In short: Zakat is the obligatory 2.5% annual charity on qualifying wealth above the nisab. Calculate yours and give it where Allah commanded.
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam and one of the most powerful acts of worship a believer can perform. It is an obligatory annual payment on qualifying wealth, given to purify what we own and to restore balance within the Ummah. Far from being a tax, Zakat is a divine right of the poor over the rich, established in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ٣.
What does Zakat mean?
The word Zakat carries the meanings of purification and growth. By giving a portion of our wealth to those entitled to it, we purify the remainder, protect ourselves from greed, and invite barakah (blessing) into our provision. The mainstream Sunni schools of jurisprudence — Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali — are unanimous that Zakat is fard (obligatory) upon every sane, adult Muslim who owns wealth above the nisab threshold for one lunar year.
Who must pay Zakat and what is the nisab?
Zakat becomes due when a Muslim’s net qualifying wealth — cash, gold, silver, business stock and certain investments — reaches or exceeds the nisab and remains above it for a full lunar year (hawl). The nisab is the value of 87.48g of gold or 612.36g of silver. Most scholars recommend using the silver nisab when calculating, as it is lower and therefore benefits more poor recipients. The standard rate due is 2.5% of that wealth.
The eight categories of Zakat recipients
Allah specifies in Surah at-Tawbah exactly who may receive Zakat. These eight categories are:
- The poor (al-fuqara)
- The needy (al-masakin)
- Those employed to collect and administer Zakat
- Those whose hearts are to be reconciled
- To free those in bondage
- Those in debt
- In the cause of Allah (fi sabilillah)
- The stranded traveller
How Zia Ul Ummah Foundation distributes your Zakat
Zia Ul Ummah Foundation is a registered charity in England (No. 1131760) with a 97-year history of frontline work. Your Zakat is delivered with care to eligible recipients: orphans, single mothers, families without food or clean water, and underprivileged children receiving free education across more than 250 institutions. We use a dedicated Zakat policy to ensure every eligible pound reaches those Allah named as deserving.
Fulfil Your Zakat Today
Calculate your Zakat and let us deliver it to eligible orphans, students and families in desperate need.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much Zakat do I have to pay?
The standard rate of Zakat is 2.5% of your net qualifying wealth (cash, gold, silver and business assets) once it has remained above the nisab for one full lunar year.
What is the nisab for Zakat in 2026?
The nisab is the value of 87.48g of gold or 612.36g of silver. Many scholars advise using the silver value as it is lower and benefits more poor recipients. Use the Zia Ul Ummah Zakat Calculator for the current monetary value.
Can I give my Zakat to an orphan or a single mother?
Yes. Orphans and single mothers who are poor or needy fall within the first two Zakat categories, making them eligible recipients of your Zakat.
Is Zakat the same as Sadaqah?
No. Zakat is an obligatory annual payment on qualifying wealth, while Sadaqah is voluntary charity that can be given at any time and in any amount.