Zakat Calculation

To calculate Zakat on gold and silver, first determine the total weight of each in grams. This includes jewellery, bars, coins, and any other forms you own. Next, find the current market price per gram on your Zakat due date and multiply it by the total weight to determine the current value.

You must pay 2.5% of the total value if it meets or exceeds the nisab threshold. The nisab for gold is 87.48 grams, and for silver, 612.36 grams. You only need to calculate Zakat on the metal that reaches nisab. If both gold and silver are below their respective nisab levels, but your total wealth (including cash, savings, etc.) is above the nisab, you must still include gold and silver in your Zakat calculation.

For jewellery, only the gold or silver content is zakatable. Stones or gems embedded in the jewellery are not included. Some scholars exempt personal-use jewellery, but the majority opinion—especially in Hanafi fiqh—is that all gold and silver is zakatable, regardless of use.

At Global Helping Hands, we recommend the cautious approach: include all gold and silver in your Zakat unless you follow a school that exempts jewellery. This ensures your Zakat is valid and your wealth is purified. We use your donation to support the poorest families directly with cash aid, following the Sunnah.

If you run a business, you must calculate Zakat on all goods held for sale, known as business inventory or trade goods. On your Zakat due date, list all products and items that you intend to sell and estimate their current market value—not the purchase cost. This includes unsold stock, materials, and finished products.

Then, add any business cash, including money in your business account, cash in hand, and debts owed to you that are likely to be paid. You may also include raw materials if they’re purchased with the intention of resale.

From this total, deduct business liabilities due within the year, such as supplier payments, rent, or taxes due soon. Do not deduct salaries or bills that are not yet due, or capital investments like buildings or machinery, as these are not zakatable.

Once you calculate the net zakatable business assets, pay 2.5% as Zakat. You can use business funds or pay from personal wealth.

This applies to sole traders, partnerships, and company owners. Even if your business made a loss, you may still owe Zakat if your stock and assets exceed the nisab.

At Global Helping Hands, we work with Muslim business owners to calculate and fulfil their Zakat obligation accurately. Your business Zakat reaches vulnerable families in places like Palestine and Uganda, where small cash grants can change lives.

Zakat on stocks and shares depends on why you hold them. If you bought shares with the intention to trade, they are treated like business inventory, and Zakat is due on the full market value. If you hold them as a long-term investment, you pay Zakat only on the zakatable assets within the company—such as cash, inventory, and receivables.

For most people, the simple and safer option is to pay 2.5% of the current market value of your shares, especially if you don’t have access to company balance sheets. If your shares pay dividends, Zakat is also due on retained dividend income, if held for a year and above nisab.

If the shares are in an investment account or pension fund and not accessible, consult a scholar. Generally, Zakat is only due when you have access to the funds, or it’s voluntary.

Use your Zakat date’s stock price and deduct any investment-related debts or loans if relevant. Many Islamic financial advisors recommend rounding up for safety.

At Global Helping Hands, we make it easy for investors to calculate and donate their Zakat. Every pound you give supports eligible recipients in crisis zones, fully in line with Shariah.

Yes, you may estimate your Zakat if exact figures are not available—provided your estimation is reasonable and made in good faith. Zakat is a religious obligation tied to sincerity and accountability. Allah knows your intentions, and your duty is to make your best effort.

For example, if you don’t know your exact cash balance on your Zakat date, review your bank statements around that time and calculate an average. For gold or jewellery, weigh items if possible, or estimate based on similar known weights. If you're unsure about investment values, use the latest market data you can access.

Avoid careless guessing. Document your method and reasoning for future reference. It’s better to overestimate than underestimate, as it ensures you fulfil your obligation without falling short.

If you're unable to determine your Zakat due with confidence, seek help from a qualified scholar or use a trusted online calculator as a guide. At Global Helping Hands, we help donors calculate Zakat based on available records and offer support where needed. This makes fulfilling your obligation easier while ensuring that your donation reaches the poor in full.

If you hold wealth in multiple currencies—such as pounds, dollars, or euros—you must calculate the equivalent value of each in your base currency on your Zakat date. For example, if you calculate Zakat in GBP, convert all foreign holdings to GBP using the current exchange rate.

Add the values of all cash, bank balances, and digital wallets in every currency. Then total them to see if your combined assets meet the nisab threshold (usually calculated in silver or gold, also in your base currency). If so, Zakat is due at 2.5% of the total amount.

Currency fluctuations don’t exempt you. Use the most accurate exchange rates available on your Zakat date, not an average from past months. Be especially cautious with unstable currencies or assets held in foreign banks—record details clearly in case of audits or review.

At Global Helping Hands, we advise donors on international currency Zakat and offer up-to-date conversion tools. Whether your funds are in GBP, USD, AED, or PKR, we ensure your Zakat reaches eligible recipients across our global network.

Yes, online Zakat calculators are a helpful tool—especially if you have multiple assets, live in different countries, or are new to paying Zakat. They help guide you step by step and reduce the risk of missing eligible items or calculating the wrong nisab.

