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Ruling 1912

There are two niṣāb for gold.

  1. Twenty legal (sharʿī) mithqāls.5 A legal mithqāl is eighteen nukhuds.6 Therefore, when gold reaches the weight of twenty legal mithqāls – which is equivalent to fifteen common (ṣayrafī) mithqāls – and if the other conditions that were mentioned are fulfilled, one must give one-fortieth [2.5%] – which is equivalent to nine nukhuds as zakat. As long as gold does not reach this amount, zakat is not obligatory on it.
  2. Four legal mithqāls, which is equivalent to three common mithqāls, meaning that if three [common] mithqāls are added to fifteen [common] mithqāls, one must give zakat on the entire eighteen mithqāls, which is equivalent to one-fortieth [2.5%]; and if less than three mithqāls is added, he must give zakat on only fifteen mithqāls [which was the first niṣāb mentioned above], and the extra is not liable for zakat. The same applies to every other addition, meaning that if three mithqāls are added, one must give zakat on the entire amount; and if less than three mithqāls is added, the added amount is not liable for zakat.

5 One legal mithqāl is equivalent to 3.456 grams; therefore, twenty legal mithqāls is equal to 69.12 grams.

6 A nukhud is a measure of weight. One nukhud is equivalent to 0.192 grams.