When Is Zakat Due? Your Zakat Anniversary (Hawl) Explained

When is Zakat Due?

Zakat is due when your wealth reaches or exceeds the Nisab threshold, and you have held it at or above this threshold for a full Islamic lunar year, known as Hawl. Your Zakat anniversary is the date your Zakat becomes due each year.

What is a Zakat Anniversary (Hawl)?

Hawl is one lunar year that needs to pass before Zakat becomes due on any qualifying wealth. Nisab is the minimum amount of wealth you must own before Zakat becomes obligatory. It is based on the value of gold or silver, with its monetary value changing with market prices.

You can use Muslim Aid's online Zakat calculator to check the current threshold and calculate how much you owe.

A Worked Example: When is Your Zakat Due?

Imagine your savings first reach the Nisab threshold on the first day of the Islamic year, 1 Muharram 1447 AH. You now have enough eligible wealth to begin your Zakat payment.

One lunar year later, on or around 1 Muharram 1448 AH, you reach your Zakat anniversary. If you still meet the relevant threshold, you must calculate the Zakat due on your eligible wealth and pay it.

For example, if your eligible wealth totals £5,000 on your Zakat anniversary, and you are required to pay Zakat at the standard rate of 2.5%, your calculation would be £5,000 × 2.5% = £125. This means your Zakat payment for that year would be £125.

Your actual Zakat amount will depend on your assets, gold, and savings. Because the Islamic calendar differs from the Gregorian calendar and follows the lunar cycle, the Zakat due date changes depending on moon sighting.

The best approach is to keep a record of your Zakat anniversary, so you know when to calculate and pay each year.

What Does the Quran Say About Zakat?

Zakat is more than a financial obligation. It is an act of worship helping to purify your wealth and strengthen our responsibility towards the less fortunate.

Allah tells us in the Quran, “Take, [O Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase.” [Quran 9:103]

Through Zakat Muslims can acknowledge blessings from Allah and their responsibility for those experiencing hardship. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also taught his Ummah Zakat’s importance. He stated that Zakat is obligatory on wealth and is taken from the wealthy and returned to the poor. [Bukhari]

Paying your Zakat on time fulfils our duty to Allah and provides support to those in need.

Can You Pay Zakat in Ramadan Instead?

You don’t have to wait for Ramadan to pay your Zakat, although many choose to do so as the month is associated with worship, kindness, and increased reward. If your Zakat anniversary falls before Ramadan begins, then you must not delay your payment.

You can pay Zakat in advance, including during Ramadan, provided you follow the Islamic ruling. If you are unsure whether early payment is appropriate for your circumstances, seek guidance from a trusted scholar or mosque leader.

Make Your Zakat Count with Muslim Aid

Keeping track of your Zakat anniversary means you donate in time for eligible people to receive support. Donate to a trusted charity such as Muslim Aid, our 41 years of experience and 100% Ulama-approved Zakat policy, ensures your contribution reaches those qualified to receive it.

Calculating your Zakat carefully and paying on time means your wealth becomes support for those who need it.

Ready to calculate your Zakat? Visit Muslim Aid's Zakat calculator to work out how much you owe and explore how your Zakat helps change the lives of those in need.

At Muslim Aid, we believe Zakat is a powerful way to support vulnerable communities, relieve hardship and bring hope to people facing poverty and crisis worldwide.

Donate your Zakat to Muslim Aid today and help bring hope and dignity to those in need.