Gold vs Silver Nisab: Which to Use?

Gold and silver were both currencies in early Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) set the nisab at 87.48 grams of gold and 612.36 grams of silver. In his time, gold and silver had relatively similar values. Today, the gap between gold and silver prices is much wider, so the nisab values in currency are very different. For example, if gold is £50/gram and silver is £0.60/gram, the gold nisab is £4,374, while the silver nisab is £367. This is a huge difference.

Scholars recommend using the silver nisab. The majority of contemporary scholars recommend using the silver nisab because it is lower. This means more people qualify to pay Zakat, which results in more support reaching those in need. Using the lower threshold aligns with the spirit of Zakat, which is to redistribute wealth and support the community. If you use the gold nisab (which is higher), fewer people will pay Zakat, and less support reaches the poor. However, some scholars prefer the gold nisab because it is more stable and does not fluctuate as much as silver. Both opinions are valid, but the silver nisab is more commonly used today. How This Affects Your Zakat

If you have £4,000 in savings and the silver nisab is £367, you are well above the threshold and owe Zakat. But if you use the gold nisab at £4,374, you are below the threshold and owe nothing. To be safe and ensure you fulfill your obligation, many Muslims choose the silver nisab. This way, they avoid the risk of not paying Zakat when it may be due. scholar_note ZakatConnect's Approach Our calculator shows both the gold and silver nisab values. You can choose which to use, but we recommend silver for most users.