Series of Answers by the Eminent Scholar Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah, Ameer of Hizb ut-Tahrir
To the questions of the visitors of his Facebook page "Fiqhi"
Answer to a Question
To Samir Ibrahim
Question/Comment:
(On banner no. 836 "The criterion in Zakat is pure gold.")
"Well, 18-karat gold has material value too." End.
Answer:
Your aforementioned comment is on banner no. 836, which is part of an answer to a question dated 02 Safar 1437 AH / 14/11/2015 CE. Here is the text that appeared in the referred banner:
"The ruling of Zakat on gold applies specifically to pure gold (24-karat), and likewise, the ruling of Zakat on silver applies specifically to pure silver. If gold or silver is mixed with other substances, those substances are deducted from the weight. The remaining weight, after deducting the mixed material, must reach the nisab (threshold). If a person owns 85 grams of 18-karat gold, they do not yet possess the nisab because the pure gold within it is less than 85 grams... Thus, the Zakat for a 24-karat gold bar differs from the Zakat for an 18-karat gold bar of the same weight. Pure gold is estimated when calculating the nisab; the nisab for 24-karat gold is 85g, but the nisab for 18-karat gold is more than that because it is mixed with non-gold materials by a ratio of one-quarter. This means 18-karat gold contains pure gold equivalent to three-quarters of 24-karat gold. Accordingly, the nisab for 18-karat gold is one and one-third times the nisab of pure gold, which is 113.33g. Consequently, anyone who owns 85g of pure 24-karat gold has reached the nisab, and if a year (Hawl) passes, they must pay 2.5% of its weight as Zakat. However, anyone who owns 85g of 18-karat gold has not reached the nisab until their ownership reaches 113.33g; once a year passes, they pay 2.5% of its weight. Clearly, the criterion in Zakat is the pure gold content." End quote.
I was surprised by your comment because it implies that our answer disregarded the value of 18-karat gold or suggested it has no value. However, it is clear from the answer that 18-karat gold does have value and Zakat is paid on it, but its value is less than that of 24-karat gold when the weight is equal. Therefore, in defining the nisab for 18-karat gold, we stated that it is "one and one-third times the nisab of pure gold, which is 113.33g. Consequently, anyone who owns 85g of pure 24-karat gold has reached the nisab, and if a year passes, they must pay 2.5% of its weight as Zakat. However, anyone who owns 85g of 18-karat gold has not reached the nisab until their ownership reaches 113.33g; once a year passes, they pay 2.5% of its weight."
Thus, the value of 18-karat gold is not disregarded in the answer; rather, its value is established, and Zakat is paid on it once it reaches the nisab, exactly as Zakat is paid on 24-karat gold when it reaches the nisab. The only difference is that the nisab amount for each is different because 18-karat gold is mixed with other metals by a ratio of one-quarter.
I do not know the reason for your comment unless you read it in a hurry! Read it again with contemplation, may Allah have mercy on you... and I ask Allah to guide everyone to the right path.
Your brother, Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah
01 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1440 AH Corresponding to 04/07/2019 CE
Link to the answer from the Ameer's (may Allah protect him) Facebook page
Link to the answer from the Ameer's (may Allah protect him) Web page