The Practising Muslim · Fiqh of Zakah

Zakah Conditions and Calculations

Explore conditions for zakah obligation and methods of calculation.

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1. Which condition is required for zakah to be obligatory on a person?

  • The person must be Muslim. (correct answer)
  • The person must be an adult.
  • The person must earn a monthly salary.
  • The person must own land.

Why

One condition for zakah to be obligatory is Islam. The source states that zakah is not taken from a non-Muslim; rather, they are first called to Islam, then zakah becomes obligatory after they enter Islam and meet its conditions.

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2. What happens to zakah for someone who becomes Muslim?

  • They do not owe zakah for pre-Islam years; they begin counting a new zakah year from becoming Muslim. (correct answer)
  • They must pay zakah for all previous years before Islam.
  • They are exempt from zakah for life.
  • They must pay double zakah during the first year.

Why

A person who becomes Muslim is not asked to pay zakah for the years before Islam. Instead, they begin calculating a full zakah year from the time they became Muslim, if they own zakatable wealth that meets the nisab.

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3. What happens if money reaches the nisab, then falls below the nisab during the zakah year?

  • No zakah is due, and a new year starts when it reaches the nisab again. (correct answer)
  • Zakah is still due for that year.
  • Zakah is due only on the remaining amount.
  • Zakah is postponed until the original year ends.

Why

For zakah to become due on money, the nisab must remain present throughout the zakah year. If the amount falls below the nisab during the year, that year is cancelled. A new zakah year begins when the money reaches the nisab again.

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4. What is the ruling if someone gives zakah before their wealth has reached the nisab?

  • It is voluntary charity, not obligatory zakah. (correct answer)
  • It counts as valid zakah for the next year.
  • It becomes obligatory zakah once the nisab is later reached.
  • It must be returned by the recipient.

Why

Obligatory zakah does not become due until wealth reaches the nisab and one Hijri year passes. Giving before the wealth reaches the nisab is voluntary charity. But if someone already owns the nisab, then paying zakah early before the due date is valid.

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5. If someone has cash below the nisab, but also has gold or silver that completes the nisab when combined with it, what should they do?

  • Combine the cash with the gold or silver to complete the nisab. (correct answer)
  • Wait until the cash alone reaches the nisab.
  • Ignore the cash and only count the gold or silver.
  • Treat all wealth categories as completely unrelated.

Why

The source mentions scholarly disagreement about combining gold and silver with each other. But regarding cash, the correct view cited is that cash may be combined with gold or silver to complete the nisab. If the combined amount reaches the nisab and the other conditions are met, zakah is due.

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6. When working out zakah on gold or silver mixed with other metals, what is counted toward the nisab?

  • The amount of pure gold or pure silver. (correct answer)
  • The total weight including non-gold or non-silver metals.
  • Only the item’s original purchase price.
  • Only whether the item looks expensive.

Why

For gold or silver mixed with other metals, the non-gold or non-silver portion is not counted for zakah. What matters is whether the amount of pure gold or pure silver reaches the nisab. If it does, and one full Hijri year passes, zakah is due.

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7. What is the zakah rate on gold, silver, trade goods, and currency?

  • 2.5%. (correct answer)
  • 10%.
  • 20%.
  • Whatever local custom decides.

Why

The zakah rate on gold and silver is one quarter of one tenth, which is 2.5%. The same rate applies to trade goods and modern currency when the nisab and one-year condition are met.

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8. When calculating zakah on used gold jewelry, which price should be used?

  • The price it could be sold for on the day zakah is due. (correct answer)
  • The original purchase price.
  • The price of new gold jewelry.
  • The average price from the past year.

Why

Gold jewelry is valued on the day zakah is due. The relevant value is the selling price of the used gold, not the original purchase price and not the price of new jewelry.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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