Zakat basics
What zakat is
Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam: an obligatory yearly payment of 2.5%, one fortieth, of the wealth an adult Muslim owns above a minimum threshold called the nisab. It purifies wealth and goes to people in need. This page explains the general rules; the religious ruling for your particular case is for a scholar to give.
What counts as zakatable wealth
Count everything you own on your zakat date that can be spent or can grow:
- Cash at home and money on cards and accounts, including Uzcard and Humo balances and bank deposits.
- Foreign currency, converted to so‘m at the day’s rate (the Central Bank publishes official rates on cbu.uz).
- Gold and silver in any form: bars, coins and, in the Hanafi school followed in Uzbekistan, jewellery as well.
- Shares, funds and other investments, at their current market value.
- Goods bought for resale, at the price you could sell them for today.
- Money other people owe you and that you expect to get back.
Things you use yourself are not counted: the home you live in, your car, furniture, clothes, household appliances and work tools. Subtract debts and bills that are due now before comparing the total with the nisab.
Nisab: the minimum amount
Zakat is due only when your net wealth reaches the nisab. Classical sources set it at 85 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver. For 2026 (Ramadan 1447 AH) the Fatwa Center of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan set the nisab at 100 000 000 so‘m, based on the value of about 85 grams of 585-fineness gold; the figure was announced on 17 February 2026. The silver standard gives a far lower threshold, and some scholars recommend it because more people in need benefit. Gold prices move, so check the latest announcement on muslim.uz before you calculate.
Hawl: one lunar year
Wealth becomes subject to zakat once it has stayed at or above the nisab for a full lunar (hijri) year, about 354 days. Many families in Uzbekistan choose a fixed date, often in Ramadan, add up what they own on that day and pay. In the Hanafi school, money of the same kind that arrived during the year, such as salary you saved, is added to the total on that date and does not need a year of its own.
How the 2.5% is calculated
Add up your zakatable assets, subtract debts due now and compare the result with the nisab. If it is equal to or higher than the nisab, zakat is 2.5% of the whole net amount, not just of the part above the threshold. For example, with 120 000 000 so‘m of net wealth zakat is 3 000 000 so‘m; with 90 000 000 so‘m and a nisab of 100 000 000 so‘m, nothing is due this year.
Who receives zakat
The Qur’an (Surah at-Tawbah, 9:60) names eight groups of recipients, among them the poor, the needy, people weighed down by debt and travellers stranded without money. Zakat is generally not given to your own parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren or spouse, since you already support them; brothers, sisters and other relatives in need may receive it. You can give it in person or through a mosque or charity you trust, with the intention (niyyah) that it is zakat.