349. Do I Have To Pay Zakaah On Gold And Jewelry Of Personal Use?

By Asma bint Shameem 

There’s a difference of opinion among the scholars about paying Zakaah on the gold and silver jewelry that’s for personal use. 

But the stronger and SAFER scholarly opinion is that Zakaah is due on it. 

That’s because of the following reasons:

1. The Aayaat of the Qur’aan and the ahaadeeth of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam on the obligation to pay Zakaah are GENERAL.  

And they don’t differentiate between gold that’s for business and trade and gold that’s for personal use . 

2. Allaah says:

“And those who hoard up gold and silver (Al‑Kanz: the money, the Zakaah of which has not been paid) and spend them not in the way of Allaah, announce unto them a painful torment” [al-Tawbah 9:34]

3. A Bedouin came to Ibn Umar radhi Allaahu anhu and 

said to him, 

‘Tell me about the aayah, “And those who hoard up gold and silver.”

 Ibn ‘Umar said: 
‘(It means) the one who stockpiles them and does not pay zakaah on them – woe to him. This was before (the order to pay) zakaah on them was revealed, and when it was revealed, Allaah made it a means of purification of wealth.’” (al-Bukhaari)

4. Our Mother Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

“The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam entered upon me and saw on my hands rings of silver. 

He said, 
‘What is this, O ‘Aa’ishah?’ 

I said,
‘I had them made so that I could adorn myself for you, O Messenger of Allaah.’ 

He said, 
‘Do you pay zakaah on them?’ 

I said, 
‘No’ or ‘Whatever Allaah wills.’ 

He said, ‘This would be enough to take you to Hell.’”

(Abu Dawood- saheeh by al-Albaani)

5. Our Mother Umm Salamah said: 

“I used to wear jewellery of gold, and I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, is this kanz (money, the Zakaah of which has not been paid, cf. al-Tawbah 9:34)?’ 

He said, 
‘Whatever reaches the amount at which zakaah is obligatory, then pay the zakaah. Then it will not be kanz.’”

(Abu Dawood)

The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“ The more correct of these two views is the view that zakaah on jewelry is obligatory, if it reaches the nisaab (amount of wealth at which zakaah becomes obligatory), or if the owner possesses enough gold, silver and trade goods to complete the nisaab – because of the general meaning of the ahaadeeth which state that zakaah is obligatory on gold and silver. There is no saheeh hadeeth which exclused it (jewelry) as far as we know.”

(Standing Committee On Academic Research And Issuing Fatwas, 9/264)

6. Also think about it this way 

ALL we’re talking about is 2.5% of the total value. 

That’s NOTHING Subhaan Allaah, unless someone owns loads and loads of jewelry!

And then in that case, if they can afford all that jewelry then they can also afford to pay Zakaah on it :)

I mean after all, we’re talking about our *Zakaah*, a PILLAR of our very faith!

We do NOT want to take any chances. Right? 

And Allaah knows best