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Calculating your Zakat is simpler than you might think. By breaking your finances into clear categories, the process becomes quick and straightforward.
We’ve divided everything into two main parts:
Once you’ve worked out your net assets (what you own minus what you owe), the next step is to compare that amount to the Nisab threshold.
If your net assets meet or exceed the Nisab, then Zakat is due.
Value of Gold & Silver you possess
Cash at Home & Bank Accounts
Other Savings
Investment & Share Values
Money owed to you
Stock Value
Money You Owe
Other Outgoings Due
Enter all assets that have been in your possession over a lunar year into the Zakat calculator. This will then give you the total amount of Zakat owed.
The nisab is the minimum amount of wealth a Muslim must possess before they become eligible to pay Zakat. This amount is often referred to as the nisab threshold.
Gold and silver are the two values used to calculate the nisab threshold. The nisab is the value of 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver.
Date: 19 March, 2026 / 29 Ramaḍān 1447
Gold Nisáb: R227,825.61 Silver Nisáb: R24,962.49 Silver: R40.76/g (R1,155.65/oz) Gold: R2,604.32/g (R81,003.36/oz)
Prices & Calculations exclude VAT
Zakat is payable at 2.5% of the wealth one possesses above the nisab. Nisab, which is equal to 85 grams of 24k gold, is the minimum amount of wealth one must have before they are liable to pay zakat. *The nisab amount listed is based on the latest available report to us (note: This number may change daily depending on fluctuations in the gold exchange rate).
Zakat is liable on gold, silver, cash, savings, investments, rent income, business merchandise and profits, shares, securities and bonds. Zakat is not paid on wealth used for debt repayment of living expenses such as clothing, food, housing, transportation, education, etc.
Islamic Relief South Africa is committed to maintaining the highest standards of efficiency, transparency, and accountability. We continuously strive to reduce our administrative costs year after year to ensure that the maximum possible portion of every donation reaches those in need.
Over the past three to four years, our administration rate has remained approximately 6–7%. We remain committed to maintaining a low administration rate and continuously review our cost structures to ensure responsible stewardship, while safeguarding strong governance, compliance, and programme quality.
Islamic Relief South Africa adheres strictly to Shari’ah principles in the collection, allocation, and distribution of Zakat.
Allah (SWT) states in the Qur’an (9:60):
“Zakat expenditures are only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect it (al-‘āmilīn ‘alayhā), those whose hearts are to be reconciled, freeing captives, those in debt, in the cause of Allah, and the stranded traveller…”
This verse establishes the categories of Zakat eligibility, including those appointed to administer and distribute it, thereby ensuring proper governance, accountability, and responsible stewardship.
Islamic Relief Worldwide, as the implementing office, acts as the agent of eligible Zakat recipients. We follow a formal engagement process with communities, whereby beneficiaries authorise us to implement projects on their behalf.
This process includes:
Every project implemented is supported by a detailed budget. Each individual budget line is rigorously assessed for Zakat eligibility, including:
Zakat funds are allocated only to those budget lines that qualify under Shari’ah guidelines. Non-Zakat funds are allocated to the remaining components of the project budget.
This structured allocation approach ensures full Shari’ah compliance, financial integrity, and responsible management of donor trust.
Find answers to the most common questions about using the Islamic Relief South Africa Zakat Calculator, understanding your Nisab threshold, and ensuring your Zakat is calculated and paid correctly in accordance with Shari'ah principles.
The Islamic Relief South Africa Zakat Calculator is designed to make your Zakat calculation as straightforward as possible. Simply enter the value of all your Zakatable assets — including gold and silver, cash at home and in bank accounts, other savings, investments and shares, money owed to you, business assets, and stock value. Then enter your deductible liabilities — money you owe and other outgoings that are due soon.
The calculator will subtract your liabilities from your assets to give you your net Zakatable wealth. If this figure meets or exceeds the Nisab threshold, Zakat is due at 2.5% of that total. The calculator will display your Zakat amount automatically, and you can donate directly from the results screen.
You should include all Zakatable assets that have been in your possession for one full lunar year and meet or exceed the Nisab threshold. These include:
Zakat is not payable on personal use items such as your home, clothing, food, vehicle used for personal transport, or tools used for your trade. These are not considered Zakatable wealth.
Deductible liabilities are debts and financial obligations that are due in the short term — typically within the next lunar year. These can be subtracted from your total assets before calculating Zakat. Examples include:
Long-term liabilities such as a home mortgage are generally not fully deductible. Scholars differ on this point, and we recommend consulting a qualified scholar if you have significant long-term debt. You can also contact our team on 0800 111 898 for guidance.
The Hawl refers to the Islamic lunar year — a period of approximately 354 days. For Zakat to be due, your wealth must have been in your possession at or above the Nisab threshold for a complete Hawl. This means you calculate Zakat on the wealth you hold on your Zakat due date each year, not on wealth that came and went during the year.
