Nisab of Gold: 20 Dinars or 7.5 Tola of Gold
Source: Fatāwā Rāshidiyyah, Page 404
❖ Question
What is the correct Nisab (threshold) for gold? I have heard that the late ʿAbd al-Sattār رحمه الله set the Nisab at 120 rupees. Is this correct?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
The correct Nisab for gold is 20 Dinars or 20 Mithqāl. The opinion attributed to the late ʿAbd al-Sattār رحمه الله — that gold equal to 120 rupees is the Nisab — has no known basis in evidence.
❖ Evidences
① Report in Sunan al-Kubrā of al-Bayhaqī
((…وليس عليك شىء حتى يكون لك عشرون دينارا فاذا كانت لك وحال عليه الحول ففيها نصف دينار…))
Bayhaqī: Kitāb al-Zakāh, Bāb Niṣāb al-Dhahab wa Qadr al-Wājib fīhi, vol. 4, p. 138
This Hadith establishes the Nisab of 20 Dinars for gold. When one owns 20 Dinars for a complete year, half a Dinar is due as Zakat. More than that is calculated proportionally.
Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله (commentator of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim) has graded this narration as Ṣaḥīḥ or Ḥasan.
② Statement of Ibn Ḥazm رحمه الله
In al-Muḥallā, Ibn Ḥazm confirms that the narrators of this Hadith are trustworthy, and that its chain through ʿĀṣim ibn Ḍumrah and al-Ḥārith ibn ʿAbdullāh is reliable. Imām al-Tirmidhī also transmitted this Hadith as marfūʿ.
Although one narrator, Abū Isḥāq, is a mudallis and narrated with “ʿan,” the weakness is mild, not severe. Combined with supporting chains, this Hadith rises to the level of Ḥasan li-ghayrih, and is a valid proof.
③ Report in Sunan Ibn Mājah
((…أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان ياخذ من كل عشرين دينارا فصاعدا نصف دينار ومن الأربعين دينارا دينارا.))
Sunan Ibn Mājah: Kitāb al-Zakāh, Bāb Zakāt al-Waraq wal-Dhahab, Ḥadīth 1791
This narration also shows that the Nisab is 20 Dinars, as the Prophet ﷺ took half a Dinar on 20, and one Dinar on 40.
Though one narrator, Ibrāhīm ibn Ismāʿīl, was deemed weak by Ibn Ḥajar, he was not extremely weak. In fact, Imām al-Bukhārī himself narrated from him in his Ṣaḥīḥ (in Bāb Badʾ al-Khalq), proving his narrations are acceptable.
Thus, these different chains strengthen each other, raising the Hadith to Ḥasan li-ghayrih, and it is a valid evidence.
❖ Weight of the Nisab
◈ A Dinar and a Mithqāl are the same.
◈ 1 Mithqāl = 4.5 Mashaʿ (approximately).
◈ 20 Mithqāl = 90 Mashaʿ.
◈ 90 Mashaʿ = 7.5 Tola (troy equivalent in Islamic measure).
Hence, whoever owns 7.5 Tola of gold for one lunar year, Zakat is obligatory.
- On 20 Dinars, Zakat due = ½ Dinar.
- On more, Zakat is proportionate (2.5%).
- If in the form of jewelry, Zakat is paid based on its market value.
❖ Conclusion
The Nisab of gold is 20 Dinars or 20 Mithqāl = 7.5 Tola of gold. Less than this amount is exempt.
The claim of setting the Nisab at “120 rupees” has no sound basis or evidence.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam bi-ṣ-ṣawāb.
