Gold and Silver Nisaab: Determining the Correct Thresholds for Zakat
Question: There is a difference in the nisaab (minimum threshold) for gold and silver. For gold, the amounts are 85 grams and 87 grams, and for silver, the amounts are 595 grams and 612 grams. What is the appropriate application of these differences, and which amounts should be considered accurate?
Answer: The lower amounts for gold and silver—85 grams and 595 grams, respectively—are more appropriate and preferable. You can understand this as follows:
For gold, zakat is due on half of a musqal, and 20 musqals are equivalent to 20 dinars. Since one dinar weighs 4.25 grams, multiplying 20 by 4.25 grams gives 85 grams.
For silver, the nisaab is considered to be 140 musqals, which is equivalent to 140 dinars. Since one dinar weighs 4.25 grams, multiplying 140 by 4.25 grams gives 595 grams.
Therefore, the lower nisaab amounts for gold and silver—85 grams and 595 grams, respectively—are the correct and more accurate amounts.
By: Shaikh Maqbool Ahmad Salafi hafizahullah