Zakah upon fruits when transferred to heirs

Q: Some brothers received an inheritance of harvested dates. Should they pay the Zakah (obligatory charity) on the dates before they share them out or wait until after they have shared them out, so each of them knows what their share is, and then they pay their Zakah on it in their own way? Does the Hadith reported on the authority of Abu Bakr, "Do not combine the separated nor separate the combined..." apply to this situation or does it just apply to Zakah upon sheep?

A: It is obligatory on each of the heirs to pay the Zakah on their share, if their share reaches the Nisab (the minimum amount on which Zakah is due). The Nisab amounts to five Wasqs (1 Wasq = 60 Sa`s =130,320 kg) as measured by the Sa` (1 Sa` = 2.172 k) of the Prophet (peace be upon him).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.