Zakah, The Third Pillar Of Islam

Zakah (also written Zakat) is the third of the Five Pillars of Islam, alongside the Shahadah (declaration of faith), Salah (daily prayer), Sawm (fasting in Ramadan) and Hajj (pilgrimage). The word Zakah comes from the Arabic root meaning “to purify” and “to grow” — by giving a fixed share of qualifying wealth each year, a Muslim purifies what remains and is promised barakah (blessing) in its place.

Zakah is mentioned in the Qur’an over 80 times, almost always paired with Salah — a sign of how central it is to a believer’s practice. Allah says: “And establish prayer and give Zakah” (Qur’an 2:43). The eight categories of people eligible to receive Zakah are set out explicitly in Surah At-Tawbah: “Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [Zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler” (Qur’an 9:60).

Zakah is fixed at 2.5% of qualifying wealth that has been held for one full lunar year (Hawl) above the Nisab threshold. It is not a tax on income — it is paid on net surplus wealth: savings, gold and silver, investments, accessible pensions, crypto holdings, business stock and money owed to you, minus immediate debts.

The current UK Nisab (updated 2 June 2026) is Gold: £8,436 and Silver: £987. Most UK scholars and the National Zakat Foundation recommend using the Silver Nisab, because the lower threshold means more people qualify to give and more of the poor qualify to receive.

Use our free Zakat Calculator to work out your exact obligation in under two minutes.

Zakah is obligatory (fard) on every Muslim who meets all of the following conditions:

• Muslim — Zakah is an act of worship and applies only to Muslims.
• Adult and of sound mind — most scholars hold this as a condition; the Hanafi school is strictest on this point.
• Owns wealth above the Nisab — surplus wealth that exceeds the gold or silver threshold.
• Hawl complete — the wealth has been continuously above Nisab for one lunar year.
• Full ownership — the wealth is yours, free of immediate debt and accessible to you.

Zakah is obligatory giving — a precise 2.5% of qualifying wealth, owed annually, restricted to the eight categories named in Qur’an 9:60. Sadaqah is voluntary charity — any amount, at any time, to any good cause. Sadaqah Jariyah (continuous charity) refers to ongoing acts such as building a water pump or contributing to a masjid whose reward continues after death. You cannot substitute Sadaqah for Zakah, but giving Sadaqah on top of Zakah is highly encouraged.

HNCO operates a 100% Zakat Policy — every pound you give as Zakah is distributed strictly within the eight Qur’anic categories (9:60). We work in the UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh and across Africa, supporting widows, orphans, debtors, refugees and the long-term poor. See exactly how your donations are spent.

Zakat al-Fitr, also called Fitrana, is a separate obligation paid by every member of the household before Eid al-Fitr prayer. It is not the same as the annual 2.5% Zakah on wealth. Learn more about Zakat al-Fitr (Fitrana).

Is Zakah owed on income or savings?

On savings and other qualifying wealth held for a full lunar year — not on monthly salary as it arrives. Once funds settle into your account and remain above Nisab for one Hawl, they are Zakatable.

Can I pay Zakah monthly?

Yes. Many UK donors estimate their annual Zakah and pay 1/12 each month. Reconcile against your exact figure on your Hawl anniversary.

Do I owe Zakah on my home, car or pension?

Your primary home, personal-use car and inaccessible workplace pension are not Zakatable. Investment property, gold/silver, shares, crypto and accessible (drawdown/SIPP) pensions are.

What happens if I miss a year?

Missed Zakah remains a debt to Allah and to the eligible recipients. Calculate as accurately as you can for each missed year and pay it as soon as possible.