Zakat & Sadaqah
Give Your Zakat With Confidence
Your Zakat goes directly to eligible beneficiaries with full accountability and transparency on aid delivery. We operate with a 100% donation policy on all Zakat donations.
What is Zakat?
Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is an obligatory act of worship requiring every eligible Muslim to give 2.5% of their qualifying wealth to those in need. The word Zakat comes from the Arabic root meaning “to purify” - it purifies your wealth, your heart, and strengthens the bonds of the Muslim community.
Zakat is not charity in the conventional sense. It is a right that the poor have over the wealth of those who possess more than they need. Allah says in the Quran:
“And establish prayer and give Zakat, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. Indeed, Allah is Seeing of what you do.”Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:110
The Amir Khan Foundation treats every Zakat donation with the seriousness it deserves. We ensure that Zakat funds reach eligible recipients. Admin capped at 10% for delivery, oversight and reporting. The rest goes directly to those who need it.
Who must pay Zakat?
Zakat is obligatory on every Muslim who meets the following conditions:
- Muslim - Zakat is an Islamic obligation and applies only to Muslims.
- Adult - The person must have reached puberty. Some scholars also require Zakat on the wealth of children, with their guardian paying on their behalf.
- Sane - The person must be of sound mind.
- Free - Not in bondage or captivity.
- Possesses wealth above the Nisab threshold - Nisab is the minimum amount of wealth one must possess before Zakat becomes due. It is equivalent to 85 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver.
- Wealth has been held for one full lunar year (Hawl) - The wealth must have been in your possession for one complete lunar year from the date it first reached the Nisab threshold.
If you meet all these conditions, you are required to pay 2.5% of your total qualifying wealth as Zakat. Use our calculator below to work out exactly how much you owe.
Zakat calculator
Enter the current value of your assets. Nisab threshold (85g gold): £6,630 Approximate price
Total zakatable wealth
£0.00
Zakat due (2.5%)
£0.00
Gold price: £78/gram (approximate). Nisab = 85 grams of gold. Zakat rulings can vary - if in doubt, consult your local scholar.
What assets are Zakatable?
Zakat is due on wealth that has the potential to grow or generate income. The main categories of Zakatable assets are:
- Cash and bank savings - All cash in hand, current accounts, savings accounts and fixed deposits.
- Gold and silver - Including jewellery (majority scholarly opinion). Valued at current market price. The Nisab for gold is 85g; for silver it is 612.36g.
- Investments - Shares, stocks, ISAs, unit trusts and investment funds at their current market value.
- Business stock and inventory - Goods held for sale, valued at wholesale price.
- Agricultural produce - Crops and livestock, with specific Nisab thresholds and rates.
- Rental income - Saved rental income counts towards your Zakatable wealth.
- Cryptocurrency - Digital assets are treated like any other investment by most contemporary scholars.
Not Zakatable: Your primary home, personal car, household furniture, clothing, and tools used for your trade are not subject to Zakat.
The eight categories of Zakat recipients
Allah defines exactly who may receive Zakat in Surah At-Tawbah (9:60). There are eight categories, and all Zakat must go to people who fall into one or more of these groups.
“Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and the needy, and for those employed to collect Zakat, and for bringing hearts together, and for freeing captives, and for those in debt, and for the cause of Allah, and for the stranded traveller - an obligation imposed by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.”Surah At-Tawbah, 9:60
The Poor
Al-Fuqara
Those who do not have enough to meet their basic needs. They may have some income but it falls well below what is required for food, shelter and clothing.
The Needy
Al-Masakin
Those in a state of extreme need. They may have nothing at all, or their situation is more severe than the poor. Many families in Gaza and rural Pakistan fall into this category.
Zakat Administrators
Al-Amilin Alayha
Those appointed to collect and distribute Zakat. This ensures the system runs efficiently and funds reach the right people.
Those Whose Hearts Are to Be Reconciled
Al-Mu'allafatu Qulubuhum
New Muslims or those whose faith needs strengthening, supported to ease their transition and integration.
