What is Nisab?

Nisab is the minimum threshold of wealth a Muslim must own before Zakat becomes compulsory. If your total zakatable wealth — cash, savings, gold, silver, business stock and investments, minus short-term debts — is at or above the Nisab value, you owe 2.5% of that wealth as Zakat. If it's below Nisab, Zakat isn't obligatory on you this year, though giving Sadaqah is always encouraged.

How is Nisab calculated?

The Prophet ﷺ set Nisab at the value of 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver. Since we no longer use gold and silver as currency, we convert that weight into today's market price to get a Rand value. Because metal prices move daily, Nisab isn't a fixed number — it shifts with the market, which is why we've built the calculator above instead of publishing a single static figure.

Should I use the gold or silver Nisab?

Both are valid positions across the schools of thought. Gold gives a higher threshold, so fewer people are obligated to pay. Silver gives a lower threshold, so Zakat becomes due on more people's wealth — which most scholars favour today, since it channels more support to those in need. If you're unsure which applies to your situation, our Zakat Info page covers this in more depth, or you can reach out to our team directly.

Does Nisab change during the year?

Yes. Nisab is checked at two points: when your wealth first reaches the threshold, and again after one full lunar (Hijri) year has passed on that wealth. Gold and silver prices — and therefore the Rand value of Nisab — can be different at each of those points, so it's worth recalculating rather than relying on a figure from months ago.

What if my wealth is below Nisab?

Zakat isn't obligatory on you this year if your net zakatable wealth is below the Nisab threshold. You can still give voluntary Sadaqah, which carries its own reward and directly supports our ongoing relief work.