Frequently Asked
Questions About Zakat

All able Muslims (those who meet the requirement of zakat as dependent upon nisab and hawl—see below) are required to contribute a fixed portion of their wealth – 2.5% of savings — to help those in need.

Your Zakat is calculated based off the net assets you have at the end of a one-year period. To calculate how much Zakat you owe, you can use our calculator form.

It should be paid before the Eid al-fitr prayer or any day before Eid during Ramadan. Consult with your local sheikh or scholar if you need further information.

ICNA Relief USA uses your Zakat to help vulnerable communities in your locality across the United States through our 7 programs.

Nisab is the smallest amount of wealth a Muslim must have (after calculating essential expenses) to be eligible to pay zakat. Nisab is equal to the present value of three ounces of gold. Disclaimer: this number may change daily depending on the gold exchange rate.

Hawl is the ending period for a zakat asset, which is one lunar year. This means that the wealth on which zakat ought to be paid, must have been held for at least one entire year. There are some forms of zakat that do not involve hawl, such as for harvests, when zakat should be paid at the time of the harvest. For clarity, it is suggested that you consult with your local sheikh or scholar.

The nisab is determined by the current value of gold. Nisab is equal to the current value of 3 ounces of gold.

In the language of the Holy Qur’an, zakat and sadaqah are the same. But in practice, sadaqah is the term used to indicate voluntary charitable giving while zakat is mandatory.