Silver & Precious Metals
Zakat on Silver UK 2026
Silver has a special place in Zakat — it is the basis of the recommended Nisab threshold. All silver held as investment, coins, or (in the Hanafi school) jewellery and silverware is zakatable at 2.5%.
Quick answer: Zakat on silver is 2.5% of the market value of your silver holdings on your Hawl date. The silver Nisab is 612.36 grams of pure silver — approximately £496.01 in 2026. Any silver exceeding this threshold that has been held for one full lunar year is zakatable.
The formula for Zakat on silver
Zakat on silver = weight (g) × purity fraction × spot price (£/g) × 0.025
For example: 800g of sterling silver (92.5% pure) at £0.81/g:
| Total weight | 800 g |
| Purity (sterling silver) | × 0.925 |
| Pure silver weight | = 740 g |
| Spot price per gram | × £0.81 |
| Total market value | = £599.40 |
| Zakat due (2.5%) | £14.99 |
Which silver is zakatable?
The scholars agree that the following are always zakatable:
- Silver bullion coins (e.g. UK Britannia 1oz silver, Royal Mint silver)
- Silver bars and ingots
- Silver held in a trading account or precious metals fund
- Silver jewellery not worn (stored away)
Silver jewellery — the scholarly difference of opinion
This is one of the most common questions, and the answer depends on which school of jurisprudence you follow:
- Hanafi school (majority of UK Muslims from South Asia): All silver is zakatable — including jewellery that is worn, silverware, and cutlery. This is the position followed by most UK Zakat charities.
- Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools: Silver jewellery worn regularly in permissible quantities is not zakatable. Silver stored, hoarded, or held as investment is zakatable.
If you are unsure which school applies to you, the Hanafi position (including all silver) is the more cautious approach.
Purity — how to account for sterling silver
Most silver items in the UK are not pure silver:
- Pure silver (Britannia, 999 fine) — 99.9% pure. Multiply weight by 0.999.
- Sterling silver (hallmarked 925) — 92.5% pure. Multiply weight by 0.925.
- Coin silver (800 fine) — 80% pure. Multiply weight by 0.800.
- Silver-plated items — not zakatable. The silver is a surface coating with negligible weight.
FAQs
Is silver jewellery zakatable?
In the Hanafi school (followed by most South Asian Muslims in the UK), all silver jewellery is zakatable — whether worn or stored. In the Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools, silver jewellery worn in permissible quantities is not zakatable. Silver stored as bullion, coins, or investment is zakatable in all four schools.
What is the Nisab for silver in 2026?
The silver Nisab is 612.36 grams of pure silver. At approximately £0.81/g (May 2026), this is around £496.01. If you own 612.36g or more of pure silver (or its equivalent in mixed silver), and have done so for one full lunar year, Zakat is due at 2.5%.
How do I calculate Zakat on silver coins?
Weigh your coins in grams, multiply by the purity (e.g., UK Britannia silver coins are 99.9% pure silver), then multiply by the spot price per gram on your Hawl date to get the GBP value. Then pay 2.5% of that value.
Is silverware and cutlery zakatable?
In the Hanafi school, yes — all silver items including cutlery, trays, and decorative items are zakatable at 2.5% of their silver value. In the other three schools, household silverware used permissibly is not zakatable. Most UK scholars follow the Hanafi position.
What about sterling silver jewellery (925 silver)?
Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver. To find the zakatable weight, multiply the total weight by 0.925. For example, 100g of sterling silver contains 92.5g of pure silver. This is then compared to the Nisab and valued at today's silver spot price.
Is silver included in the Zakat calculator?
Yes. Our Zakat calculator has a dedicated silver field — just enter the weight in grams and the purity (as a percentage) and it calculates the Zakat automatically at the current spot price.