When Zakat Becomes Due

Hawl is your personal Zakat calendar. Hawl is an Arabic word meaning 'a full year'. In Zakat, it refers to the 354 or 355-day lunar year that must pass before Zakat is due. Your hawl begins on the day your wealth first reaches or exceeds the nisab threshold. For example, if you save £5,000 in January and this takes you above nisab for the first time, your hawl starts that day. One lunar year later, you check your wealth again. If it is still above nisab, you calculate 2.5% of that wealth and pay Zakat. The hawl does not reset if your wealth grows during the year. If you start the year with £5,000 and end with £10,000, you pay Zakat on the £10,000. The only thing that matters is that you were above nisab at both the start and end of the year. Why a Full Year Is Required

Islam sets the one-year rule to be fair. If Zakat were due immediately on new wealth, it would be very difficult to pay. Imagine receiving your salary and having to pay Zakat on it the same day—this would be harsh. By requiring a full year, Islam gives you time to use your wealth, save, and plan. It also ensures that Zakat applies only to wealth that is stable and surplus, not money you just received and will spend soon. What If Your Wealth Fluctuates?

During the year, your wealth may go up or down. You might receive a bonus, spend savings on a car, or lose income. These changes do not affect your Zakat calculation. What matters is whether you were above nisab at the start of your hawl and again at the end. If you drop below nisab in the middle of the year but are above it again at the end, Zakat is still due. You calculate 2.5% of whatever you own on your Zakat anniversary date. tip