Zakat and Women’s Issues

Yes, Zakat is due on gold jewellery that a woman owns—even if she wears it regularly—according to the majority of scholars. This includes bangles, rings, necklaces, and other ornaments made of gold or silver. If the total weight of the jewellery exceeds the nisab, Zakat must be paid at 2.5% of its current market value.

Some scholars from the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools of thought exempt gold that is used for personal adornment. However, many others—including the Hanafi school—require Zakat on all gold and silver owned by a woman, regardless of its use. This is especially important in today’s context, where gold often represents a store of wealth rather than simply adornment.

To calculate Zakat:

1. Weigh your gold items or get an estimate from a jeweller.

2. Multiply the weight by the current price per gram.

3. Deduct any legitimate debts.

4. If the remaining value is above the nisab, pay 2.5%.

This is often a large financial obligation for women who do not have liquid cash. In such cases, she may either:

• Sell a portion of her gold to pay Zakat

• Use available savings or income to cover the amount

At Global Helping Hands, we help donors ensure their gold Zakat reaches women who don’t have even basic jewellery—just urgent needs for food, medicine, and survival.

If a woman owns gold that reaches the nisab threshold, but does not have enough cash to pay Zakat, she still has a religious obligation to fulfil it. Zakat is based on the value of the asset, not whether the owner has liquidity. In such cases, she has a few options:

• Sell a portion of the gold to raise funds for Zakat

• Borrow money temporarily to pay Zakat, with the intention to repay

• Use any available savings or income if possible

This situation is common in many cultures where women are gifted large amounts of gold jewellery as part of dowries or wedding gifts, but may not have access to cash or regular income.

Some scholars suggest that if a woman genuinely cannot afford to pay Zakat—even after trying all means—then she may delay it until she is able. However, this should be the last resort, and the Zakat must still be paid as soon as possible once funds are available.

It is important to track Zakat obligations each year, even if payment is deferred. When funds are available again, Zakat should be paid for each missed year based on the gold’s value at the time.

At Global Helping Hands, we’ve seen women give from their wedding gold to help orphans and struggling mothers in war-torn regions. Your Zakat, even if delayed, can make that same impact.

Yes, a housewife must pay Zakat if she personally owns wealth that meets or exceeds the nisab threshold, even if she does not earn an income. Zakat is based on ownership, not earnings. So if a woman is gifted money, inherits wealth, or owns gold jewellery, she is responsible for paying Zakat on those assets annually, assuming they are held for one lunar year.

This is common in cases where housewives receive:

• Dowry (mahr) payments

• Regular savings given by their husbands

• Gold jewellery held in safekeeping

• Inheritance from parents or relatives

If the total value of these assets exceeds the nisab, Zakat is due. It is not the husband’s responsibility to pay on her behalf unless he voluntarily chooses to do so.

If the woman has no cash but owns gold or silver, she may:

• Sell part of her jewellery to pay Zakat

• Use any savings she may have

• Request her husband or family to assist (voluntarily)

However, she must not ignore the obligation. Zakat is a personal act of worship, and being a non-earning housewife does not exempt her from fulfilling it.

At Global Helping Hands, we receive Zakat from generous women who manage their households yet still make time to support those less fortunate. Your Zakat can reach other housewives—widowed, displaced, or abandoned—who need your help now.

Yes, Zakat is due on a woman’s mahr (dowry) if it meets or exceeds the nisab and has been in her possession for one lunar year. The mahr is a gift given to a bride by the groom as part of the marriage contract, and it becomes her sole property immediately. This means she must treat it like any other asset when calculating Zakat.

Mahr can be given in the form of:

• Cash

• Gold or jewellery

• Property or land

• Other assets

If the mahr is in cash or gold, and she keeps it for a year without spending it, she must pay 2.5% Zakat on its value. If she uses the mahr for household needs or personal expenses before a year passes, no Zakat is due on what has been spent.

It’s important for women to understand that Zakat is not just a responsibility of those who earn, but also of those who own wealth, even if it was gifted. If the mahr is not accessible or is held as a non-liquid asset (like land that can’t be sold), the Zakat may be delayed until it becomes accessible.

At Global Helping Hands, we distribute Zakat to women who will never receive a dowry, never marry, or have lost everything due to war. Your Zakat from your mahr could help another woman live with dignity.

A woman can give Zakat to her husband if he qualifies as a Zakat recipient—meaning he is poor, has no sufficient income, or his wealth is below the nisab threshold. This is permitted in Islam and supported by scholars, as long as the Zakat is not given as a way to avoid one’s own financial obligations or as a workaround.

This ruling reflects the practical reality in some households where:

• The husband is unemployed

• He has debts

• He cannot meet basic expenses

• He is dependent on his wife’s support

The wife must ensure that her husband is genuinely eligible for Zakat under Shariah. Zakat must not be used to benefit oneself indirectly (e.g. paying your own rent to your husband who owns the house).

If the woman gives Zakat to her husband in cash, food, or other aid, she will receive the full reward of Zakat, and he is permitted to use it for his needs.

This rule is specific to women giving to their husbands. Men cannot give Zakat to their wives, as they are already responsible for supporting them financially.

At Global Helping Hands, we support households led by men who have lost jobs, limbs, or dignity due to war or crisis. Your Zakat can bring hope to families on the edge.