If your wealth dipped below the Nisab at any point during the year, most scholars advise consulting a qualified scholar to confirm whether Zakat is still due. If you are unsure of your Zakat due date, many Muslims choose Ramadan as a convenient time to calculate and pay.
The Nisab is the minimum threshold of wealth a Muslim must possess before Zakat becomes obligatory. It was set by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and is calculated based on the value of either 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver.
Because gold and silver prices fluctuate daily, the Nisab value in South African Rand changes regularly. The Nisab values displayed on this page are updated regularly based on the latest available gold and silver prices.
Zakat is calculated at 2.5% of your total net Zakatable wealth — that is, your total assets minus your deductible liabilities — provided this figure meets or exceeds the Nisab threshold.
The Nisab value changes daily based on the gold and silver exchange rate. The values displayed on the Zakat Calculator page are updated regularly. As a guide, the Nisab is calculated as follows:
Because the silver Nisab is typically lower, it is the more commonly used threshold. Please check the live Nisab values on the calculator page for the most current figures. Note that prices and calculations exclude VAT.
In principle, if your wealth fell below the Nisab at any point during the lunar year, the Hawl (yearly cycle) is broken and a new cycle begins from the point your wealth returns to or exceeds the Nisab. However, scholars differ on the details of this ruling, and there are many variables to consider.
We strongly recommend consulting a qualified scholar if this applies to your situation. You can also reach our team on 0800 111 898 for a referral to a scholar.
No. Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is an obligation prescribed only for Muslims. Non-Muslims are not required to pay Zakat. However, anyone — regardless of faith — is welcome to give Sadaqah (voluntary charity) to support the work of Islamic Relief South Africa in serving vulnerable communities.
According to the Hanafi school of thought, Zakat is not due on a child's wealth. However, the majority of scholars in the past favoured the opinion that Zakat should be paid on the wealth of both children and those who are mentally incapacitated. In such cases, the guardian should take the Zakat from the child's wealth and pay it on their behalf.
We recommend following the guidance of your own scholar or madhab on this matter.
Yes, provided your combined total meets or exceeds the Nisab threshold and you have held this wealth for a full lunar year. You should add the value of all your gold, silver, and cash together and compare the total to the Nisab. If the total exceeds the Nisab, Zakat is due on the full amount at 2.5%.
Zakat is an individual obligation. You must compare the Nisab separately with your own wealth and your wife's own wealth to determine whether each of you is liable. If both of you are liable, you may pay Zakat on behalf of your wife provided she consents to this. You cannot combine your wealth to calculate a single Zakat payment.
Yes, you can pay Zakat in advance, but you should take into account any present or future liabilities before doing so. Paying Zakat before the Hawl is complete is permissible and is considered a virtuous act, particularly during Ramadan. However, if your wealth falls below the Nisab before the year ends, you may need to recalculate.
Yes. Any wealth in your possession on your Zakat due date must be included in your calculation, regardless of when it was received during the year. Zakat is calculated on the total wealth you hold at the end of the Hawl, not on a monthly average.
Zakat is paid on your total Zakatable wealth each year, regardless of what you paid in previous years. You would calculate 2.5% on the full R10,000 — which equals R250. There is no deduction for Zakat paid in prior years.
Yes. Zakat must be paid with the specific intention of paying Zakat. Voluntary charity (Sadaqah) given throughout the year — no matter how generous — cannot be counted as Zakat unless it was given with the explicit intention of fulfilling your Zakat obligation. If you gave Sadaqah without that intention, you are still required to pay Zakat separately.
For every year that you owe Zakat, calculate 2.5% of the total wealth you held at the end of that year and pay that amount. If you are unsure of the exact amount you held, estimate it as accurately as possible. You should work backwards year by year and pay each year's Zakat separately.
It is important to fulfil this obligation as soon as possible. If the total amount is large, you may spread payments over time while making a sincere intention to complete the full amount.
Take your jewellery to a reputable jeweller and ask them to value only the gold and silver components separately. The valuations given for the gold and silver portions are the amounts on which Zakat is due. Precious stones such as diamonds, rubies, and emeralds are not liable for Zakat and should not be included in your calculation.
Yes. Savings set aside for Hajj are still considered part of your Zakatable wealth and must be included in your calculation. Even though the money is earmarked for a specific purpose, it remains in your possession and meets the conditions for Zakat.
Yes. Money lent to someone who is able and willing to repay it is considered part of your Zakatable wealth, as it is effectively still your money in their possession. You should include the full amount in your Zakat calculation.
This depends on the original intention when the money was lent. If at the time of lending you were reasonably certain you would not receive it back and had no legal means to claim it, most scholars hold that Zakat is not payable on it for the years it was outstanding. However, there are many variables in this scenario and we strongly recommend consulting a qualified scholar for a ruling specific to your situation.
The general scholarly position is that yes, you may deduct a debt that is due in the near future when calculating Zakat paid in advance. However, given the complexity of this scenario — paying Zakat before the Hawl is complete and deducting a future debt — we strongly urge you to consult a qualified scholar before proceeding.
