How is Zakat calculated?

Zakat is 2.5% of qualifying net wealth held continuously above the Nisab threshold for one Hijri (lunar) year. Net wealth = cash + savings + gold + silver + business stock + receivables + investments, minus immediate debts. Nisab = the value of 85g of gold or 595g of silver — most scholars use the lower (silver) Nisab to maximise zakat eligibility.

How are Islamic inheritance shares (Faraid) calculated?

After deducting funeral expenses, debts, owed zakat, unpaid mahr and any wasiyyah (capped at 1/3 of the remainder), the estate is distributed according to the fixed shares (furud) in Surah an-Nisa 4:11, 4:12 and 4:176, with the residue going to the asabah (residuary heirs). Awl (proportional reduction) and radd (return to sharers) are applied automatically when the fractions exceed or fall short of unity.

Does the calculator support all four Sunni schools?

Yes — the Faraid engine supports Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali rulesets and shows the per-school differences (dhawu al-arham eligibility, grandmother's share under conflicting paternal/maternal lines, jadd-and-siblings cases). A blended Ja'fari (Twelver Shia) mode is also available — it keeps the Sunni fixed-share + radd framework while applying the most widely-cited Ja'fari distinction that distant agnates (paternal uncle, paternal cousin, paternal grandfather as residuary) do not take the residue when nearer female kindred (daughters, granddaughters, full sisters) survive.

What is the 1/3 limit on a wasiyyah (Islamic will)?

A Muslim may bequeath up to 1/3 of the estate to non-heirs — established by the hadith of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (Sahih al-Bukhari 2742 / Sahih Muslim 1628). A bequest to a Quranic heir is invalid unless ratified by the other heirs (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2120). The remaining 2/3 of the estate is distributed by the fixed faraid shares.

What is the Nisab and which one should I use — gold or silver?

Nisab is the minimum wealth threshold at which Zakat becomes obligatory. It equals the value of 85g of gold (gold Nisab) or 595g of silver (silver Nisab). The two are not the same monetary amount today — silver Nisab is far lower. The majority opinion (Jumhur, including Hanafi) is to use the silver Nisab so that more wealth qualifies and more recipients benefit.

Do you store my financial information?

No. Zakat International runs all calculations in your browser. Your asset breakdowns, heir lists, debts, witness names, executor details, bank account references and password hints are never transmitted to our servers. The only outbound network calls are: (1) live gold/silver spot prices via a backend proxy, (2) optional IP-based country auto-detect via a backend proxy, and (3) optional AI-advisor explanation relayed to Claude Sonnet 4.5 — none of these carry any user-entered estate data.

Is the Faraid engine deterministic or AI-based?

The math is 100% deterministic JavaScript — no AI/LLM runs the inheritance calculation. AI (Claude Sonnet 4.5) is used only as an optional plain-language advisor to explain each share. The engine implements the classical rulings of awl, radd, hajb hirman, hajb nuqsan, al-'Umariyyatain (the two Umari cases), and the al-mu'addah / al-akdariyya / al-mubahaala edge cases per madhhab.

What languages does the calculator support?

Twelve languages: English, Arabic (full RTL), Urdu (RTL), French, Malay (Bahasa Melayu), Turkish, Russian, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia), and Farsi/Persian (RTL). PDF certificates are bilingual where applicable and respect right-to-left reading direction for Arabic, Urdu and Farsi output.

Who inherits in Islam from a deceased Muslim?

Three categories: (1) Ashab al-Furud — fixed-share heirs (spouse, parents, daughters, certain siblings, grandmother); (2) Asabah — agnatic residuary heirs (sons, paternal brothers, paternal uncles, paternal cousins); (3) Dhawu al-Arham — distant kindred who inherit only if neither category 1 nor 2 is available. The Shafi'i and classical Maliki schools do not recognise category 3; in those schools the estate goes to the Bayt al-Mal (public treasury) instead.

Are children always heirs in Islam?

Yes. Sons and daughters are primary fixed-share and residuary heirs and can never be excluded from inheritance by the parent's wasiyyah — the so-called 'disinheritance of children' is invalid in classical Islamic law. Sons receive twice the daughter's share when both are present (Qur'an 4:11). The only natural 'exclusion' is hajb, where closer kin exclude more distant kin (e.g. a son excludes a grandson via that son). Orphaned grandchildren whose parent predeceased the grandparent traditionally did not inherit; modern personal-status codes in Egypt (Law 71/1946), Morocco (Mudawana art. 369–372), Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Palestine, Libya, Sudan and others now mandate a Wajib Wasiyyah (compulsory bequest) for them up to the 1/3 cap.

What are women's inheritance rights in Islam?

Women inherit as daughters (1/2 alone, 2/3 if multiple, 1/2 of a son's share when males co-exist — Qur'an 4:11), as mothers (1/3 normally, 1/6 with children, 1/3 of remainder in the al-Umariyyatain case), as wives (1/8 with children, 1/4 without), as full sisters (per kalālah rules in Qur'an 4:176), and grandmothers (1/6 collectively). Unpaid mahr (dower) is a priority debt of the estate that ranks ahead of all heirs and even the wasiyyah. Women's shares are constitutionally protected — a Muslim man cannot bequeath his wealth in a way that disinherits or reduces his female heirs.

