Zakat on gold and silver
The nisab and rate for gold and silver, what happens above the nisab, and the rules for mixed metals, currency and combined holdings.
Zakat is due on gold and silver in any form: coins, jewellery (worn or not), or things made of them, once you have owned enough for a year.
| Metal | Nisab | Rate | Zakat due at the nisab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 200 dirhams (425 grams 285 milligrams) | one-fortieth (2.5%) | 5 dirhams (10 grams 632 milligrams) |
| Gold | 20 mithqals (60 grams 755 milligrams) | one-fortieth (2.5%) | half a mithqal (1 gram 519 milligrams) |
Zakat is not obligatory if silver is less than 425 grams 285 milligrams, or gold is less than 60 grams 755 milligrams. The widely known figures of 52.5 tolas of silver and 7.5 tolas of gold are based on older measurements.
A few more rules
- Zakat on silver must be paid with silver, and Zakat on gold with gold.If you pay one metal's Zakat using the other metal, its value in money is used instead.
- If gold and silver are mixed and one is the greater part, follow the nisab of that metal, and if it is gold, gold is used even when amounts are close, since gold is worth more.
- If someone has both gold and silver, each is given its own Zakat if each reaches its own nisab.
- If a little gold and a little silver, neither reaching the nisab alone, add up to the nisab together, Zakat is due on the total. If not, no Zakat is due.
- If gold or silver alone falls short of the nisab, but adding trade goods to it reaches the nisab, Zakat is due on the combined amount.
- Ordinary money kept just as money has no nisab and no Zakat of its own, but if it is money used for trade and its value reaches the nisab of gold or silver, Zakat is due on it.
Zakat is obligatory on both gold and silver regardless of their form: coins, jewellery worn or unworn, utensils, even gold or silver embroidery or patches, once the nisab is met.
| Metal | Nisab | Rate | Zakat due at the nisab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 200 dirhams (425 grams 285 milligrams) | one-fortieth (2.5%) | 5 dirhams (10 grams 632 milligrams) |
| Gold | 20 mithqals (60 grams 755 milligrams) | one-fortieth (2.5%) | half a mithqal (1 gram 519 milligrams) |
Zakat is not obligatory if silver is less than 425 grams 285 milligrams, or gold is less than 60 grams 755 milligrams. The widely known figures of 52.5 tolas of silver and 7.5 tolas of gold are based on older measurements.
If silver exceeds the nisab by one-fifth or more (85 grams 57 milligrams extra) or gold exceeds its nisab by one-fifth or more (12 grams 151 milligrams extra), Zakat is due on the excess too, for example, 2 grams 126 milligrams of Zakat on that extra 85 grams 57 milligrams of silver, and 304 milligrams on that extra 12 grams 151 milligrams of gold. If the excess is less than one-fifth, no Zakat is due on it.
Mixtures and combinations
- Gold and silver mixed together.If silver is the dominant metal, the ruling and nisab of silver apply (or of gold, if it is gold that meets the nisab); if gold is the dominant metal, the ruling of gold applies, gold being more valuable.
- Gold or silver mixed with another substance.If the other substance is not dominant, the Zakat still follows the original metal. If the other substance is dominant, the ruling for that metal no longer applies on that basis alone.
- Owning both silver and gold.Each is given its own separate Zakat if each individually reaches its own nisab.
- A small amount of each, neither alone reaching the nisab.If the silver and the gold together reach a nisab, Zakat is due on the combined amount; if not, none is due.
- Gold or silver below the nisab, combined with trade goods.If the trade goods, added to the gold or silver, bring the total to the nisab, Zakat is due on the combined value.
- Ordinary currency not held for trade.Such currency carries no nisab of its own and no Zakat is due on it as such. If it is trade money and its value reaches the nisab of gold or silver, Zakat becomes obligatory on it.
Zakāh is obligatory on gold and silver in every form: coined, worked into jewellery whether worn or laid aside, made into vessels, or even present as gilt embroidery or patches, once the niṣāb is reached.
| Metal | Nisab | Rate | Zakat due at the nisab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 200 dirhams (425 grams 285 milligrams) | one-fortieth (2.5%) | 5 dirhams (10 grams 632 milligrams) |
| Gold | 20 mithqals (60 grams 755 milligrams) | one-fortieth (2.5%) | half a mithqal (1 gram 519 milligrams) |
Zakat is not obligatory if silver is less than 425 grams 285 milligrams, or gold is less than 60 grams 755 milligrams. The widely known figures of 52.5 tolas of silver and 7.5 tolas of gold are based on older measurements.
Where silver exceeds its niṣāb by a full one-fifth or more (85 grams 57 milligrams beyond the 425 grams 285 milligrams niṣāb), or gold exceeds its niṣāb by a full one-fifth or more (12 grams 151 milligrams beyond the 60 grams 755 milligrams niṣāb), Zakāh becomes due on the excess as well, calculated at the same one-fortieth: 2 grams 126 milligrams on that increment of silver, 304 milligrams on that increment of gold. An excess of less than one-fifth carries no additional Zakāh.
| Situation | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Gold and silver alloyed together | The ruling and niṣāb of whichever metal is dominant apply; where gold is dominant, gold’s ruling applies even at parity, gold being of greater value. |
| Gold or silver alloyed with a non-precious substance | If the other substance is not dominant, the metal’s own ruling still applies; if it is dominant, that ruling no longer applies on that basis. |
| Both metals owned separately, each reaching its own niṣāb | Each is zakāhed separately. |
| A quantity of each below its own niṣāb | If gold and silver together reach a niṣāb (by value), Zakāh is due on the combined holding; otherwise none is due. |
| Gold or silver below niṣāb, held alongside trade goods | If the trade goods, added to the metal, bring the total to the niṣāb, Zakāh is due on the whole. |
| Ordinary (non-trade) currency | Carries no niṣāb of its own and no Zakāh; if it is trade currency (māl at-tijārah) whose value reaches the niṣāb of gold or silver, Zakāh is obligatory on it. |
Terms on this page
Related
- Zakat on trade goods How the nisab and value of stock-in-trade are worked out, and when profit and rented items are or are not liable to zakat.
- Miscellaneous rules of zakat The age of a zakat animal, why herds of different animals cannot be combined, and the option to pay zakat in cash or in kind.
- The ruling on zakat, and when it becomes obligatory Who zakat is obligatory on, what denying it means, and the eight conditions that must all be met before zakat is due.
- Who must offer qurbani, and when Who qurbani is obligatory on, the niṣāb that makes someone wealthy enough, who it is offered for, and the three days it can be done.