Which nisab standard should I use?

It depends on your madhab. Hanafi scholars enforce the silver standard, which produces a lower threshold and means more people are obligated to pay zakat. Ja'fari scholars enforce the gold standard, which produces a higher threshold. Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali scholars generally allow you to choose between gold and silver — many contemporary scholars in these schools recommend using whichever standard is lower (silver) to be more cautious and generous, though using either is valid.

Why does my nisab threshold change?

The nisab is defined in fixed weights of gold (85g Sunni / 69.12g Ja'fari) or silver (595g Sunni / 483.84g Ja'fari). Since metal prices fluctuate daily on global commodity markets, the dollar value of nisab changes every day. For example, if gold is $65 per gram, the Sunni gold nisab is $5,525; if gold rises to $75 per gram, it becomes $6,375. Rafiq uses live metal prices to give you an accurate nisab threshold in your currency.

What if my wealth drops below nisab during the year?

The majority of scholars hold that your wealth must remain at or above the nisab threshold for a full lunar year (hawl) for zakat to be obligatory. If your wealth drops below nisab at any point during the year, the hawl resets and you begin counting again from the next time your wealth reaches nisab. Some Maliki scholars hold that only the beginning and end of the hawl matter, not fluctuations in between.

What Is Nisab? The Zakat Minimum Threshold Explained

Nisab is the minimum amount of wealth a Muslim must possess before zakat becomes obligatory. The Sunni threshold is based on 85 grams of gold (20 mithqal × 4.25g) or 595 grams of silver (200 dirham × 2.975g). The Ja'fari threshold is 69.12 grams of gold (20 dinar shar'i × 3.456g) or 483.84 grams of silver (200 dirham shar'i × 2.4192g).

What Does Nisab Mean?

The word nisab literally means "origin" or "starting point" in Arabic. In the context of zakat, it refers to the minimum threshold of wealth that makes a Muslim liable to pay zakat. If your total zakatable wealth is below the nisab, you are not required to pay zakat and may in fact be eligible to receive it. If your wealth meets or exceeds the nisab for a full lunar year (the hawl), zakat becomes obligatory.

The nisab was originally set by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in terms of physical gold and silver. Since the value of gold and silver fluctuates on global markets, the dollar equivalent of nisab changes daily.

Nisab by Madhab

Madhab	Standard Enforced	Gold Nisab	Silver Nisab	Approx. USD Range
Hanafi	Silver (mandatory)	85g	595g	$450–$700 (silver)
Shafi'i	User choice (gold default)	85g	595g	$5,000–$7,500 (gold) or $450–$700 (silver)
Maliki	Gold (standard position)	85g	595g	$5,000–$7,500 (gold)
Hanbali	Classical silver; modern allows gold	85g	595g	$5,000–$7,500 (gold) or $450–$700 (silver)
Ja'fari	Gold (mandatory)	69.12g	483.84g	$4,000–$6,000 (gold)

USD ranges are approximate and depend on live gold and silver spot prices. Rafiq calculates your exact nisab threshold using real-time metal prices.

Gold Standard vs Silver Standard

Historically, the gold and silver nisab thresholds were roughly equivalent in value. Today, silver has depreciated dramatically relative to gold, creating a large gap between the two thresholds. This difference has significant practical implications:

Silver nisab (approx. $450–$700): A much lower threshold. Most working adults in North America would meet this. The Hanafi school enforces silver nisab, meaning more people are obligated to pay zakat. This is based on the principle of caution (ihtiyat) and the interest of the poor.
Gold nisab (approx. $5,000–$7,500): A higher threshold. This means only people with meaningful savings are obligated. The Ja'fari school enforces gold, and the Maliki school also standardizes on gold.
User choice: The Shafi'i school defaults to gold but allows the user to choose. The Hanbali school classically used silver but many modern Hanbali scholars allow gold. Rafiq lets you select your preferred standard when your madhab permits a choice.

Where Do the Gram Amounts Come From?

Sunni Weights (85g Gold / 595g Silver)

The Sunni nisab of gold is based on 20 mithqal, where one mithqal equals 4.25 grams (20 × 4.25 = 85g). The silver nisab is 200 dirham, where one dirham equals 2.975 grams (200 × 2.975 = 595g). These are the standard weights used by AAOIFI and the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA).

Ja'fari Weights (69.12g Gold / 483.84g Silver)

The Ja'fari school uses a slightly different dinar and dirham. The nisab is 20 dinar shar'i, where one dinar shar'i equals 3.456 grams (20 × 3.456 = 69.12g). The silver nisab is 200 dirham shar'i, where one dirham shar'i equals 2.4192 grams (200 × 2.4192 = 483.84g). Source: al-Sistani, Tawdih al-Masa'il, Mas'alah 1863.

Why Does Nisab Change Daily?

The nisab is defined in fixed weights of metal, not in any currency. Since gold and silver are traded on global commodity markets, their prices change every trading day. This means the dollar value of nisab fluctuates constantly. For example, if gold is trading at $65 per gram, the Sunni gold nisab is $5,525. If gold rises to $80 per gram, the nisab jumps to $6,800.

Rafiq automatically fetches live gold and silver spot prices so your nisab threshold is always current. You should check your zakat obligation on your zakat anniversary date (hawl) using the metal prices on that day.

The Hawl: One Lunar Year of Holding

Nisab alone is not sufficient for zakat to become obligatory. Your wealth must remain at or above the nisab for one complete lunar year (approximately 354 days). This period is called the hawl. The hawl begins on the date your wealth first reaches nisab and, if your wealth remains at or above nisab for the full year, zakat becomes due on that anniversary.

If your wealth drops below the nisab at any point during the year, the majority of scholars hold that the hawl resets. You would begin counting again from the next time your wealth reaches the threshold. Some Maliki scholars hold that only the beginning and end of the hawl matter, not temporary dips in between.

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Sources & Methodology

AAOIFI Shariah Standards on Zakat (SS No. 35) — nisab gram weights and mithqal definition
Al-Sistani, Tawdih al-Masa'il, Mas'alah 1863 — Ja'fari dinar/dirham shar'i weights
Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) — guidance on nisab standard selection
Rafiq calculation engine: constants NISAB_GOLD_GRAMS_SUNNI = 85, NISAB_SILVER_GRAMS_SUNNI = 595, NISAB_GOLD_GRAMS_JAFARI = 69.12, NISAB_SILVER_GRAMS_JAFARI = 483.84
Nisab thresholds calculated using live gold and silver spot prices

Content by: Rafiq Team

Last reviewed: February 2026

View full methodology · Scholarly sources

Rafiq is an educational calculation tool, not a religious authority or tax advisor. For questions about which nisab standard applies to your situation, consult a qualified Islamic scholar familiar with your madhab's rulings.