Question: is there zakah on gold plated jewry? How about low carat gold like 9ct? I heard something but the khateeb was not clear.
Answer:
Gold-Plated Jewelry:
- If the jewelry is merely gold-plated (i.e., it has a thin layer of gold over a base metal like copper or silver), it does not qualify as “gold.” Therefore, there is no Zakah on gold-plated jewelry because the gold content is negligible and does not reach the threshold (Nisab) for Zakah.
- Low-Carat Gold (e.g., 9ct):
- If the jewelry is made of low-carat gold, such as 9ct (which contains 37.5% gold), it is considered mixed with other metals. Zakah is only obligatory on gold that is 50% pure or more. Since 9ct gold contains less than 50% gold, there is no Zakah on it.
- If the gold content reaches or exceeds 50% (e.g., 12ct or higher), Zakah becomes obligatory if the total gold you own meets or exceeds the Nisab.
- General Rule for Zakah on Gold:
- Zakah is only due on gold that is pure or predominantly gold (50% or more). The Nisab must be met, and the gold must be owned for at least one lunar year (Hawl).
Allah Certainly knows best.