What is Zakat?
Zakat is the obligatory annual charity in Islam, one of the five pillars, due on qualifying wealth held above a minimum threshold (the Nisab) for one full Islamic lunar year (a hawl). It is calculated at a standard rate of 2.5% and distributed to those in need, purifying the remaining wealth for the giver.
Understanding the Nisab threshold
The Nisab is the minimum amount of wealth that makes Zakat obligatory. It is commonly set at the value of 85 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver — figures widely cited by contemporary scholars, though a small number use slightly different gram equivalents (around 87.48g gold or 612.36g silver). Because silver's cash value is much lower than gold's, many scholars recommend calculating your Nisab using the silver standard, since it includes more people in the obligation and therefore benefits more of those in need. For the most accurate figure in your local currency today, check with a trusted local Zakat authority or scholar, since gold and silver prices change daily.
How this calculator works
Add up your cash and bank savings, the current market value of any gold or silver you hold, then subtract debts that are immediately due. If the remaining total is at or above your Nisab threshold, 2.5% of that amount is due as Zakat. This tool covers the most common case — cash, gold, and silver — and does not calculate Zakat on business stock, agricultural yield, or livestock, which follow different rules.