How to Calculate the Zakah of Money
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The fourth question of Fatwa No. ( 5082 )
Q4: Some scholars say that the nisab (minimum threshold for zakah) of monetary wealth in which zakah is obligatory is equivalent to (56) Saudi Riyals, but others say: that this nisab was established at a time when the material was scarce in people's hands, whereas now the value of gold and silver has changed, knowing that (56) Riyals previously is equivalent to approximately (2000) two thousand Saudi Riyals now. What is the decisive ruling in this matter?
A4: It is Allah the Exalted who sent His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) with guidance and the religion of truth, and He made His Shari'ah a general law for creation, complete and eternal until the Day of Resurrection. He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is All-Knowing of what has been and what will be regarding the changes in the conditions of creation and the changes in the value of money, and the extent of people's need for it and their benefit from it, until the end of the world. It is He, Glorified and Exalted is He, who revealed to His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) the determination of the nisab of zakah in wealth, and the determination of the amount that is paid out as zakah to be distributed to its rightful recipients in the verse:[At-Tawbah 9:60] the verse. If the nisab and the amount paid out as zakah from wealth were to vary according to the differences in eras, the conditions of people, and the changes in the value of wealth, He, Glorified and Exalted is He, would have specified it and revealed it to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)
with various rules corresponding to those conditions, to be applied when they occur, as a mercy from Him to His servants. But He did not do so, and He is the All-Knowing, the Wise, the Compassionate, the Merciful. This indicates that the nisab, the amount that is paid out, and the destinations of zakah do not change in their legal determination over the passage of days until the Hour stands. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q4: Some scholars say that the nisab (minimum threshold for zakah) of monetary wealth in which zakah is obligatory is equivalent to (56) Saudi Riyals, but others say: that this nisab was established at a time when the material was scarce in people's hands, whereas now the value of gold and silver has changed, knowing that (56) Riyals previously is equivalent to approximately (2000) two thousand Saudi Riyals now. What is the decisive ruling in this matter?
A4: It is Allah the Exalted who sent His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) with guidance and the religion of truth, and He made His Shari'ah a general law for creation, complete and eternal until the Day of Resurrection. He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is All-Knowing of what has been and what will be regarding the changes in the conditions of creation and the changes in the value of money, and the extent of people's need for it and their benefit from it, until the end of the world. It is He, Glorified and Exalted is He, who revealed to His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) the determination of the nisab of zakah in wealth, and the determination of the amount that is paid out as zakah to be distributed to its rightful recipients in the verse:
Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِwith various rules corresponding to those conditions, to be applied when they occur, as a mercy from Him to His servants. But He did not do so, and He is the All-Knowing, the Wise, the Compassionate, the Merciful. This indicates that the nisab, the amount that is paid out, and the destinations of zakah do not change in their legal determination over the passage of days until the Hour stands. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.