Fatwa by: Former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him)
Question:
Is Zakat obligatory on the gold that a woman keeps only for her adornment and personal use, and not for commercial purposes?
Answer:
There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding whether Zakat is obligatory on jewelry that is not intended for trade. The correct view is that even if the jewelry is solely for adornment, Zakat is still obligatory on it. The minimum threshold (nisab) for gold is twenty mithqals, which weighs approximately 92 grams (7.5 tola). If the jewelry (gold) is less than this amount, Zakat is not obligatory on it. However, if the jewelry is for trade, then Zakat is absolutely obligatory, provided its value reaches the nisab. The nisab for silver is one hundred and forty mithqals, which is equivalent to 56 Saudi riyals. If the silver jewelry is less than this amount, no Zakat is due, unless it is for trade, in which case Zakat is obligatory if its value reaches the nisab.
The evidence for the obligation of Zakat on gold and silver jewelry, even if prepared for personal use, is based on the general instruction of the Prophet (peace be upon him):
"There is no owner of gold or silver who does not pay its Zakat, except that on the Day of Judgment, sheets of fire will be prepared for them, and their sides, foreheads, and backs will be branded with them."
(Narrated by Muslim, Book of Zakat, Hadith: 2)
Furthermore, there is a narration from Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) that a woman came to the Prophet (peace be upon him), and her daughter had two gold bangles on her hands. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked her:
"Do you pay Zakat on these?"
She replied: "No."
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Would you like Allah to make you wear two bracelets of fire on the Day of Judgment because of these?"
Upon hearing this, the woman immediately threw them away and said, "They are for Allah and His Messenger."
(Sunan Abu Dawood and Sunan al-Nasa’i, with a good chain)
Additionally, there is a narration from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she used to wear gold anklets. She asked the Prophet (peace be upon him):
"O Messenger of Allah, are these considered a treasure (kanz)?"
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied:
"If they reach the nisab and their Zakat is paid, then they are not a treasure (kanz)."
(Narrated by Abu Dawood, Malik, al-Daraqutni, and authenticated by al-Hakim)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not say that there is no Zakat on jewelry. As for the narration attributed to the Prophet:
"There is no Zakat on jewelry,"
this is weak, and it cannot be compared to the authentic and stronger narrations.
And Allah is the Guide to success.
Question:
Is Zakat obligatory on the gold that a woman keeps only for her adornment and personal use, and not for commercial purposes?
Answer:
There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding whether Zakat is obligatory on jewelry that is not intended for trade. The correct view is that even if the jewelry is solely for adornment, Zakat is still obligatory on it. The minimum threshold (nisab) for gold is twenty mithqals, which weighs approximately 92 grams (7.5 tola). If the jewelry (gold) is less than this amount, Zakat is not obligatory on it. However, if the jewelry is for trade, then Zakat is absolutely obligatory, provided its value reaches the nisab. The nisab for silver is one hundred and forty mithqals, which is equivalent to 56 Saudi riyals. If the silver jewelry is less than this amount, no Zakat is due, unless it is for trade, in which case Zakat is obligatory if its value reaches the nisab.
The evidence for the obligation of Zakat on gold and silver jewelry, even if prepared for personal use, is based on the general instruction of the Prophet (peace be upon him):
"There is no owner of gold or silver who does not pay its Zakat, except that on the Day of Judgment, sheets of fire will be prepared for them, and their sides, foreheads, and backs will be branded with them."
(Narrated by Muslim, Book of Zakat, Hadith: 2)
Furthermore, there is a narration from Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) that a woman came to the Prophet (peace be upon him), and her daughter had two gold bangles on her hands. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked her:
"Do you pay Zakat on these?"
She replied: "No."
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Would you like Allah to make you wear two bracelets of fire on the Day of Judgment because of these?"
Upon hearing this, the woman immediately threw them away and said, "They are for Allah and His Messenger."
(Sunan Abu Dawood and Sunan al-Nasa’i, with a good chain)
Additionally, there is a narration from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she used to wear gold anklets. She asked the Prophet (peace be upon him):
"O Messenger of Allah, are these considered a treasure (kanz)?"
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied:
"If they reach the nisab and their Zakat is paid, then they are not a treasure (kanz)."
(Narrated by Abu Dawood, Malik, al-Daraqutni, and authenticated by al-Hakim)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not say that there is no Zakat on jewelry. As for the narration attributed to the Prophet:
"There is no Zakat on jewelry,"
this is weak, and it cannot be compared to the authentic and stronger narrations.
And Allah is the Guide to success.