I have some jewelry that I adorn myself with and use. Is it obligatory to pay zakah on it, or what? And what is the amount?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : The questioner says: I have some jewelry that I adorn myself with and use. Is it obligatory to pay zakah on it, or what? And what is the amount?
The Shaykh : The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed regarding jewelry intended for use and jewelry that is borrowed: is there zakah on it or not? The majority of scholars hold that there is no zakah on it, but the stronger opinion is that there is zakah on it. The scholars' disagreement has a basis in the Book and the Sunnah, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[Ash-Shuraa 42:10] and His saying, the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:59] When we return to the texts on this matter, we find that the texts support the opinion of obligation. This is the school of Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) and a narration from Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Accordingly, it is obligatory for a woman who has jewelry to pay its zakah, either from the jewelry itself to the extent of the obligation, or from silver coins, where she appraises the jewelry to see what it is worth and pays from its value. The obligatory amount is one-fortieth (a quarter of a tenth) if it reaches the nisab. The nisab for gold is eighty-five grams. If a woman has jewelry that reaches eighty-five grams, it is obligatory for her to pay its zakah every year, which is one-fortieth. She goes to the goldsmiths or gold merchants and asks them: What is this jewelry worth? If they say: This is worth one thousand riyals because it reaches eighty-five grams or more, but its value is one thousand riyals, we say: She pays twenty-five riyals from it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed regarding jewelry intended for use and jewelry that is borrowed: is there zakah on it or not? The majority of scholars hold that there is no zakah on it, but the stronger opinion is that there is zakah on it. The scholars' disagreement has a basis in the Book and the Sunnah, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
And in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allah.
وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِAnd if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًاThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.