A step-by-step guide to nisab, the hawl year, and the 2.5% rate.
Published August 29, 2026 · Reviewed by the Ihsabha Editorial Team
Zakat on gold and silver is one of the most commonly asked-about categories of zakat, and for good reason: most people hold at least some savings in cash, jewelry, or both. The calculation itself is straightforward once you understand three ideas — nisab, the hawl (lunar year), and the 2.5% rate.
Nisab is the minimum amount of wealth a Muslim must own before zakat becomes obligatory. For gold, the standard nisab is 85 grams of pure gold (or its equivalent in cash value). For silver, it is 595 grams of pure silver. If your combined gold, silver, and cash savings are below this threshold, no zakat is due.
Because gold and silver prices change daily, many scholars recommend using the silver nisab as the threshold when you're combining cash savings with gold or silver — since it results in a lower nisab and is generally considered more cautious and more generous to those in need.
Zakat is only due on wealth that has stayed at or above the nisab for one full Hijri (lunar) year. If your savings dip below nisab at any point during the year and never recover, the hawl resets. Most people find it easiest to pick one fixed date each year (for example, the first day of Ramadan) and calculate zakat on whatever they own on that date, provided it has remained above nisab.
Once nisab and hawl conditions are met, the zakat due is 2.5% of the total value — whether that value is in gold, silver, cash, or a mix of all three. For jewelry that is regularly worn (not held as an investment), some scholars differ on whether zakat is due; if you follow the view that it is, the same 2.5% rate applies to its market value.
Suppose you own 50 grams of gold and $2,000 in savings, and both have remained in your possession for over a year. You would convert the gold to its current cash value, add it to your savings, then take 2.5% of the total. If gold is trading at $70/gram, that's $3,500 in gold plus $2,000 in cash = $5,500 total. Zakat due: $5,500 × 2.5% = $137.50.
Skip the manual math. Ihsabha's Gold & Silver Zakat Calculator handles current gold/silver pricing, nisab comparison, and the 2.5% calculation for you — just enter your holdings and get an instant, accurate result.
This article explains the general, widely-followed calculation method. Specific rulings can vary between schools of thought and individual circumstances (for example, business inventory, debts owed to you, or debts you owe). For anything beyond routine personal savings, it's always best to confirm with a qualified local scholar.