alanı değil, aynı zamanda çağdaş İslam ekonomisi tartışmalarına ışık tutabilecek önemli bir referans niteliği taşımaktadır.
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Les Premières Opinions De L’Imam Mâlik Sur La Zakât Et Le Processus De Leur Transformation En Règle Juridique Au Sein De L’Ecole Malikite
Öz
Cette étude analyse de manière approfondie les conceptions d’Imam Mâlik concernant la zakât, en les situant dans la continuité entre les premières sources du madhhab mâlikite et la littérature juridique postérieure. La zakât constitue l’une des institutions fondamentales du droit islamique, combinant une dimension cultuelle et un rôle économique en tant que mécanisme de redistribution. Pour cette raison, les positions des fondateurs des écoles juridiques présentent un intérêt à la fois pour la détermination des règles positives et pour leurs implications en matière de justice sociale, d’équilibre économique et de répartition des richesses. Les deux œuvres majeures de la période ancienne, al-Muwatta’ et al-Mudawwana, ont servi de sources principales. Les propos qu’elles rapportent ont été comparés aux textes ultérieurs du madhhab afin d’identifier les continuités et les évolutions internes. Cette analyse, menée selon la méthodologie de l’analyse documentaire, qui fait partie des approches de recherche qualitative, a permis de dégager les caractéristiques du langage des fatwas d’Imam Mâlik. Des expressions telles que “لا أرى بأساً” ou “تركها أحب إلي” ont été étudiées pour comprendre comment des formulations initialement contextuelles ont progressivement acquis une portée normative dans la doctrine mâlikite. L’étude examine également des questions essentielles : le seuil du nisâb, les taux de zakât, l’assujettissement de l’or, de l’argent et d’autres minerais, la condition du ḥawl, ainsi que la possibilité d’acquitter la zakât avant son terme. Les divergences internes sur ces questions, ainsi que certaines pratiques contemporaines dans des pays de tradition mâlikite comme le Maroc, ont été mises en lumière. Les résultats montrent que le langage concis et nuancé d’Imam Mâlik a été systématisé par les juristes postérieurs, contribuant à renforcer la cohérence du madhhab tout en permettant son adaptation aux besoins socio-économiques variés. Sur le plan économique, ses positions soutiennent les objectifs d’équilibre social, de circulation des richesses et de lutte contre l’accumulation improductive. Ainsi, l’approche mâlikite de la zakât offre non seulement un intérêt historique, mais également des pistes pertinentes pour les débats contemporains en économie islamique.
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