Zakat must be paid in monetary value, not in the form of personal items—so a woman cannot give her gold jewellery itself as Zakat unless the recipient can immediately use or sell it. Islamic scholars agree that Zakat must reach the recipient as usable wealth, not as non-liquid, personal items unless there is a direct benefit.

If a woman owns gold jewellery and owes Zakat on it, she must:

• Pay 2.5% of its market value in cash

• Or sell a portion of the gold and use the proceeds

• Or use her savings to cover the Zakat amount

She should not simply hand over a ring or necklace as Zakat unless she confirms that the recipient is eligible and can benefit from it directly (e.g. by selling it).

Gold is often symbolic and sentimental, but Zakat is about practicality and impact. The point is to benefit someone in need—who may prefer food, medicine, or shelter over receiving jewellery that’s hard to sell.

At Global Helping Hands, we help you convert your gold’s value into direct cash aid for people in need. Whether it’s a mother in Uganda or a widow in Palestine, your Zakat goes where it’s needed most—immediately and effectively.

If a woman is gifted expensive items such as electronics, designer handbags, or furniture, she does not owe Zakat on them—unless those items are acquired for trade or resale. Personal belongings used in daily life are not zakatable according to Islamic principles.

Zakat is only due on:

• Gold or silver (regardless of use)

• Cash and bank balances

• Business inventory

• Investment assets

So if the gifts are for personal use and not held as business stock or investment, no Zakat applies. However, if a woman frequently receives luxury items and sells them online or stores them for value, then the resale inventory may fall under zakatable business goods.

It’s also important to note that if the gifts lead to cash savings—for example, if an item is returned or sold later—Zakat becomes due on that money if it meets the nisab and remains untouched for a year.

At Global Helping Hands, we work with women who have never received a gift—only war, loss, or poverty. Your Zakat transforms their lives through dignity, relief, and essential aid.

Yes, a woman is responsible for paying Zakat on her own savings, even if she is financially supported by her husband. Islamic law considers women financially independent; any wealth or savings in her name are her responsibility—whether gifted, earned, or inherited.

Zakat is due if:

• Her savings exceed the nisab

• She has held the money for one lunar year

• The money is in her full ownership

The fact that her husband provides for her living costs does not exempt her from paying Zakat. His support and her obligation are two separate matters. Even if she contributes to household expenses, that does not affect the Zakat she owes on her own wealth.

If she is unable to pay (e.g. no liquid funds), she may:

• Use savings

• Sell an asset

• Ask her husband or family to assist (voluntarily)

At Global Helping Hands, we understand that many women support others with their wealth—whether it’s their children, parents, or community. Your Zakat supports other women with no savings, no support, and no source of income.

Yes, a woman can receive Zakat if her husband is unable to financially support her and she has no wealth of her own that reaches the nisab. Islamically, a husband is obligated to provide for his wife’s basic needs, but if he is poor, unemployed, ill, or otherwise unable to do so, the woman is eligible for Zakat—assuming she also lacks savings or income.

This applies to many real-life cases:

Widows or single mothers

Wives of imprisoned or missing husbands

Women in abusive or neglectful relationships

Refugees with no spousal support

Before giving Zakat to such a woman, her situation should be assessed carefully to confirm eligibility. She must be among the eight eligible categories outlined in the Qur’an, such as the poor (fuqara) or needy (masakin).

At Global Helping Hands, we prioritise Zakat for women who have no male support system. Your donation can cover food, housing, and urgent medical needs for mothers and daughters in crisis.

Yes, a woman can give Zakat to her relatives if they are eligible recipients—meaning they are poor or needy and do not fall under those she is already financially responsible for. She cannot give Zakat to her parents, children, or husband, but she may give it to:

• Siblings

• Cousins

• Nieces and nephews

• Aunts and uncles

• In-laws (if not under her financial care)

Giving Zakat to relatives is highly encouraged in Islam. It combines the act of charity with maintaining family ties. If her cousin is struggling to pay rent or her niece cannot afford school, Zakat can be used for such support—provided they are within the eligible categories.

This approach also allows her to witness the impact of her giving first-hand.

At Global Helping Hands, we distribute Zakat to families torn apart by war or poverty. If you prefer to donate to relatives directly, ensure they are eligible. Otherwise, your Zakat through us reaches other families who are just as deserving.

Women who aren’t financially independent can still ensure they pay Zakat correctly by maintaining clear records of any wealth or savings they own—whether gifted, inherited, or received regularly. Zakat is not based on income or employment but on ownership.

To stay organised:

Track cash, jewellery, and assets

Note the Zakat due date annually

Use Zakat calculators or seek help from a scholar

Confirm current nisab value in GBP

Maintain a record of Zakat paid each year

If a woman has no liquid assets and only owns gold or silver, she may need to sell part of it or request help to meet her Zakat obligation. If she is truly unable, Zakat may be delayed—but not ignored.

For married women or housewives, it’s helpful to have separate savings or accounts, and not to assume that the husband handles everything. Zakat is a personal duty, and accountability on the Day of Judgement will also be personal.

At Global Helping Hands, we assist women with guidance and support to make Zakat simple and impactful. When your Zakat is paid sincerely, it becomes a lifeline for women around the world.