For the years you were renting the house out with no intention to sell, Zakat is not due on the property itself — but you would have been liable for Zakat on the rental income received, just as with any other wealth. Once you formed the intention to sell, Zakat becomes due on the selling price of the house after one full lunar year from that date. If you are paying Zakat before the sale is completed, estimate the selling price. This calculation applies for every subsequent year the property remains unsold.
At the time of calculating your Zakat each year, add up the total selling price of all the goods currently for sale in your shop. This figure is added to your other Zakatable wealth. For example, if the total selling price of all clothing in your shop is R2,000, this R2,000 is included in your overall Zakat calculation.
Zakat may only be given to people who fall within one of the eight categories of eligible recipients established in the Quran (9:60). If a family member falls into one of these categories — for example, they are genuinely poor and unable to provide for themselves — and they are not already a dependent whom you are obliged to support, then according to the majority of scholars they may receive your Zakat.
However, if the family member is already your financial dependent, you cannot give them Zakat as you are already obligated to spend on them. We recommend consulting a scholar if you are unsure about a specific family member's eligibility.
Zakat ul Fitr, also known as Fitrana or Sadaqah al-Fitr, is a compulsory charity that every Muslim must pay at the end of Ramadan before the Eid al-Fitr prayer. It is due on behalf of every member of the household, including children and dependants.
Its purpose is to purify the fasting person from any shortcomings during Ramadan and to ensure that the poor and needy can also celebrate Eid with dignity. The amount is set each year based on the cost of a staple food item.
The majority of scholars hold the opinion that Zakat ul Fitr may only be given to the first two categories of Zakat recipients — the poor (Fuqara) and the needy (Masakin). Unlike regular Zakat, it cannot be distributed to all eight categories.
The Fuqara are those whose wealth does not reach the Nisab threshold. The Masakin are those who do not have sufficient food for the day — a condition affecting a significant portion of the world's population.
Yes. According to both the Hanafi and Shafi'i madhabs, Zakat ul Fitr may be paid before the 27th of Ramadan. Paying early allows organisations like Islamic Relief South Africa to purchase and distribute food to beneficiaries in time for Eid. It is recommended to pay as early as possible to ensure timely distribution.
When you pay Zakat ul Fitr in money to Islamic Relief South Africa, we act as your agent — meaning we accept your payment on behalf of the eligible recipients and use it to purchase food that is then distributed directly to the poor and needy. In effect, it is as though you are paying in food rather than money, which satisfies the Shari'ah requirement.
This agency arrangement has been reviewed and approved by our independent Zakat Advisory Board, which includes Sheikh Abdullah al-Judai, Sheikh Mohammad Akram Nadwi, and Mufti Abdul Qadir Barkatulla.
Yes. Islamic Relief South Africa's Zakat fund is fully Shari'ah compliant. Our Zakat policy has been reviewed and ratified by an independent Zakat Advisory Board comprising three internationally recognised scholars:
The Advisory Board provides ongoing oversight and verification of how Zakat is fundraised, allocated, distributed, and monitored. No administration fee is deducted from Zakat funds. All administrative costs are covered through non-Zakat sources including Lillah, Sadaqah, and Shari'ah-compliant investments.
Islamic Relief South Africa follows a rigorous agency and implementation process to ensure Zakat is distributed strictly in accordance with Shari'ah. This includes:
This structured approach ensures full Shari'ah compliance, financial integrity, and responsible stewardship of every Zakat donation received.
Yes. Islamic Relief South Africa is a registered non-profit organisation in South Africa and a member of the Islamic Relief Worldwide family, which operates in over 40 countries. Our registration details are:
We publish annual impact reports and financial statements, and our Zakat fund is independently overseen by a Shari'ah Advisory Board. We are committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
Yes. Islamic Relief South Africa is a registered Section 18A organisation, which means donations made to us qualify for a tax deduction under the South African Income Tax Act. We will issue you with a Section 18A tax certificate upon request, which you can use when submitting your annual tax return to SARS.
For more information or to request a certificate, contact us on 0800 111 898 or email info@islamic-relief.org.za.
You can pay your Zakat through the following channels:
For all other donations (excluding Zakat), please use the Standard Bank account. Contact us on 0800 111 898 or email info@islamic-relief.org.za for assistance.
Our Zakat fund is shari’ah compliant. As with everything we do, we strive to be both purposeful and true. We are working closely with qualified scholars to make sure that our Zakat policy is in strict accordance with what Allah has ruled.
An independent Zakat Advisory Board, made up of a group of respected scholars, have ratified our Zakat policy and will provide oversight and verification of the distribution of Zakat by Islamic Relief. They ensure clear guidance is in place on how Zakat should be fundraised, allocated, distributed, and monitored. Our Zakat Advisory Board is made up of the following renowned scholars:
Sheikh Abdullah al-Judai
Sheikh Mohammad Akram Nadwi
Mufti Abdul Qadir Barkatulla