However, calculators are only as accurate as the data you input. Always ensure the values you enter—such as cash amounts, gold weight, or stock value—are up-to-date. Also, check whether the calculator uses gold or silver nisab and whether it includes options for business assets or foreign currency.

You may still need to calculate or confirm more complex assets yourself—like pensions, cryptocurrencies, or business stock. If unsure, use the calculator as a guide, then consult a scholar or trusted Zakat advisor.

At Global Helping Hands, we offer a Zakat calculator based on current silver nisab rates, allowing users to estimate quickly and responsibly. We also support custom advice for more complex cases. Whether you calculate online or offline, what matters is that your Zakat is complete, sincere, and reaches the right people.

Mixed assets refer to a combination of cash, gold, investments, business stock, and debts owed to you. On your Zakat date, list all zakatable assets, calculate their value, then combine the totals.

Start with:

• Cash in hand or in bank

• Gold and silver (by weight and market value)

• Stocks, shares, and investments

• Business inventory and cash

• Debts owed to you (likely to be repaid)

• Cryptocurrencies or digital wallets

Then deduct short-term liabilities, such as bills due soon or zakatable business debts. Do not deduct future rent, taxes not yet due, or general living expenses.

If the net amount meets or exceeds the nisab, pay 2.5% on the total. Treat this as a single figure, even though it includes different asset types. This avoids confusion and ensures nothing is left out.

Use a spreadsheet if necessary and update it yearly. Accurate recordkeeping also helps you track what you paid and adjust if needed later.

At Global Helping Hands, we encourage donors to assess all their wealth holistically and offer guidance on compiling and verifying mixed assets. We ensure your Zakat, no matter how complex the calculation, reaches families in urgent need—according to the Sunnah.

In a joint account, each person is only responsible for their share of the funds. To calculate Zakat, first determine what portion of the balance belongs to you. If it’s a 50/50 account with your spouse, for example, each of you would calculate Zakat based on half the total balance—unless another agreement exists.

Once your portion is clear, treat it like any other cash asset: add it to your other savings and apply the 2.5% Zakat rate if your combined wealth meets or exceeds the nisab.

You can’t pay Zakat on behalf of another adult (like your spouse or business partner) unless they give you permission. Parents and children with joint accounts must also determine individual shares—each person is assessed separately under Shariah.

If the account is used for a specific purpose, such as saving for a wedding or home, it doesn’t change its zakatable status. Intentions don’t exempt wealth from Zakat unless it’s a long-term debt or non-liquid asset.

At Global Helping Hands, we often advise couples and families on joint Zakat calculations. By focusing on transparency and fairness, we help each donor fulfil their obligation in a way that’s spiritually correct and practically simple.

If you’re uncertain about your exact Zakat calculation, it is recommended to overpay slightly as a precaution. This is not a requirement, but a recommended practice to ensure that your obligation is fully discharged and nothing is left out unintentionally.

Zakat is an act of worship and trust. Estimating higher shows care and sincerity, especially when you're unsure about the value of certain assets or whether to include a borderline item. Scholars agree that slightly overpaying Zakat is better than underpaying.

However, avoid excessive overpayment that may impact your own needs. Zakat is meant to purify wealth, not cause hardship. You can always add a voluntary Sadaqah if you’re unsure, or divide your donation between Zakat and Sadaqah with a clear intention.

At Global Helping Hands, we encourage overpayment in complex cases where the donor prefers caution. This ensures your Zakat is accepted and your heart remains at ease—while enabling us to support more families in crisis zones with direct cash support.

You should review and update your Zakat calculations once a year, on your designated Zakat date. This date remains consistent and is based on the Hijri calendar—not the Gregorian calendar—marking one lunar year from when your wealth first reached the nisab threshold.

Even if your income or savings vary throughout the year, your Zakat is due based on your total zakatable wealth on that one date. However, if your finances change significantly—such as receiving a large inheritance, selling a property, or taking on new debt—it’s wise to reassess your records before the due date to prepare.

For business owners or those with multiple asset types, keeping a Zakat log or spreadsheet is highly recommended. This helps track fluctuations and ensures you don’t forget zakatable assets like receivables or digital wallets.

At Global Helping Hands, we remind regular donors to review their Zakat annually and offer tools to help track changes. A simple annual review brings your finances in line with your faith—and delivers essential help to people in need.

If your income is irregular—such as freelancing, commissions, or seasonal earnings—you still calculate Zakat based on total zakatable assets on your annual Zakat date, not your income pattern.

On your due date, total all cash savings, receivables, gold, business stock, and other zakatable items. You do not calculate Zakat based on what you earn, but what you own that is zakatable. Irregular income becomes zakatable only when saved and held over the year.

If your wealth is below the nisab at the start of the year but increases mid-year, a new Zakat date is set based on when you reach the nisab. Track this new date and assess again after one lunar year.

This method keeps the Zakat obligation fair and manageable. If tracking is difficult, consider using fixed monthly amounts as voluntary payments and then perform a full review on your Zakat date.

At Global Helping Hands, we assist self-employed individuals with flexible Zakat planning. This ensures your giving is in line with your earnings and that the Zakat you pay supports those truly in need.