Zakat on Salary

Question:
I had a question about Zakah: In calculating the Zakah amount, you tend to make a parallel between the land production job and today's salaried job. If my understanding is correct, it is argued that in the Prophet's time, land production was the only way to earn money which has its parallel in today's salaried jobs. But this is not true because the Arabs used to trade as well. If it is true that we have to give 10% on salaried income, then it should be shown that the arabs of the Prophet's time also used to pay 10% on income generated by trading. Can you clarify this issue?

Response:
There are three categories of Zakat: livestock, wealth, and production. Zakat on trading could have taken two forms: it could have come under wealth or production. In accordance with an opinion of Umar, with whom Allah be pleased, it is said that trading was considered under the category of wealth for the purpose of zakat. It could also have been counted as production. This is a matter of ijtihad where there can be a difference of opinion. However, Umar's opinion has prevailed.

Now, where would we place salaries? They are either nowhere or under production. We understand that these are under the latter. And Allah knows the best.

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