The Nisaab of camels counted for zakat is five camels and the amount of zakat to be levied is a goat. If it reached ten camels, then the amount of zakat to be levied is two goats and the due zakat for twenty-five camels is a one year old she-camel. My question is as follows: "If I have five camels but do not have a goat, what should I pay for zakat instead?"

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

The basic principle for zakat is that it is to be paid in kind, from the same merchandise on which it is due, just as Allaah, the Exalted, prescribed. Indeed, zakat is an act of worship and a means to draw closer to Allaah, The Exalted. This entails abiding by the Islamic sharia and offering it exactly as determined by the Quran and Sunnah.

However, Muslim jurists differed in the permissibility of paying the monetary value of property eligible for zakat instead of in-kind zakat. Perhaps the most prepondrant opinion in this regard is what Ibn Taymiyyah deemed preponderant, which is that it is permissible due to the need and interest of the people. He said in Majmoo’ Al-Fataawa, “As for paying the value of wealth eligible for zakat in money because of a need, interest or justice, there is nothing wrong with that. For example, a man may sell the fruits or crops of his land for some dirhams. In this case, he should pay a tenth of the value of these dirhams (i.e.10%). He should not be asked to buy fruits or wheat with this money of zakat if he was just with the poor. Imaam Ahmad stated the permissibility of such an act. Also, if he has five camels, then he is obliged to give a sheep as zakat, but if he does not find a sheep to buy, he can pay the value in money and is not obliged to travel to another city to buy a sheep.”

Hence, the questioner can buy a sheep and pay it as zakat and this is better in order to avoid the differences of opinions among scholars. Otherwise he can pay the value of zakat in money and give it to eligible recipients of zakat from the poor or needy.

Allaah Knows best.