Zakat on gold

21-12-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

I live in USA and I have some gold worth of $15000. They are with me for 15 months and I am newly married.
Note that I am a student and my husband is also a student. Until now my husband paid my tuition and his. Now he ran out his money and he doesn't have any job. He has $800 in his account. From now on our parents will help us or help him financially. In this situation I am really worried about the Zakaat because I am not sure whether I am obliged to give that or not. Also I want to know the rulings, based on which I can calculate my Zakaat. Please reply me as soon as possible.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

Gold is either for saving or used as an adornment. If is for saving then Zakat has to be paid for it according to the majority of scholars. However, if it is used as an adornment then the scholars differed about it. The most preponderant opinion in our view is that it is not obligatory to pay Zakat for it, but it is safer if Zakat is paid. The minimum amount liable for Zakat is 85 grams so if it reached this amount and a whole lunar year elapsed on it 2.5% Zakat has to be paid. Finally, it should be noted that it is permissible for a woman to pay the Zakat of her wealth to her husband if he is among the people who are eligible for Zakat; if he is poor for instance. This is the view of the majority of the scholars.

Allaah knows best.