The Prophet ﷺ said there is no zakat on less than five awsuq of dates, less than five camels and less than five awaq of silver. Silver pays one-fortieth (2.5%) when it reaches two hundred dirhams, as written in the letter of Abu Bakr that he wrote from the Prophet ﷺ. Gold and money follow the same rate.
1The nisab and rate on money
Silver: 200 dirhams, about 595 grams. Gold: 20 mithqals, about 85 grams. Rate: 2.5% of the whole amount.
Cash and bank balances are measured against the nisab of gold or silver. Contemporary scholars differ: some use the gold nisab (about 85 grams), and others the silver nisab (about 595 grams) because it is more beneficial to the poor.
It is due when the nisab has been held for one lunar year, after debts that are due are deducted.
2Other wealth
Trade goods: 2.5% of their market value at the end of the year.
Crops: one-tenth if watered by rain or rivers, one-twentieth if watered with effort (such as irrigation machines). The nisab is five awsuq, about 653 kilograms.
Livestock: set amounts in the hadith for camels, cattle, sheep and goats.
Where the schools differ
The four Sunni schools agree on the main ruling above and differ in these points. No school is preferred here.
Combining gold and silver. the Hanafi, Maliki and Hanbali schools combine them to reach the nisab, while the Shafi'i school does not combine them.
Debts. the Hanafi, Maliki and Hanbali schools deduct debts from the zakatable wealth, and the Shafi'i school (new view) does not deduct debts. Ask a scholar about your situation.
Note
The amounts in grams are approximate and based on the standard measures used by most contemporary councils. Check the current price of gold or silver before calculating.
O die ihr glaubt, gebt aus von den guten Dingen aus eurem Erworbenen und von dem, was Wir für euch aus der Erde hervorgebracht haben. Und sucht nicht zum Ausgeben das Schlechte davon aus, während ihr (selbst) es nicht nehmen würdet, ohne dabei ein Auge zuzudrücken. Und wißt, daß Allah Unbedürftig und Lobenswürdig ist.
Und Er ist es, Der Gärten mit Spalieren und ohne Spaliere entstehen läßt, sowie Palmen und (sonstige) Pflanzen mit unterschiedlichen Erntesorten und Öl- und Granatapfelbäume, die einander ähnlich und unähnlich sind. Eßt von ihren Früchten', wenn sie Früchte tragen, und entrichtet am Tag ihrer Ernte ihre(n) Pflicht(anteil, der darauf steht), doch seid nicht maßlos! - Er liebt nicht die Maßlosen.
From the Sunnah
Sahih al-Bukhari 1447Authentic collection
The point of the hadith: No zakat is due on less than five awsuq of dates, less than five camels or less than five awaq of silver.
Read the Arabic text
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ يَحْيَى الْمَازِنِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَيْسَ فِيمَا دُونَ خَمْسِ ذَوْدٍ صَدَقَةٌ مِنَ الإِبِلِ، وَلَيْسَ فِيمَا دُونَ خَمْسِ أَوَاقٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَلَيْسَ فِيمَا دُونَ خَمْسَةِ أَوْسُقٍ صَدَقَةٌ ". حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرٌو، سَمِعَ أَبَاهُ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِهَذَا.
The point of the hadith: The written zakat rules of the Prophet ﷺ that Abu Bakr sent to Anas, including one-fortieth (2.5%) on silver reaching two hundred dirhams.
This is general information, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.
Fiqh questions
Zakat: the nisab and the rates
The Prophet ﷺ said there is no zakat on less than five awsuq of dates, less than five camels and less than five awaq of silver. Silver pays one-fortieth (2.5%) when it reaches two hundred dirhams, as written in the letter of Abu Bakr that he wrote from the Prophet ﷺ. Gold and money follow the same rate.
Is this a fatwa?
No. It is a summary of well-known rulings with their evidence. For your own case, ask a qualified scholar.
What if my school differs from this answer?
Follow the view of the school you follow and the scholar who teaches you. The page lists the differences of the four schools.
