What is the Nisab for gold?

The Nisab for gold is 87.48 grams (or 7.5 tolas). If you possess this amount of gold or its cash equivalent for a full lunar year, Zakat becomes obligatory.

What is the Nisab for silver?

The Nisab for silver is 612.36 grams (or 52.5 tolas). Many contemporary scholars recommend using the silver standard for cash to benefit the poor.

Wealth Threshold

Zakat Nisab Thresholds

Understand the minimum amount of wealth a Muslim must possess before Zakat becomes obligatory.

What is Nisab?

Nisab (نصاب) is the minimum threshold of wealth that a Muslim must possess for one full lunar year (Hawl) before Zakat becomes obligatory upon them. If your zakatable wealth falls below this amount at any point during the year, the year resets once your wealth reaches the Nisab again.

"No Zakat is payable on property until a year passes upon it."

Sunan Ibn Majah (1792)

The Two Standards of Nisab

During the time of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), the Nisab was set using the two primary currencies: gold and silver. Today, we calculate the Nisab based on the current market value of these metals.

Gold Nisab

87.48 Grams

(Equates to 7.5 Tolas / 3 Ounces)

Silver Nisab

612.36 Grams

(Equates to 52.5 Tolas / 21 Ounces)

Which Nisab should I use?

Contemporary Islamic scholars generally advise using the Silver Nisab to evaluate your wealth (cash, savings, business assets). Because the value of silver is significantly lower than gold today, using the silver standard means the threshold is lower. This results in more people paying Zakat, which ultimately benefits the poor and needy.

However, if your wealth consists entirely of gold, you would evaluate it against the Gold Nisab.

How to Calculate if you meet the Nisab

Step 1: Determine the current market rate for 1 gram of silver in your local currency.
Step 2: Multiply that rate by 612.36.
Step 3: The resulting figure is the Nisab threshold.
Step 4: If your total Zakatable wealth (Cash, Gold, Silver, Investments, Business inventory minus immediate debts) equals or exceeds this figure, Zakat is due.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my wealth fluctuates during the year?

According to the Hanafi school of thought, as long as your wealth is above the Nisab at the beginning and the end of the Islamic lunar year, fluctuations in between do not matter, provided your wealth never reaches absolute zero. If it reaches zero, a new year begins when you acquire Nisab again.

Do I use my local currency to check Nisab?

Yes. You should check the value of 612.36 grams of silver in your local currency (e.g., PKR, USD, GBP) on the day your Zakat is due to see if your cash and assets meet the threshold.

What is a Lunar Year (Hawl)?

A lunar year is based on the Hijri calendar, which is approximately 354 days long (about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar). You must calculate your Zakat based on the Islamic year.