When you own gold and wonder about the ruling on its Zakat, the matter is simpler than you imagine. Zakat is not just a financial obligation; it is an act of worship that purifies your wealth and yourself and contributes to society. Gold is one of the most important types of wealth that Zakat must be paid on if its conditions are met.

First, you need to know the Nisab. The minimum amount on which Zakat is due is 85 grams of pure gold (24 karat). But if you have gold of lower karats like 21 or 18, the calculation differs a bit. For example, 21-karat gold has a purity of 87.5%, meaning the Nisab is about 97 grams. As for 18-karat gold, the Nisab reaches approximately 113 grams because its purity is only 75%.

The method is very simple: calculate 2.5% of the market value of your pure gold. If you have 100 grams of 24-karat gold and the price per gram is 400 riyals, the total value is 40,000 riyals, and the Zakat = 40,000 × 2.5% = 1,000 riyals.

But if you have 18-karat gold? The calculation is slightly different. If you have 100 grams of 18-karat gold at the same price, first, you calculate the pure gold: 100 × 75% = 75 grams, which is worth 30,000 riyals, and the Zakat = 30,000 × 2.5% = 750 riyals. But remember, 75 grams does not reach the Nisab, so there is no Zakat due on it.

The conditions are simple: you must own the Nisab, and it must have been in your possession for a full lunar year. Whether the gold is jewelry, bars, or even investments like gold funds, the ruling is the same.

An important point: the gold used for daily adornment is a matter of difference among scholars. The majority say there is no Zakat on it, but the Hanafi school says there is Zakat even on jewelry used for adornment. As for gold intended for trade or savings, everyone agrees that Zakat is due on it.

The important thing is to pay Zakat from lawful wealth, not from forbidden sources, and to give it to the eligible categories: the poor, the needy, those employed to collect Zakat, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, freeing slaves, those in debt, in the cause of Allah, and travelers.

If you own gold of any karat and it reaches the Nisab, do not delay paying Zakat. The matter is simple: calculate the weight of pure gold, multiply by the current price, and pay 2.5%. Whether it is 24-karat, 21-karat, or even 18-karat gold, the idea is the same, and the intention is one—to purify wealth and promote social solidarity.