How to calculate zakat

Zakat is officially recommended to be at least 2.5% of your disposable income. 

Disposable income represents your net worth after family expenses. There is more detail below the calculator, but if you already know your net worth and expenses, please use the zakat calculator below. 

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1. Calculate if you owe zakat 

Zakat is only owed above the amount of nisab. Nisab is calculated by the price of either silver or gold.

Silver

The cost of silver (April 13, 2020) is currently $15.60 and zakat is owed on your net worth above the value of 21 ounces. At the time of writing, zakat will be owed if your net worth is above $15.26 X 21 ounces = $327.60

Gold

For gold, the current price is $1737.40 per ounce. Zakat is owed above 3 ounces of gold, which is $5,212.20.

2. Factor in your existing expenses

You exclude the assets you use in your day-to-day life. For example, a mortgage or rent, any transport costs, medical insurance and student loans are not used in your zakat asset calculations. It’s based on what’s left after you take care of you and your family’s routine expenses on an annual basis. 

Stocks, savings, business income or rental yields are examples of zakat-eligible income. 

Rent, commuting to and from work or medical costs should not be included in your zakat calculation.

3. Calculate your zakat

Now that you have established your net worth (as discussed in point 1) you can then subtract your existing expenses (point 2). The end result is your zakat-eligible residual. 

For example, if your net worth is $50,000 and your existing expenses total $40,000, the zakat residual is $10,000. 

Zakat is calculated as a recommended minimum of 2.5%, which in the example above is 2.5% of $10,000, or $250.

Now that you have calculated your zakat the last thing you need to do is to pick where it goes. 

If you choose WaterAid, your contribution will support clean water, decent toilets and hygiene services. Take a look at some of our recent projects!

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