Those in Bondage
Ar-Riqab
Historically for freeing enslaved people. In the modern context, this extends to those trapped in human trafficking, bonded labour or debt bondage.
Those in Debt
Al-Gharimin
People burdened by debt they cannot repay, provided the debt was not incurred for sinful purposes. Zakat can be used to relieve this burden.
In the Cause of Allah
Fi Sabilillah
Efforts that serve the cause of Allah, including community development, education, and the defence of Muslim communities.
The Traveller
Ibn As-Sabil
A person stranded during travel who lacks the means to return home, even if they are wealthy in their own country. Refugees and displaced people often fall into this category.
The Amir Khan Foundation focuses on the first two categories - al-fuqara (the poor) and al-masakin (the needy) - as well as ibn as-sabil (the traveller / displaced). Families in Gaza, rural Pakistan and parts of Africa fall clearly into these categories.
When should Zakat be paid?
Zakat becomes due after your wealth has been above the Nisab threshold for one full lunar year (Hawl). You should pick a date each year - your “Zakat anniversary” - and calculate your Zakat on that date.
Many Muslims choose to pay their Zakat during Ramadan because rewards are multiplied in the blessed month. However, Zakat can be paid at any time of year. What matters is that the full amount is paid within the lunar year.
You may also pay Zakat in advance. If you know your approximate Zakat amount, you can spread payments across the year through monthly donations and settle the balance on your Zakat anniversary.
Delaying Zakat is not permissible once it becomes due. If you have calculated that Zakat is owed, it should be paid as soon as reasonably possible.
Zakat-eligible programmes
Your Zakat can be directed to any of the following verified programmes. All recipients are verified against the categories in Surah At-Tawbah (9:60).
Gaza Emergency Aid
Food packs, clean water, emergency care kits and hot meals for displaced families.
Water Projects
Wells, hand pumps and water infrastructure across Pakistan and Africa.
Food Packs - Gaza and Pakistan
Emergency food packs for displaced families in Gaza and monthly food parcels for families across Pakistan.
Common Zakat questions
Is Zakat due on property I own?
If the property is your primary residence, no Zakat is due. If the property is owned as an investment or for resale, Zakat is due on its current market value. Rental income that you save is also subject to Zakat once it forms part of your savings above Nisab.
Do I pay Zakat on my pension?
Scholars differ on this. If you have access to the funds (e.g. a self-invested personal pension you can draw from), many scholars say Zakat is due. If the funds are locked and inaccessible, many scholars exempt them until you receive them. Consult a scholar for your specific situation.
Do I pay Zakat if I have debts?
Debts that are due immediately can be deducted from your Zakatable assets. Long-term debts (mortgages, student loans) are treated differently by different schools of thought. A common approach is to deduct only the next 12 months of repayments from your total assets.
Can I pay Zakat in instalments?
Yes. Many Muslims calculate their Zakat annually and then spread payments across the year, particularly through monthly standing orders. The important thing is that the total amount is paid within the lunar year.
Is Zakat due on gold jewellery?
The majority of scholars (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Hanbali) hold that Zakat is due on gold and silver jewellery if it meets the Nisab threshold, even if it is worn regularly. The Maliki school exempts jewellery worn for personal use. If in doubt, paying Zakat on jewellery is the safer position.
What is the Nisab threshold for 2026?
Nisab is the minimum amount of wealth a Muslim must possess before Zakat becomes obligatory. It is based on either 85 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver. The silver-based threshold is lower and more commonly used in the UK. Check our calculator above for the current value.
Sadaqah and Sadaqah Jariyah
Beyond Zakat, you can give voluntary Sadaqah to any AKF programme. Sadaqah Jariyah - continuous charity - is particularly suited to water projects, where your donation creates lasting benefit for years to come.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When a person dies, their deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for them.” (Sahih Muslim 1631)
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Transparent reporting. Full accountability. Every donor sees where their Zakat went.
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