How to Pay the Zakah of Jewelry
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question: Also, the second question from the sender (M. H.) concerns zakah, but specifically the zakah of jewelry. She says: I also ask about the zakah of jewelry, in which scholars have differed. The question is: If a woman wants to pay zakah on her jewelry, how does she do so? Does she gather her jewelry, weigh it, and pay based on its weight? And does it become due when a lunar year has passed over it? If so, and she has forgotten in which month of the year she bought each item of her jewelry, please guide me on how to pay zakah on my jewelry; because I want to do so despite the scholars' disagreement on the obligation of zakah on jewelry. And is it valid to do this in Ramadan, given that each type of this jewelry was purchased in a different month of the year?
Answer:
There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding the obligation of zakah on gold and silver jewelry, as the questioner stated. However, the correct view, and the stronger of the scholars' opinions, is that there is zakah on gold and silver jewelry, even if she wears it or lends it out. This is the correct view.
Among the evidence for this is what Abu Dawud and al-Nasa'i narrated from Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with them both):Bulugh al-Maram 4:22 There are other hadiths indicating this as well.
It is obligatory to look at the nisab (minimum threshold). If it reaches the nisab, she pays zakah on it every year, based on the value of the gold. If the gold reaches eleven pounds and three-sevenths of a pound, meaning around half a pound, meaning approximately half a pound, if it reaches that amount, then there is zakah in it, and any excess is calculated accordingly. If she has gold, for example, estimated at forty pounds, then there is one pound or its value in it, and so on for any excess. It is possible to ask goldsmiths about its weight; because the nisab is twenty mithqals, and the amount of that in pounds is eleven pounds and three-sevenths of a pound. This is the amount of twenty mithqals of gold, so the zakah is one-quarter of one-tenth.
As for silver, its nisab is one hundred and forty mithqals. Its equivalent in Saudi silver is fifty-six Saudi silver riyals. If this silver, or this paper money, reaches a value of fifty-six silver riyals, then zakah becomes obligatory on it. Similarly, if she has gold reaching eleven pounds and three-sevenths of a pound, zakah becomes obligatory on it every year. Even if it reaches thousands of pounds, she must pay one-quarter of one-tenth of this jewelry; such as gold necklaces, bracelets, bangles, and so on. She gathers all of it and pays one-quarter of one-tenth on all of it. If it reaches, for example, one hundred thousand riyals, she pays two thousand and five hundred, which is one-quarter of one-tenth, on this gold that she has.
As for diamonds, pearls, and agate, there is no zakah on them. If her jewelry contains diamonds, agate, or similar pearls, there is no zakah on them. The zakah is specifically on gold. If these items are not intended for trade, such as pearls and the like, and diamonds, but are prepared for wearing, then there is no zakah on them. The zakah is specifically on gold and silver, according to the scholars, as the reports from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) indicate.
It is obligatory to pay one-quarter of one-tenth on the gold she has each year. There is no consideration for their previous prices; the consideration is the value at the time of zakah, what this gold is worth at the time of zakah, whether in Ramadan or otherwise. Yes.
The presenter: But Your Eminence! Regarding zakah on gold and silver if it is jewelry, is it necessary for the gold to reach, for example, eleven pounds and three-sevenths?
The Shaykh: The minimum amount in it is something, yes.
The presenter: The minimum amount in it is something, and for silver, five awqiya?
The Shaykh: One hundred and forty mithqals.
The presenter: If it is less than that and it is jewelry, then there is nothing on her?
The Shaykh: No, whatever is less than this has no zakah. Yes.
Answer:
There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding the obligation of zakah on gold and silver jewelry, as the questioner stated. However, the correct view, and the stronger of the scholars' opinions, is that there is zakah on gold and silver jewelry, even if she wears it or lends it out. This is the correct view.
Among the evidence for this is what Abu Dawud and al-Nasa'i narrated from Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with them both):
that a woman came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) accompanied by her daughter, who wore two heavy gold bangles. He said to her, “Do you pay Zakah on them?” She said, ‘No.’ He then said, “Are you pleased that Allah may put two bangles of fire on your wrist on the Day of Judgment?” She then threw them away.
أن امرأة أتت النبي ﷺ وعليها سواران من ذهب، فقال: أتعطين زكاة هذا؟ قالت: لا. قال: أيسرك أن يسورك الله بهما يوم القيامة سوارين من نار؟ فألقتهما وقالت: هما لله ولرسولهIt is obligatory to look at the nisab (minimum threshold). If it reaches the nisab, she pays zakah on it every year, based on the value of the gold. If the gold reaches eleven pounds and three-sevenths of a pound, meaning around half a pound, meaning approximately half a pound, if it reaches that amount, then there is zakah in it, and any excess is calculated accordingly. If she has gold, for example, estimated at forty pounds, then there is one pound or its value in it, and so on for any excess. It is possible to ask goldsmiths about its weight; because the nisab is twenty mithqals, and the amount of that in pounds is eleven pounds and three-sevenths of a pound. This is the amount of twenty mithqals of gold, so the zakah is one-quarter of one-tenth.
As for silver, its nisab is one hundred and forty mithqals. Its equivalent in Saudi silver is fifty-six Saudi silver riyals. If this silver, or this paper money, reaches a value of fifty-six silver riyals, then zakah becomes obligatory on it. Similarly, if she has gold reaching eleven pounds and three-sevenths of a pound, zakah becomes obligatory on it every year. Even if it reaches thousands of pounds, she must pay one-quarter of one-tenth of this jewelry; such as gold necklaces, bracelets, bangles, and so on. She gathers all of it and pays one-quarter of one-tenth on all of it. If it reaches, for example, one hundred thousand riyals, she pays two thousand and five hundred, which is one-quarter of one-tenth, on this gold that she has.
As for diamonds, pearls, and agate, there is no zakah on them. If her jewelry contains diamonds, agate, or similar pearls, there is no zakah on them. The zakah is specifically on gold. If these items are not intended for trade, such as pearls and the like, and diamonds, but are prepared for wearing, then there is no zakah on them. The zakah is specifically on gold and silver, according to the scholars, as the reports from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) indicate.
It is obligatory to pay one-quarter of one-tenth on the gold she has each year. There is no consideration for their previous prices; the consideration is the value at the time of zakah, what this gold is worth at the time of zakah, whether in Ramadan or otherwise. Yes.
The presenter: But Your Eminence! Regarding zakah on gold and silver if it is jewelry, is it necessary for the gold to reach, for example, eleven pounds and three-sevenths?
The Shaykh: The minimum amount in it is something, yes.
The presenter: The minimum amount in it is something, and for silver, five awqiya?
The Shaykh: One hundred and forty mithqals.
The presenter: If it is less than that and it is jewelry, then there is nothing on her?
The Shaykh: No, whatever is less than this has no zakah. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.