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.
1
The 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.
2
Other 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 ye who believe! Spend of the good things which ye have earned, and of that which We bring forth from the earth for you, and seek not the bad (with intent) to spend thereof (in charity) when ye would not take it for yourselves save with disdain; and know that Allah is Absolute, Owner of Praise.
He it is Who produceth gardens trellised and untrellised, and the date-palm, and crops of divers flavour, and the olive and the pomegranate, like and unlike. Eat ye of the fruit thereof when it fruiteth, and pay the due thereof upon the harvest day, and be not prodigal. Lo! Allah loveth not the prodigals.
From the Sunnah
1Sahih 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.
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.
