What is Nisab?

Nisab is the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to zakat.

The Nisab was set by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) at a rate equivalent to: 87.48 grams of gold and 612.36 grams of silver.

As we no longer use silver or gold as currency, you need to find out the equivalent monetary exchange value of the rates the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) set in your local currency. You can do this by checking the market rate of gold and silver.

The two values used to calculate the Nisab thresholds are gold and silver.

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Nisab Value (as of 20/02/2024):

Using value of silver (612.36 grams) – approximately $744

Using value of gold (87.48 grams) – approximately $9,287

In the Hanafi madhab, the value of silver is used to ascertain the nisab threshold and eligibility to pay Zakat. The other madhabs use the value of gold.

Islamic Relief advises its donors to use the silver value (which is almost always a lower threshold to gold) because this allows for a greater amount to be eligible for Zakat, which means more help for deserving Zakat recipients.

What does the term ‘Hawl’ mean?

In explanations of Zakat, you may hear the term ‘hawl’ – which means a lunar year. Therefore, a hawl (lunar year) is 354 days long.

You should make your zakat payment one hawl (lunar year) after you become eligible to pay Zakat. However, this is only if your wealth on that date is still at – or above – the nisab threshold and has been so throughout the hawl.

Nisab FAQs

What is Nisab?

Nisab is the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to zakat. It is based on the valuation of 612.36 grams of silver.

Why do you prefer the Nisab of silver over that of gold?

The Nisab value is what an individual must have before they are required to pay zakat. An individual can calculate this based on the value of gold or silver that they have. However, by using the silver value, it means that more people are likely to be eligible for zakat, which means more money benefiting the poor and needy.

I have $600, do I have to pay Zakat?

If this amount is more than the value of the current Nisab value (612.36 grams of silver), and you have also met all other requirements then you will need to pay zakat on this.

Nisab: Miscellaneous Questions

I have only gold, the total amount has been valued at $2,000. Do I have to pay Zakat?

As a general principle Islamic Relief uses silver to calculate the Nisab. However, if you only have gold and do not have any cash savings or other forms of wealth/assets, you will need to use gold to calculate the Nisab.

I have mixed assets of gold, silver and cash. Gold value: $800, Silver value: $100 and Cash: $100. The total value is $1,000; do I have to pay Zakat?

If this amount is more than the value of the current Nisab value (612.36 grams of silver), and you have also met all other requirements then you will need to pay zakat on this.

Together, my husband/wife and I have wealth valued at $500. Can I pay Zakat for both of us?

As Zakat is an individual obligation, you must compare the Nisab with your own wealth and his/her own wealth to see if each of you has to pay Zakat. If you do, you may pay Zakat for both yourself and your husband/wife as long as he/she consents to that.

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