Zakat Rules (2024)

Who is Eligible for Zakat?

There are eight categories listed in the Qur’an as being eligible to receive Zakat, and they are as follows:

Those living in poverty and with little to no income referred to as Fuqara
People who do not have access to basic needs and amenities, known as Al-Masakin
Individuals or organisations employed to distribute Zakat, also called Amil
Those who are new to Islam and friends of the community, referred to as Muallaf
People living in captivity and victims of slavery, known as Riqab
People who are in debt beyond their means, called Gharmin
Individuals who work for Allah’s cause, also called Fisabilillah
People who are travelling and require help or assistance, referred to as Ibnus Sabil

Simply put, those outside of these eight groups are not able to receive Zakat, but there are other rules too. For clarity, here are some of the most frequently asked Zakat questions and the answers.

Can I give Zakat to my husband?

If your husband fits into one of the eight categories above, e.g. he is in debt, you may pay your Zakat to him.

Can we give Zakat to Syed?

Those with the name Syed are descendants of the Prophet (PBUH) and so as per the Qur’an cannot receive Zakat. If a Syed is in difficulty, you are permitted to give them a gift but you cannot do so in the name of Zakat.

Can I pay Zakat to non-Muslims?

You can give your Zakat to a non-Muslim as long as they are eligible per the eight categories in the Qur’an and are not involved in fighting Muslims or forcing them out of their homes.

Can Zakat be Paid to a Family Member?

Zakat cannot be paid to any family member that is already dependent on you, such as your children. Parents and children should never pay Zakat to each other, although, if another relative is poor or needy, they can be given your Zakat contribution.

Additionally, there are schools of thought which believe that a husband cannot pay Zakat to his wife but a wife can pay Zakat to her husband. Again, consult your local scholar for clarification on this.

Can you give Zakat to build a mosque?

No, it is not permitted to give Zakat to build any type of building because it is not listed in the eight categories in the Qur’an.

Do I Need to Pay Zakat?

Not every Muslim will be qualified to pay Zakat. First, you must be:

A practicing Muslim
An adult (past the age of puberty)
Of sound mind
Of free will
Have a consistent wealth flow

In addition to this, your wealth must exceed the nisab threshold after your monthly bills have been deducted. Nisab is calculated to the current market value of 612.36g of silver or 87.48g of gold. You must hold your wealth for a full Islamic year (Hawl) before you are required to pay Zakat. If you start the year above the nisab threshold and finish it above the nisab threshold, but your wealth dropped below the nisab threshold during the year, you are still eligible to pay zakat.

Wealth that is counted towards your zakat contribution includes:

Money in the bank
Cash
Investments and stocks
The value of secondary homes/vehicles
Gold and silver in your possession
If you do not meet the nisab threshold or cannot hold it for a full
Islamic year, you are not required to pay Zakat.

How Much Is Zakat?

Zakat is charged at a rate of 2.5%. This means you should donate 2.5% of your wealth which exceeds the nisab value. If you’re struggling to work out how much zakat you need to pay, use our zakat calculator.

If you don’t exceed the nisab value, you need not pay.