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Also known as niṣāb

In Sharia (Islamic Law) niṣāb (نِصاب) is the minimum amount of wealth that a Muslim must have before being obliged to give zakat. Zakat is determined based on the amount of wealth acquired; the greater one's assets, the greater the zakat value. Unlike taxable income in secular states, niṣāb is not subject to special exemptions.

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5 sections
Contents
  • Niṣāb of gold and silver
  • Modern interpretation
  • Niṣāb for livestock
  • Niṣāb for agricultural products
  • References

In Sharia (Islamic Law) niṣāb (نِصاب) is the minimum amount of wealth that a Muslim must have before being obliged to give zakat. Zakat is determined based on the amount of wealth acquired; the greater one's assets, the greater the zakat value. Unlike taxable income in secular states, niṣāb is not subject to special exemptions.

==Niṣāb of gold and silver== The value of the niṣāb was originally set at 20 dinār or 200 dirham. The dinār is a gold coin weighing one mithqal (4.25 grams) and the dirham is a silver coin weighing 0.7 mithqal (2.975 grams). The relation of 20 dinār and 200 dirham reflects the contemporary exchange value between the dinār and the dirham of 1 to 10 in the early days of Islam. Over time, the exchange rate between gold and silver has shifted, so 20 dinār has become more expensive in market value than 200 dirham. Despite this, the definition of niṣāb has not been altered throughout Islamic history. Both values are accepted in Shariah, and so one can choose to pay zakat if his wealth reached the value of either of them.

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