Fatawaa

Subject : The one Paying Zakāh may Assess (Calculate) the Niṣāb Using any Karat [of Gold] he Chooses.
Fatwa Number : 4327
Date : 05-03-2026
Classified : Zakat on Money
Fatwa Type : Summarized Fatawaa

Question :

Is the niṣāb calculated based on the price of 21-karat gold, or 24-karat gold?



The Answer :

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Zakāh is obligatory on cash and on gold designated for saving or for trade, provided the total reaches the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for zakah), and a full ḥawl (lunar year) has elapsed over it. The niṣāb is (85) grams of 24-karat gold; for 21-karat gold, the niṣāb equals (97) grams; and for 18-karat gold, it equals (113) grams.

The relied-upon position is to calculate the zakāh based on the buying price [i.e., the price the gold merchant would pay the owner to purchase the gold from him] on the day the zakāh obligation is due.

The one paying zakāh may assess/calculate the niṣāb using any of the aforementioned gold karats [i.e., he may choose whichever karat standard he wishes for the purpose of the calculation]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.






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