Zakat (Zakah) is a very important part of the Islamic faith and serves as a way to purify a Muslim’s wealth and distribute it to those in need. Giving to the poor is a core value of Islam, and Zakat is a mandatory form of charity that is one of the five pillars of Islam. There is a lot that goes into this mandatory form of charity that every Muslim must understand in order to fulfil their religious obligation and achieve a core pillar of their faith. When it comes to Zakat, there are specific rules to abide by that determine who is eligible to pay this charitable donation and who qualifies to receive these payments. There are also rules that outline how to calculate Zakat and the way you give this donation.
Since there is a lot of information for Muslims to understand, we have compiled the most common FAQs for Zakat 2026 to help you understand the importance of this charity donation and help you figure out what you need to do when it’s time to pay it. You can also discover who is eligible for Zakat and when is Zakat due in 2026!
Zakat, which translates to “that which purifies”, is a mandatory form of charity that is required for every adult Muslim who is eligible to share their wealth with the less fortunate. It is the third pillar of Islam and is an obligatory payment for an adult Muslim who meets the Nisab threshold. The whole aim of this type of charity in Islam is to purify a believer’s wealth by giving a portion of it to those in need. Alongside this main aim, Zakat also improves social welfare and economic balance within local communities.
A Muslim who is eligible for Zakat is one who has enough wealth to give to others. This is determined by the Nisab threshold, which is a minimum amount of wealth that qualifies a believer to donate Zakat. When a believer exceeds this threshold with their wealth, they must pay it. Zakat also bases wealth on a Muslim’s disposable income, taking into account bills and everyday payments a believer needs to pay. It uses their qualifying assets, like gold and silver possession and properties, once the Nisab threshold is met.
Many people wonder why is Zakat important? There are numerous reasons that make Zakat so significant in Islam. The main reason is that this charity payment is a religious obligation because it is the third pillar of Islam. A Muslim’s purpose in life spiritually is to achieve the five pillars as it is their duty and one of the greatest ways to please Allah (SWT) and earn rewards. Alongside this, Zakat also brings Muslims closer to Allah (SWT) because it is an act of worship. Giving to the poor is a core value of Islam and holds immense power when carried out by a believer, which strengthens their relationship to God. Zakat is even stronger and can connect you even closer to Allah (SWT) because it purifies a Muslim’s wealth and redistributes their wealth to those in need. This doesn’t just connect a believer to Allah (SWT). It also helps to create a sense of community and strengthens the ummah (Muslim community) by extending kindness to those often overlooked, relieving the suffering of those who don’t have sufficient means to live.
So, when should you pay Zakat? The Zakat payment is due annually once a Muslim’s wealth exceeds the Nisab threshold and has been held for a full Islamic lunar year. A believer must possess enough wealth before they can pay this donation, which means they need to meet the minimum amount of wealth (Nisab) required. If a Muslim doesn’t meet this, then they don’t need to pay Zakat. If they haven’t held this wealth for a full Islamic year, this also means they don’t have to pay it yet. They will pay it once it has been a full lunar year.
Because Zakat is based on someone’s wealth that has been held for a full Islamic year, it means that the exact time a Muslim should pay it isn’t set in stone. It all depends on when a believer exceeded the Nisab threshold. Once they’ve crossed the threshold and have held this wealth for the year, they can then give their Zakat at some point during the year. Many Muslims like to give their Zakat during Ramadan, especially during the Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), to earn the added blessings. So, if a believer has held their wealth for the Islamic year, they can wait until Ramadan to give their Zakat. No matter when a Muslim pays their Zakat, the percentage of their earnings that they must give remains the same throughout the year.
It can be quite confusing to work out who is eligible for Zakat and who isn’t. There are specific Islamic rules that have been set to help believers figure out whether they should be paying Zakat yet. These Islamic guidelines can be found in the Quran and they state that a person should be:
Alongside Islamic guidelines specifying who is eligible for Zakat, there are also guidelines that set who can receive these donations. These specify the people who qualify to take someone else’s wealth because they are facing poverty and hardship, redistributing wealth and bringing people from across the wealth divide together. The people who can receive Zakat include:
So, how much is Zakat in Islam? The cost of Zakat isn’t an overarching figure and will vary significantly depending on the amount of wealth a Muslim has and the type. Even though there isn’t a specific price, Zakat is set as a percentage of a believer’s accumulated wealth. Islamic law has stated that Zakat should be 2.5% of somebody’s wealth that they have held for a full Islamic year. So, it all depends on how much wealth a Muslim has and how much they are over the Nisab threshold. A Muslim who has only just met the threshold for a year will be required to donate less than a Muslim who is extremely wealthy and way over the threshold.
