Our Methodology

Why We Built Zakatable

We built Zakatable because we had the same problem. Every Ramadan, we'd sit down to calculate zakat and realize none of the existing calculators could handle a 401(k), a long-term stock portfolio, or a Roth IRA. The simple ones ignored these assets entirely. The detailed ones picked a single scholarly opinion without telling us which one or why. We wanted a tool that could handle real financial complexity without papering over the places where scholars genuinely disagree — so we built one.

Zakatable was built by a small team of Muslims with diverse backgrounds spanning mathematics, financial services, and technology. We understand the challenge of making sense of the many views and opinions on zakat that exist across scholarly traditions. Our goal is to create a trusted, independent destination for zakat calculation — one that treats scholarly disagreement honestly rather than hiding it behind a single answer.

We aim to keep the calculator's views and methodologies diverse and up to date as scholarship evolves and new valid opinions emerge on modern financial instruments.

How We Research

The calculator covers over a dozen asset categories, many of which — retirement accounts, cryptocurrency, long-term stock portfolios — did not exist in classical Islamic jurisprudence. For each one, we asked: what are the various scholarly opinions on its zakat treatment? We traced those opinions back to their primary sources — published fatwas, scholarly papers, and recognized institutional positions — not secondary summaries or informal opinions. Every calculation method in the calculator is grounded in a source we can point to.

Once you know what's zakatable under a given opinion, the math is straightforward — it is the application of that opinion to the numbers the user provides.

Where scholars disagree, the calculator presents the options and lets the user choose. Rather than picking a winner, we show the reasoning behind each method, tell you who advocates for it, and let you decide.

Design Principles

Transparency over simplicity. Most zakat calculators prioritize giving you a single number as fast as possible. We prioritize showing you how that number was reached. Every adjustment, every method selection, and every scholarly basis is visible in your results. If the calculator reduces your long-term stock portfolio to 30% of market value before applying zakat, it tells you why and who says so.

Independence. Zakatable is not affiliated with any charity, mosque, or zakat collection organization. We do not collect zakat. We do not recommend where to give. The calculator exists solely to help you determine your zakat obligation accurately. This independence means we have no incentive to steer your calculation in any direction — higher or lower.

Privacy. The entire calculation runs in your browser. No financial data is transmitted to any server, stored in any database, or shared with any third party. We believe that a tool handling sensitive financial and religious information should not require an account, should not track your inputs, and should not monetize your data.

Scholarly humility. We are not a fatwa-issuing body. We are a calculator that implements published scholarly positions as faithfully as possible. Where we use estimates or defaults (such as the 30% zakatable portion for long-term investments), we tell you explicitly and explain the basis. Where our implementation requires judgment calls that go beyond what a source explicitly states (such as applying the FCNA's stocks methodology to retirement accounts, or using the US age threshold of 59½ as a dividing line), we note that these are our practical applications of the underlying principles, not direct scholarly rulings.

Inclusivity across schools of thought. The calculator supports all four Sunni schools of jurisprudence — Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali — plus a "Not sure" option that defaults to the most cautious treatment. Where schools differ (personal gold jewelry, liability deductions), the calculator adjusts automatically based on your selection. Where the debate is between contemporary scholars rather than classical schools (retirement accounts, long-term investment methodology), the calculator presents the options regardless of madhab.

Accuracy and Feedback

We have made every effort to ensure the calculator is accurate, well-sourced, and faithful to the scholarly positions it implements. That said, zakat calculation on modern assets is an evolving area of Islamic jurisprudence. New fatwas are issued, scholars refine their positions, and financial instruments change.

Some aspects of the calculator may need updating as scholarship develops. We welcome feedback — there is a feedback button available on every page of the site. If you believe something in the calculator is inaccurate, misrepresents a scholarly position, or could be improved, we want to hear from you.

We particularly welcome feedback from scholars, students of knowledge, and Islamic finance professionals. If a position in the calculator can be better sourced or more precisely stated, we want to know.

If your situation involves business partnerships, international assets, or financial instruments not covered here, we recommend consulting a qualified scholar alongside the calculator.

Our Scholarly Sources

The calculator draws on published positions from the following institutions and scholars. We chose these because their positions are public, well-documented, and directly relevant to the modern asset classes the calculator handles.

Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) — The primary source for the calculator's treatment of stocks, retirement accounts, and cryptocurrency. The FCNA's fatwas on stocks (Sh. Umer Khan, November 2025) and retirement accounts (Dr. Yasir Qadhi & Sh. Umer Khan, originally February 2024, updated February 2026) provide the basis for the long-term investment approach and the zakatable portion methodology. The FCNA's ruling on Bitcoin (Dr. Yasir Qadhi & Dr. Abdulbari Mashal, 2019) informs the cryptocurrency treatment.

Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA) — The primary source for the calculator's treatment of gold and silver jewelry. AMJA's fatwa on gold (Dr. Salah Al-Sawy, 2008) presents both the Hanafi and majority positions on personal-use jewelry and provides the basis for the calculator's madhab-based handling of this issue.

Joe Bradford — An American Islamic finance scholar whose positions inform the calculator's deferral method for retirement accounts and the nisab standard discussion. His published guidance on 401(k)/IRA zakat and on the gold and silver nisab thresholds provides a well-reasoned alternative to the FCNA's annual payment position.

Mufti Faraz Adam (Amanah Finance / Darul Fiqh) — His research paper on zakat and cryptocurrencies provides additional scholarly grounding for the calculator's treatment of digital assets, particularly the distinction between coin-based cryptocurrencies and tokens.

National Zakat Foundation (NZF) — A UK-based zakat institution whose published guidance informs the calculator's treatment of gold, silver, jewelry, and precious gems. NZF's detailed coverage of madhab-specific positions on personal jewelry and their practical Q&A content provides useful cross-referencing for the calculator's approach.

AAOIFI Shari'ah Standards — The Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions. AAOIFI Standard No. 35 on zakat is referenced by the FCNA in their stocks fatwa as aligned with their methodology.

International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IFA) — IFA Resolution No. 121 on zakat on shares is referenced by the FCNA as aligned with their approach to stocks and investment holdings.

Zakat Foundation of America — Their published guidance on why precious gems and non-gold/silver metals are exempt from personal-use zakat informs the calculator's treatment of other precious metals and gemstones.

Source Links

For reference, here are direct links to the primary sources cited throughout the calculator and our guides:

1. Fiqh Council of North America — "Zakah on Stocks" — fiqhcouncil.org/zakah-on-stocks/
2. Fiqh Council of North America — "Zakat on Retirement Accounts" — fiqhcouncil.org/zakah-on-retirement-funds/
3. Fiqh Council of North America — "Regarding the Islamic Ruling on Bitcoins" — fiqhcouncil.org/regarding-the-islamic-ruling-on-bitcoins/
4. Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America — "Zakat on Gold" — amjaonline.org/fatwa/en/23235/zakat-on-gold
5. Joe Bradford — "Do I Pay Zakat on 401k and IRA?" — joebradford.net/pay-zakat-on-401k/
6. Joe Bradford — "Nisab for Zakat on Gold and Silver" — joebradford.net/nisab-for-zakat-on-gold-and-silver/
7. Mufti Faraz Adam — "Zakat on Cryptocurrencies" — darulfiqh.com/research-paper-zakat-on-cryptocurrencies/
8. National Zakat Foundation — "Zakat on Gold, Silver & Jewellery" — nzf.org.uk/knowledge/zakat-on-gold-silver-jewellery/
9. Zakat Foundation of America — "Why Isn't There Zakat on Diamonds and Gems?" — zakat.org/why-zakat-on-diamonds-and-gems