Is zakat due on gold jewellery that a woman wears?
The question as asked, details removedMy wife wears her gold jewellery regularly. Is zakat due on it, and who pays it?More
This is a sample answer written to show how the site works. It follows the standard Hanafi books, but no mufti has reviewed or signed it yet, so it is not a fatwa. For a real answer, ask a question. Ask a mufti
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِكِ الْوَهَّابِ اَللّٰهُمَّ هِدَايَةَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
1Short answer
Yes. In the Hanafi school, zakat is due on gold and silver jewellery even if it is worn. It is calculated on the weight of the gold or silver at its current selling price, and paid by the woman who owns it, or by someone else on her behalf with her permission.
2Detailed answer
Gold and silver are zakatable in every form, so jewellery that is worn is treated the same as jewellery kept in a locker. Some points:
- The jewellery belongs to whoever owns it, usually the wife, so the zakat is her duty.
- If she owns less than 87.48 g of gold but also has some cash, savings or silver, these are added together, and the silver nisab applies.
- The zakat is 2.5% of the value of the gold or silver at the price it would sell for today. Stones and gems are not counted unless they are trade goods.
- If she has no money of her own, she may sell part of the jewellery, or her husband or someone else may pay on her behalf with her permission.
3Evidence and sources
- Sunan Abi Dawud, Book of Zakat
- Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Book of Zakat
- Bahar-e-Shariat, chapter on the zakat of gold and silver
Arabic texts, translations and how the ruling was derived
أتعطين زكاة هذا؟ قالت: لا. قال: أيسرك أن يسورك الله بهما يوم القيامة سوارين من نار؟
Meaning: "Do you pay zakat on these?" She said no. He said, "Would you like Allah to put two bracelets of fire on you on the Day of Judgement in their place?"
A woman came to the Prophet ﷺ with her daughter, who was wearing two heavy gold bracelets. The warning shows that zakat is due on jewellery that is worn, which is the Hanafi position.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَعْلَمُ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