Someone’s wealth is based on various assets that they possess, including gold, silver, properties and even agricultural livestock. Due to this, the cost of Zakat will also depend on the type of wealth a Muslim owns and how much they have. For example, 2.5% is for most assets, like silver and gold, but there are varying percentages for specific assets, such as agricultural produce which has either 5%, 10% or 20% depending on irrigation methods. There are even special rules dedicated to livestock and trade goods, so it’s always best to check with your local mosque for guidance on how much you will need to pay.
When it comes to how to calculate Zakat, there are many ways you can do this, depending on the type of wealth you own. It isn’t as straightforward as it may seem and can be difficult to wrap your head around how much to pay. To ensure that your Zakat is accurate, we have outlined the best way to pay Zakat and how to work out what you owe. The best way to get your donations to reach those most in need is to give your Zakat to a charitable organisation, such as Emaan Relief, which collects and distributes your Zakat for you. When you give your Zakat to us, we distribute it to extremely vulnerable communities to help give them the basic necessities that they can’t afford. We also make it easy and quick to donate your Zakat online on our website, which is the best way to pay this mandatory charity.
When it comes to calculating your Zakat, it is important to note that it is never a fixed amount. Instead, it is 2.5% of your total assets that are above the Nisab threshold. Assets that are included to pay Zakat on can be:
It is also important to know that any short-term liabilities that you need to pay, such as monthly bills, personal loans and rent/mortgage, for the Zakat month aren’t included in your asset total. This is the same for items that are deemed necessary for living, like your home or vehicle, because these are necessities and are excluded from your Zakat calculations.
There are different Zakat rates for farmers and owners of precious resources, which are:
To help you calculate your Zakat accurately, Emaan Relief provides an easy-to-use Zakat calculator, ensuring you can donate Zakat correctly.
If you have gold assets that are above the Nisab, you may wonder how to calculate Zakat on gold. Before you can calculate how much Zakat you need to pay on your gold assets, you need to know what the Nisab threshold is for this type of asset. The threshold for gold is set at 87.48 grams, so if you have that amount of gold, or over this amount, you will need to pay Zakat. After you’ve determined the amount of gold you own, it is important to understand the value of the gold. This can change due to the varying value of gold, so it is best to seek expert advice closer to the time, so you know the value of your assets and can work out how much you need to pay accurately.
Once you have an accurate value for your gold, you should calculate how much you need to pay by working out 2.5% of this value. The value can fluctuate every single day, so you need to check the latest rates before you calculate Zakat because otherwise, it can be incorrect. Once you have 2.5% of the total value of your gold, you should add this value to your other Zakat assets, like cash and savings, or just calculate Zakat on the gold if you don’t have any other assets.
You could have silver as a part of your assets that you need to pay Zakat on, and can be confused about how to calculate Zakat on silver. This works similarly to gold, but the value of silver is much less. Before you can calculate this, you will need to know the Nisab threshold for silver, which is set at 612.36 grams of silver. If you have this amount, or over, then you will need to pay Zakat on your silver assets. Then, you need to know the value of silver. Again, the value can fluctuate every day, so it is best to get expert advice closer to the time you want to pay Zakat to donate it accurately.
After this, you need to calculate 2.5% of this value, which is what you will need to donate for your Zakat. Once you’ve worked this out, you should either add this cost to your other assets that you may need to pay Zakat on, like cash, or only work out Zakat for silver if this is the only asset you have that meets the Nisab.
So, when is Zakat due in 2026? Since Zakat is an annual mandatory charitable donation that adult Muslims whose wealth exceeds the Nisab threshold must pay, there isn’t a specific date set in stone that Zakat must be paid by. This means a Muslim can pay their Zakat whenever they like in the Islamic year. However, they can only pay this when they have held their wealth for a full Islamic year.
Many Muslims like to give their Zakat during the holy month of Ramadan, particularly during the last 10 days because the Night of Power falls within this time. So, if you have held wealth for a full Islamic year and want to reap the multiplied rewards of Ramadan, then you can pay Zakat from the 10th March, which is expected to be the 21st day of the month and the start of Laylat al-Qadr (subject to moon sighting).
Pay Zakat online quickly and easily on our website. We ensure your Zakat makes a direct impact as we operate a 100% donation policy for all Zakat contributions, meaning every penny reaches those in need. We ensure that your Zakat is distributed as quickly as possible, meaning our team strives to distribute the donation within three months of receiving it. Give Zakat online to Emaan Relief today to ensure your donation reaches those who need it most and transform lives.
