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What is Nisab?
And that wealth must first reach the Nisab threshold.
What is Nisab?
Nisab is the minimum amount of wealth a Muslim must possess before Zakat becomes obligatory. Think of it as the threshold. If your qualifying wealth is below Nisab, Zakat is not due. If it meets or exceeds Nisab and a full lunar year (Hawl) has passed, Zakat is obligatory.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ established Nisab based on specific weights of gold and silver. Those weights are fixed in Islamic law, but their monetary value changes daily as market prices fluctuate, which is why Nisab is not a fixed dollar amount.
The Two Standards
There are two accepted Nisab standards based on gold and silver respectively. Both are valid positions within Islamic jurisprudence. Follow your madhab or consult a scholar you trust.
Why Does the Standard Matter?
Because gold and silver have very different market prices, the two standards produce very different Nisab thresholds in dollar terms:
- Gold standard: higher threshold — fewer people are obligated to pay Zakat
- Silver standard: lower threshold — more people are obligated to pay Zakat, and those who do pay on more wealth
Many contemporary scholars and organizations, including ISNA and the Fiqh Council of North America, recommend the silver standard when the intention is to maximize benefit to the poor. Both positions are valid. Follow your scholar or madhab.
How Nisab is Calculated
Since gold and silver prices change daily, Nisab must be based on the current market price at the time you calculate your Zakat.
| Standard | Fixed Weight | How to Calculate |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 87.48 grams | Current gold price per gram × 87.48 |
| Silver | 612.36 grams | Current silver price per gram × 612.36 |
Our Zakat Calculator does this automatically — it fetches live gold and silver prices and calculates Nisab for you in real time.
The Hawl — The One-Year Condition
Nisab alone is not enough to trigger Zakat. A full Islamic lunar year — the Hawl — must also pass with your wealth at or above Nisab continuously. If your wealth drops below Nisab during the year and then rises again, a new Hawl begins from the point it crossed Nisab again.
In practice, most Muslims pick a fixed date — often during Ramadan — and calculate their Zakat annually on that date. As long as your wealth was at or above Nisab for the full year leading to that date, Zakat is due on your qualifying assets.
A Quick Example
Suppose today's Gold Nisab is $8,500 and the Silver Nisab is $650. You have $10,000 in savings held for over a year. Under both standards, Zakat is due. At 2.5%, you owe $250.
If you had $1,000 in savings: under the silver standard, Zakat is due. Under the gold standard, it is not. This is why the choice of standard matters — use our calculator with both options to make an informed decision.