Frequently Asked Questions

Zakat applies to cash and bank balances, gold and silver (including jewelry according to some scholars), shares and investments, trade goods, agricultural produce, and livestock. Personal belongings such as one’s home, vehicle, furniture, and clothing are exempt.

The Nisab is the minimum threshold of wealth. It can be determined based on either the gold standard (85 grams of pure gold) or the silver standard (595 grams of pure silver). Our calculator displays both values, converted into your currency according to current market prices. The majority of scholars consider the gold standard as the reference, while others recommend, as a precaution, adopting the lower threshold, generally that of silver.

Zakat is a religious obligation governed by specific rules and set rates. It may only be distributed to eight categories of eligible recipients and must be paid annually once one’s wealth reaches the nisab threshold. Sadaqah, on the other hand, is a voluntary act, with no fixed amount, and can be given to anyone at any time. Thus, Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam, while Sadaqah is a recommended act of charity.

Zakat is originally calculated based on the lunar year (354 days) at a rate of 2.5%. Some scholars permit using the solar year (365 days) with a slightly higher rate of 2.577% to compensate for the longer period. Our calculator supports both methods.

There is a difference of scholarly opinion on this matter. The majority (Maliki, Shafi‘i, and one Hanbali view) hold that gold and silver jewelry used for regular personal adornment is exempt from Zakat. However, the Hanafi school and another Hanbali opinion consider it liable. Our calculator follows the majority view by default, but allows you to switch to the alternative opinion if you prefer.

For stocks held for trading, Zakat is due on the full market value. For stocks held for dividends (long-term investment), scholars differ – some say Zakat on dividends only, others on the zakatable portion of company assets.

No – only debts that are currently due and payable should be deducted. Long-term debts like mortgages are not fully deductible because they're not immediately owed. The principle is to deduct what would be demanded from you today if all creditors called in their debts.

Zakat on business activities applies to inventory and goods held for sale (valued at their market price), cash, receivables, as well as raw materials. Fixed assets used in the business (such as machinery, real estate, and vehicles) are excluded. As the calculation can be complex, our calculator helps you break it down with precision.

Yes, most scholars allow paying Zakat before the completion of the year, especially if there is an urgent need. However, it should be recalculated properly at the end of the year to ensure that the correct amount has been paid.

You cannot give Zakat to those who are directly under your responsibility ((children, spouse, adopted children, etc.), nor to those you are obliged to support in times of need ((father, mother). However, it is permissible to give it to other family members like brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, or cousins. Helping them brings a double reward: the reward of charity and the reward of maintaining family ties.

After completing your calculation, click 'Save Calculation' on the results page. You'll need to be logged in with an active subscription. Saved calculations appear in your profile and can be viewed, printed, or compared year over year.

Yes. All data is encrypted both in transit and at rest. We do not share your information with third parties. You can export or delete your data at any time from your profile settings. Please refer to the privacy policy for full details.

We primarily follow Kuwait Zakat House guidelines for traditional Zakat rules and AAOIFI Standard 35 for modern assets like stocks and investments. The Applied Standards panel in your results shows exactly which methodology was applied to your calculation.

This calculator accurately covers most common scenarios. However, for more specific cases—such as disputed assets, complex business structures, trusts, or requirements specific to a madhab—it is advisable to consult a qualified scholar, while using the calculator as a reference starting point.