How to Write Amounts in Words on Checks and Invoices
A guide to writing money amounts in words on checks, invoices and contracts — in English and Arabic — with cents and sub-units, the “only” format and worked examples.
Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam — a financial act of worship that purifies wealth and meets the needs of the poor. With wealth now spread across bank accounts, gold, shares and businesses, many people ask: how do I calculate my Zakat accurately? This guide walks through the steps with practical examples.
Note: this article presents the commonly agreed general rules. For special or complex cases, consult a scholar or the Zakat authority in your country.
When is Zakat due on wealth?
- Full ownership: the wealth is fully yours to use.
- Reaching the nisab: it meets the minimum threshold set by Islamic law.
- A full lunar year: it has stayed above the nisab for one Hijri year (about 354 days).
- Beyond basic needs: no Zakat on your home, car, furniture or work tools used personally.
What is the nisab today?
The nisab is 85 grams of pure (24K) gold or 595 grams of silver. Since modern money has no intrinsic value, its nisab is measured by the value of either metal on the day Zakat is due:
- Gold: nisab = 85 × price of 1 g of 24K gold.
- Silver: nisab = 595 × price of 1 g of silver.
Example: if 24K gold is $80 per gram, the gold nisab is $6,800. The silver nisab is much lower because silver is cheaper. Many contemporary scholars and Zakat bodies use the gold nisab as closer to today's notion of sufficiency, while others prefer silver as more cautious and beneficial to the poor.
Which wealth is zakatable?
- Cash: at home or in current and savings accounts, in any currency.
- Saved gold and silver: bars, coins and jewelry kept for saving or investment.
- Shares and investments: those bought for trading are zakatable at market value; long-term holdings have more detailed rulings.
- Trade goods: stock held for sale, valued at current selling price.
- Recoverable debts: money you've lent to someone able to repay.
Step-by-step calculation
- Fix your Zakat date: the day your wealth completes a lunar year above the nisab. Find it with the Hijri Date Converter.
- Add up all zakatable wealth on that day: cash + saved gold's value + shares' market value + trade stock + recoverable debts.
- Subtract debts that are due now.
- Compare the net with the nisab. If it meets or exceeds it, Zakat = net × 2.5%.
A worked example
| Item | Value ($) |
|---|---|
| Bank balance | 7,500 |
| Cash at home | 500 |
| 50 g saved 21K gold (≈ 43.75 g pure × $80) | 3,500 |
| Debt due now | −1,500 |
| Net wealth | 10,000 |
Since the net ($10,000) exceeds the gold nisab ($6,800), Zakat is due: 10,000 × 2.5% = $250. The Zakat Calculator does this automatically.
Frequently asked issues
Is Zakat due on jewelry I wear?
Scholars differ: the majority (Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali) say regularly worn jewelry is exempt, while the Hanafi school says Zakat is due. Jewelry beyond normal use or kept as savings is zakatable according to all.
How do I pay Zakat on a monthly salary?
The easiest approach is to choose a fixed day in the Hijri year, total all wealth above the nisab on that day and pay Zakat on it, rather than tracking a separate year for each paycheck. Many scholars endorse this for ease.
Which currency should I pay in?
Usually your local currency. If your wealth is in several currencies, convert it to one at the rate on your Zakat date with the Currency Converter.
Who receives Zakat?
The Quran (Surat at-Tawbah) names eight categories: the poor, the needy, Zakat administrators, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, freeing captives, those in debt, in the cause of Allah, and stranded travelers. Zakat is not given to your parents and grandparents, children and grandchildren, or your wife, since you are already obliged to support them.
The bottom line
Calculating Zakat is simpler than many think: total your zakatable wealth, subtract debts due now, compare with the nisab, and pay one-fortieth. Choose a fixed day in the Hijri year, use the calculator to avoid mistakes — and may Allah accept it from you.