Zakat is an essential part of Islam and is a way for Muslims to purify their wealth and distribute it to those in need. It is a mandatory type of charity in the faith and is one of the five pillars of Islam that believers abide by to please Allah (SWT) and earn reward from Him. This type of charity is crucial for Muslims to carry out in order to follow their faith, but there is a lot to understand and rules to follow to be able to give Zakat correctly. Due to this, it can be confusing for many when it comes to calculating their Zakat, which can lead to errors being made and Zakat not being paid correctly.
Don’t worry, as our ulama-approved Zakat guide will answer any questions that you may have about the charitable obligation. In essence, you will develop an understanding on what is Zakat, how to pay Zakat and the timeframe it is due. You can download our Muslim Aid Zakat Guide to help you - it's comprehensive and Ulama-approved - but we would also recommend that you seek the advice of your local imam with any personal queries you may have.
This type of charity is an obligatory annual payment that needs to be paid by qualifying adult Muslims as a way to share wealth with those less fortunate. Only believers whose wealth exceeds the Nisab value, the minimum amount that they need to possess to pay Zakat, are required to donate this form of charity. Alongside this, the wealth that a believer holds above the Nisab threshold should be something that they have possessed for one Islamic (lunar) year.
The aim of this donation is to purify a Muslim’s wealth by giving a portion of it to the needy. The term Zakat in itself translates to “that which purifies”, and helps the people who need it most, while cleansing a believer’s material possessions. The donation pleases Allah (SWT) and brings Muslims immense blessings. Payments are made to support those most in need both domestically and around the world.
The Holy Qur’an determined who is eligible to receive Zakat, stating:
“As-Sadaqat (Zakat) are only for the Fuqara' (poor), and Al-Masakin (the needy) and those employed to collect (Zakat funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah's Cause (i.e. for Mujahidun - those fighting in the holy wars), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” - Chapter at-Tawbah Tevbe, 60
This means that when you give Zakat, you cannot just give it to anyone. A husband cannot give his Zakat to his wife as he is already responsible for her, just as he is for his children. A wife, though, is permitted to give Zakat to her husband, so long as he meets the relevant criteria – she must not benefit in any way from this donation (i.e. the husband using the funds to pay for a gift for his wife).
Those eligible to receive Zakat can be placed into one of eight categories, which are:
Not every Muslim is obligated to pay Zakat as per the rules set out in the holy Qur’an. To be eligible for paying Zakat, you must be past the age of puberty, of Muslim faith, sound mind, free and have a positive cash/goods flow, as well as a personal wealth which exceeds the Nisab value.
When it comes to giving Muslim Aid Zakat, we will ensure that it is distributed to those most in need – see the difference that your Zakat can have, and continues to make, on those eligible to receive the donation.
Nisab is the threshold in which a Muslim’s personal wealth must be above in order for them to be eligible to pay Zakat. There are two Nisab values from which the threshold is determined, which are:
Because the valuation of gold and silver fluctuates so, too, does the Nisab threshold. This is why tools such as our Zakat calculator prove so helpful as they help Muslims to quantify not only whether they qualify to pay Zakat, but how much it is they owe. A Muslim’s wealth must exceed the Nisab threshold for one full Islamic year, or ‘Hawl’, which is the term for a lunar year, which lasts for 354 days.
If your personal wealth dropped below the Nisab threshold at any point during the Islamic year but was above it both at the beginning and end of the Hawl, you should speak to your local imam for advice.
You should give Zakat when your wealth has exceeded the Nisab threshold for one full Islamic year from the point your wealth first exceeded it. The amount of Zakat you owe should be calculated on the day you make your payment. This means that regardless of how much your wealth was above the Nisab threshold during the year, it is based on how your wealth stands at that moment from which your Zakat is calculated.
The holy month of Ramadan is the most popular time of year for Muslims to pay their Zakat as it is believed that donating during this time yields multiplied rewards and blessings. You can, though, pay Zakat any time during the year if your wealth has exceeded the Nisab threshold for a lunar year. This should also not be confused with Zakat ul-Fitr, or Fitrana, which must be paid during the month of Ramadan before the Eid prayers.
It can be confusing to know exactly how to pay Zakat. To help you, we have highlighted what the Zakat you owe is calculated on:
How to calculate Zakat properly can be tricky because there are so many rules about what sort of wealth qualifies for you to give this mandatory donation. Your owed Zakat is calculated on your wealth that surpasses the Nisab, including personal assets and cash. Zakat is only payable on a property that does not contribute to your day-to-day living – i.e. a second home which you do not live in should be included in your calculations, while your first home, the one in which you do live, should not be included. This is also true for vehicles, with your second car eligible to be included in your Zakat calculations as it is considered to be a luxury, while your first car is considered a necessity and is not to be included.
The assets that are eligible to be considered for Zakat are:
What not to consider when calculating Zakat:
One of the most popular assets Muslims need to pay Zakat on is the value of gold that they own. Since the value of gold varies every year due to the cost of the material, it can be hard to correctly work out Zakat on gold. Before you can calculate how much you need to donate for the amount of gold assets you have, you need to understand what the Nisab is for this asset. The threshold for gold is set at 87.48 grams, meaning if you have this amount, or over, you will need to give Zakat. From this, you have to work out the current value of the gold you have, which can change every year. The best way to do this is to seek expert advice closer to the time you are going to make your donation, so you can have an accurate valuation of your assets and can work out exactly how much you need to pay.
After getting an accurate valuation for the gold you own, you need to calculate how much Zakat you should pay. This is done by working out 2.5% of the value of your gold assets. If you have any other assets that are eligible for you to pay Zakat on, you should add your gold to them to give you a total amount you need to pay.
Silver is also eligible for Zakat and is a similar process to any gold assets. The only difference between them is that silver has a much lower value. This means that the Nisab threshold for these assets is higher than gold. You need to possess 612.36 grams of silver to pay Zakat on it. From this, you will do the same process as gold, seeking expert advice to find an accurate valuation of your silver so that you can calculate 2.5% of it.
You are permitted to pay Zakat in instalments, although it is preferred as a single lump sum. Those assured that their wealth will remain the same can pay in advance of the due date.
Zakat ul-Fitr, or Fitrana, is a different payment to Zakat that can only be made during the holy month of Ramadan, before the start of Eid ul-Fitr. Fitrana is traditionally given as food, but Muslim Aid will accept monetary donations. This is valued based on the cost of current staple food items, meaning the price you need to pay for Zakat ul-Fitr can vary every year. It is expected to be around £5 to £6 per person in 2026, but it’s best to check closer to the time. This donation will pay for food to be given to those most in need.
If you would like to easily calculate the amount of Zakat charity you need to pay, please visit our Zakat Calculator.
Once you have calculated your Zakat, or you already know what your owed amount is, you can choose to make your donation through Muslim Aid. Doing so will support our appeals, helping thousands of innocent lives living in poverty around the world. Give Zakat today and help those most in need.
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