Zakat on Silver: Nisab, Conditions and How to Calculate It
The nisab for zakat on silver is 595 grams of pure silver. If you fully own that much or more for one complete lunar year, you owe one-fortieth of it, which is 2.5%. This guide walks through the rules of zakat on silver, the conditions that make it due, how to calculate it with a worked example, the scholarly views on combining silver with gold, and how to pay it through Elvefa.
Work out your zakat: use our Zakat Calculator to find today’s nisab and the zakat due on your cash, gold and shares in a minute.
Table of Contents
Why Silver Is Subject to Zakat
Silver is a precious metal that people have long used to store wealth, so Allah made it one of the assets on which zakat is obligatory for any Muslim who holds the nisab. That zakat goes to the poor, the needy and the other eligible categories, helping them live with dignity instead of depending on others.
The benefit runs both ways. Zakat purifies your wealth and your heart, strengthens solidarity in the community, and Allah has promised a great reward to those who pay zakat on their gold and silver. As stated in this article, the silver in question is silver that is not jewelry worn for personal adornment and use.
Conditions That Make Zakat on Silver Due
All of the following must be true before you owe zakat on silver:
- You reach the nisab: at least 595 grams of pure silver.
- A full year passes: the silver stays in your possession for one complete lunar (Hijri) year.
- You have full ownership: it belongs entirely to you, with no partners.
- It is not personal-use jewelry: adornment for personal wear is excluded under the view presented here.
The Silver Nisab and the Rate
Islamic law sets the silver threshold at 595 grams of pure silver, and it applies equally to 1000 and 999 fineness. Once you reach it, the amount due is one-quarter of one-tenth of everything you hold: 2.5%, or 0.025 as a decimal.
The dollar value of that threshold rises and falls with the market price of silver, so check it on the day your zakat is due using Elvefa's Zakat Calculator.
How to Calculate Zakat on Silver, Step by Step
- Add it all up. Weigh every silver bar and coin you own and total the grams.
- Compare with the nisab. Make sure the total is at least 595 grams of pure silver.
- Confirm the conditions. A full lunar year has passed and you are the sole owner.
- Work out the amount. Multiply the total weight by 0.025, or divide it by 40; both give the same answer.
- Pay it to those entitled. Give the result to the poor and needy, either as silver or its cash equivalent.
Worked Example
Say you have held 800 grams of pure silver for a full Hijri year. Since 800 is above 595, you have reached the nisab. Your zakat is 800 × 0.025 = 20 grams of silver, exactly what you get by dividing 800 by 40. You can give those 20 grams or their cash value at the price on the day you pay.
Don't Delay Once It's Due
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم encouraged believers to give without delay: “Give charity, for a time will come when a man will walk with his charity and the one he offers it to will say: Had you brought it yesterday, I would have accepted it, but today I have no need of it.” And Allah pairs zakat with prayer and obedience: (Have you feared to present charities before your private consultation? But if you do not and Allah has forgiven you, then establish prayer and give zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.) (Al-Mujadila 58:13).
Can You Combine Silver and Gold to Reach the Nisab?
Suppose you own some gold and some silver, but neither one reaches its nisab on its own. Scholars differ on whether the two are added together:
| View | Held by | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Combine them | The majority, including the Hanafi and Maliki schools and one narration from Imam Ahmad | Gold and silver are both precious "currency" metals, so they are added to complete the nisab |
| Keep them separate | The Shafi'i school | Each metal stands alone; zakat is due only on the one that reaches its own nisab |
How the Combining Works
Under the majority view, you combine by value, not by weight. Add up the cash value of your gold and silver together; if the total reaches the nisab, 2.5% is due. So someone whose gold and silver are each below the threshold, but whose combined value equals the silver nisab, would owe zakat under this opinion. For the gold side of the picture, see our guide to zakat on gold and its nisab.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Weighing everything together without separating out the pure silver content.
- Losing track of your zakat anniversary or paying before the lunar year is complete.
- Combining gold and silver by weight when the majority view combines them by value.
- Putting off payment after it has become due without a valid reason.
Pay Your Silver Zakat Through Elvefa
Your zakat can change the situation of a displaced family or an orphan, and Allah promises to multiply what is spent for His sake: (The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed which grows seven ears; in every ear is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies for whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing and Knowing.) (Al-Baqarah 2:261).
Since 2014, Elvefa Association for Relief and Development has delivered zakat to eligible recipients quickly and transparently through an experienced field team. You can give online in a few minutes through our Zakat campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does zakat on silver become obligatory?
When you fully own at least 595 grams of pure silver, with no partners, and a full lunar year has passed on it.
Do I pay in silver or in cash?
Either works: you give 2.5% of the silver's weight or 2.5% of its cash value.
What is the silver nisab in grams?
595 grams of pure silver, whether 1000 or 999 fineness, as long as it is not jewelry kept for personal use.
What is the quickest way to calculate it?
Total the weight of your coins and bars, confirm it meets the nisab, then multiply by 0.025 or divide by 40.
Final Word
Zakat on silver is due once you hold 595 grams for a full lunar year, at a rate of 2.5% of the weight or value. Calculate it carefully, pay it promptly, and let it reach people who truly need it through Elvefa's Zakat campaign. Elvefa is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your zakat donation is tax-deductible.
