What is Zakat?
Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam — an annual obligation to donate 2.5% of your net zakatable wealth to those in need, provided your wealth has exceeded the nisab (minimum threshold) for one full lunar year (hawl). It is not a tax and not voluntary charity (sadaqah) — it is a religious duty with a precise calculation.
An estimated 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide are subject to this obligation. The AAOIFI (Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions) estimates global annual Zakat at USD 200–400 billion — making it one of the largest wealth transfer mechanisms in the world. Yet most Muslims calculate it manually or with basic spreadsheets that don't account for live gold prices, country-specific rules, or complex assets.
This calculator is built for the global Muslim diaspora: select your country, enter your assets, and get a precise number — with both the gold and silver nisab threshold shown live, so you can apply whichever your scholar recommends.
The Zakat formula
Net Zakatable Wealth = Total Zakatable Assets − Total Deductions
Nisab (gold) = 87.48 g × live gold price per gram
Nisab (silver) = 612.36 g × live silver price per gram
Zakat Due = Net Wealth × 2.5% (only if Net Wealth ≥ Nisab)
Source: AAOIFI Zakat Standards; Dar al-Ifta al-Masriyya; IslamQA
What is and isn't zakatable
| Asset type | Zakatable? | Basis | School note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash & savings | ✅ Yes | Full value | All schools |
| Gold investment | ✅ Yes | Weight × live price | All schools |
| Gold jewelry (Hanafi) | ✅ Yes | Weight × live price | Hanafi only |
| Gold jewelry (majority) | ⚠️ Exempt | — | Maliki, Shafiʼi, Hanbali |
| Silver (investment) | ✅ Yes | Weight × live price | All schools |
| Stocks (trading) | ✅ Yes | Full market value | All schools |
| Stocks (long-term) | ⚠️ Partial | Cash/inventory only | AAOIFI method |
| Cryptocurrency | ✅ Yes | Market value | Majority of scholars, 2020+ |
| Business inventory | ✅ Yes | Market value of goods | All schools |
| Personal home | ❌ No | — | Not zakatable |
| Personal vehicle | ❌ No | — | Not zakatable |
| Business equipment | ❌ No | — | Fixed assets for use, not sale |
| Pension/provident fund | ⚠️ Complex | On withdrawal | Scholars differ |
Worked examples
UAE professional, Hanbali school
Omar earns in AED. Savings: AED 150,000. Gold investment (50g): ~AED 23,700. No debts. Gold nisab: ~AED 41,500.
Zakatable wealth = AED 150,000 + AED 23,700 = AED 173,700. Exceeds gold nisab. Zakat = AED 173,700 × 2.5% = AED 4,343.
Zakat due: AED 4,343
Pakistani family, Hanafi school
Fatima holds PKR 800,000 in savings, gold jewelry (80g, Hanafi = zakatable), PKR 200,000 business stock. Silver nisab: ~PKR 150,000.
Total zakatable = PKR 800,000 + jewelry value + PKR 200,000 > nisab. Zakat = (total) × 2.5%.
Zakat due: PKR 40,750+
UK diaspora Muslim, mixed assets
Ahmed holds £30,000 savings, £5,000 ISA stocks (trading), 0.5 BTC (~£25,000), £10,000 debt due this year. Silver nisab: ~£1,200.
Zakatable = £30,000 + £5,000 + £25,000 − £10,000 = £50,000. Exceeds nisab. Zakat = £50,000 × 2.5% = £1,250.
Zakat due: £1,250
Frequently asked questions
What is Zakat?
Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam — a mandatory annual charitable donation of 2.5% of a Muslim's total zakatable net wealth, paid once it exceeds the nisab threshold and has been held for one full lunar year (hawl). It is distinct from Sadaqah (voluntary charity) and Zakat al-Fitr (the end-of-Ramadan obligation).
What is nisab and which standard should I use?
Nisab is the minimum wealth threshold above which Zakat is due. Scholars provide two benchmarks: the gold standard (87.48g gold, ~USD 11,000 in 2026) and the silver standard (612.36g silver, ~USD 1,100 in 2026). The gold standard is standard in Gulf countries (Hanbali school); the silver standard is preferred in South Asia and Turkey (Hanafi school). This calculator shows both thresholds live — consult your scholar to confirm which applies to your situation.
Is gold jewelry zakatable?
It depends on your school of jurisprudence. Under the Hanafi school (South Asia, Turkey, and diaspora), all gold and silver — including worn jewelry — is zakatable. Under the Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools (Gulf, Southeast Asia, West Africa), personal-use jewelry is exempt. The calculator auto-sets this based on your country, but you can override it in the Setup tab.
Do I pay Zakat on stocks and cryptocurrency?
Yes. Stocks held for trading are zakatable at their full market value. For long-term investment holdings, many scholars recommend the liquid assets method — only the company's cash, receivables, and inventory count. Cryptocurrency is treated as a cash equivalent and is fully zakatable at market value on your Zakat date.
Can I deduct debts from my Zakat calculation?
Yes — debts payable within the next 12 months are deductible. For long-term debts (e.g., a mortgage), only the installments due within the coming year count. Interest payments (riba) cannot be deducted as they are prohibited in Islam. Deductions also include immediate bills and wages due.
Why is the silver nisab so much lower than the gold nisab?
Gold and silver prices have diverged dramatically in modern times. As of 2026, the gold nisab is roughly 10× higher than the silver nisab. Historically, when the thresholds were set, the ratio was much closer to parity. The silver standard makes Zakat obligatory at lower wealth levels — which is why many scholars recommend it as the more cautious and socially inclusive approach.
Do Zakat rules differ by country?
The core obligation — 2.5% on net zakatable wealth above nisab, held for one lunar year — is unanimous across all schools. What differs is: (1) the preferred nisab standard; (2) the jewelry rule; (3) whether Zakat is collected by the state (Saudi Arabia, Malaysia) or is a personal obligation. This calculator handles all 25 major Muslim-majority countries and diaspora regions.
When should I pay Zakat?
Zakat is due on your personal hawl date — the Islamic calendar anniversary of the first day your wealth exceeded nisab. This date repeats annually. Many Muslims pay during Ramadan for the spiritual reward, but it is due on your specific hawl date regardless of month. If you're unsure of your hawl date, paying before Ramadan each year is a safe default.
Related calculators
This calculator is an educational tool and does not constitute a fatwa or religious ruling. Always verify your Zakat calculation with a qualified Islamic scholar or authority. Gold and silver prices are sourced from gold-api.com and updated hourly. Nisab values follow AAOIFI standards. See Privacy Policy. Formula last verified June 2026.