When does gold zakat become due? The hawl explained
Reached nisab? That is not the whole story. Zakat is not due until a hawlhas passed — one lunar year in your ownership. This page explains when the hawl starts, when it ends, and how to work out your due date.
What is a hawl?
A hawl is a full year passing over wealth. The principle comes from the Prophet's ﷺ statement:
The lunar year is usually 354 days, and 355 in a leap year. This calculator therefore uses 354 days as the minimum.
When does the hawl start and end?
Start + 354 days = your zakat due date
The point many people miss: the hawl starts on the day you reach nisab, not the day you bought the gold. If you bought gold and crossed nisab six months later, the hawl starts from that moment.
Three common situations
Situation 1 — You reached nisab today
The hawl starts today. Zakat is not due for another 354 days. Enter today's date in the "date you first reached nisab" field in the calculator to see your due date.
Situation 2 — You passed nisab and then fell below it
A temporary dip does not cancel the hawl. If your gold falls below85g and then rises again, the hawl restarts from the day it returned, not from before.
Situation 3 — You paid late
If the hawl date has passed and you have not paid, making up missed years is a matter of genuine disagreement. Present your case to a qualified scholar or a recognised Islamic body. This tool calculates what is owed today; it does not settle the question of making up past years.
Work out your due date
The calculator above has a "date you first reached nisab" field. Enter the date you reached nisab and it will show your hawl status: how many days remain, or when the payment fell due.
The hawl and the Hijri month
Many people assume the hawl must fall in Ramadan. That is not correct — the hawl is one lunar year from the day you reached nisab, whether that is in Ramadan or not. Paying in Ramadan does carry great reward in the books of many scholars, so it is worth planning for if you can.
Useful conversions: the common gold nisab is 85g, and the precise estimate is 87.48g. The tola guide converts both.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hawl in zakat?
A hawl is a full year (about 354 days) passing over wealth in your ownership. Zakat is not due until the hawl has completed, however much wealth you hold before then. The principle comes from the Prophet's ﷺ statement that there is no zakat on wealth until a hawl passes over it.
Is a hawl 354 or 355 days?
The lunar year is either 354 days (12 months of 29.5 days) or 355 in a leap year. Most scholars treat 354 days as the minimum, which is what this calculator uses. Being careful, use the Hijri date from a calendar you trust.
When does the hawl start: at purchase or at nisab?
The hawl starts when nisab is reached, not when you bought the gold. If you bought gold six months before reaching nisab, the hawl starts from the moment you reached it. Many people get this wrong and pay early or late as a result.
What if I did not reach nisab this year?
No zakat this year. But the calculation resumes: if your gold rises above nisab the following year, the new hawl starts from the day you crossed it. Do not assume that passing nisab once means paying every year.
What if I paid late?
Zakat is due as soon as the hawl completes, and delay without excuse may be a shortcoming. Making up missed years is a matter of genuine disagreement, and the cautious course is to ask a scholar about your case. Do not leave this unaddressed.
Do I calculate on the value at the hawl date or at payment date?
The closer view is that the relevant value is at the time of payment, since that is when zakat is discharged. Your share of the metal (say 84g) is preserved regardless, so it is worth recalculating at the current price when you pay.