Is the partition of the family estate after a death obligatory in Islam?

Yes. Distribution of inheritance per the Quranic shares is a binding obligation, not a recommendation. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'Learn the laws of inheritance and teach them to the people, for they are half of useful knowledge — and they are the first thing forgotten and the first thing taken away from my Ummah' (Sunan Ibn Majah 2719). Delaying partition is one of the most common causes of disputes between Muslim siblings, and is religiously discouraged. Zakat International gives the family a deterministic, scholar-anchored partition plan within minutes.

Is writing a will (Wasiyyah) obligatory in Islam?

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'It is not permissible for any Muslim who has something to bequeath to stay for two nights without having his last will and testament written and kept ready with him' (Sahih al-Bukhari 2738, Sahih Muslim 1627). Classical scholars hold this as at minimum strongly recommended (mustahabb), and obligatory (wajib) for anyone with unsettled debts, an unpaid mahr, a custodial relationship over minors, or assets in a non-Muslim civil-law jurisdiction whose default probate rules would not produce the Sharia-compliant distribution.

Do orphaned grandchildren inherit in Islam?

Under classical Sunni rules, orphaned grandchildren are excluded by their living uncles (hajb). Many modern personal-status codes have legislated a Wajib Wasiyyah (compulsory bequest) in their favour — the grandparent's estate must include a notional bequest up to what the deceased parent would have inherited, capped at 1/3. This is codified in Egypt (Law 71/1946 art. 76), Morocco (Mudawana art. 369–372), Algeria (Family Code art. 169–172), Tunisia (CSP art. 191 bis), Jordan (Personal Status Law art. 279), Palestine, Libya, Sudan and Mauritania. Zakat International applies the Wajib Wasiyyah automatically when the user selects one of these jurisdictions.

How many countries does Zakat International support?

95 countries across MENA, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, Europe (Western, Nordic, Balkans), Russia, the Americas and East Asia. Each country has a dedicated legal-guidance page with statutory citations, will formality requirements, registration office, witness rules and the recognised fatwa authority. The full list and direct deep-links are at https://zakat.international/legal.

What is the correct order of deductions before distributing the estate?

(1) Funeral expenses, (2) outstanding debts including owed Zakat and unpaid Mahr, (3) the wasiyyah (capped at 1/3 of the post-debt remainder), and finally (4) the faraid shares distributed to legal heirs per the Quranic verses. This ordering is the established consensus across all four Sunni schools.

Can I write a will that gives more than 1/3 to charity or a specific heir?

No. The wasiyyah cap of 1/3 is a binding limit established by the hadith of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (Bukhari 2742). The remaining 2/3 must follow the Quranic faraid shares. Any bequest exceeding 1/3 or naming a Quranic heir is invalid unless the other heirs explicitly consent after the death — never before.

Can I count sadaqah toward my Zakat obligation?

No. Zakat is a specific 2.5% obligation with named beneficiaries; sadaqah is voluntary and unrestricted. Paying extra sadaqah does not reduce your Zakat liability.

Is Zakat al-Fitr the same as regular Zakat?

No. Zakat al-Fitr is a per-head food-equivalent (~2 kg of staple grain per person) paid at the end of Ramadan, before Eid prayer. Regular Zakat al-Maal is 2.5% of wealth. Two separate obligations.

Can I set up a small personal waqf?

Yes — even a modest waqf (a share portfolio dedicated to a charity, an income-producing property earmarked for orphan support) is valid. Consult a scholar or Islamic-finance advisor for structure.

Does giving to family count as sadaqah?

Yes for extended family and beyond. The Prophet ﷺ said giving to family carries double reward — "sadaqah of the family". But giving to those you are legally obliged to maintain (spouse, children, parents) is a duty, not extra sadaqah.

Which pillar has the most reward?

Zakat is the FOUNDATION — no other giving substitutes for it. Sadaqah jariyah has the LONGEST reward (post-death). Waqf has the DEEPEST institutional impact. Build all three across a lifetime.

Zakat vs Sadaqah vs Waqf — Three Pillars of Islamic Giving (2026)

Zakat is obligatory. Sadaqah is voluntary. Waqf is permanent. Understanding which is which is the difference between fulfilling a duty and building a legacy.

Three pillars, one purpose

Islamic law recognises three primary modes of charity, each with distinct legal, spiritual, and social character. Understanding them is essential to building a complete giving plan.

Zakat — the obligatory 2.5%

Zakat is the third pillar of Islam — an OBLIGATORY tax of 2.5% on qualifying wealth held for one lunar year. It is not a favour to the poor but a RIGHT the poor have on the wealthy. The eight eligible categories are named in Quran 9:60. Not paying Zakat when due is a major sin; paying it late does not eliminate the arrears. Zakat cannot be given to your own dependents (spouse, children, parents) because supporting them is already your legal duty.

Sadaqah — voluntary giving

Sadaqah is any voluntary act of giving — money, food, kindness, a smile ("your smile at your brother is sadaqah" — Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi 1956). Unlike Zakat, it has no minimum threshold, no timing rule, and no restricted category list. You may give sadaqah to your own family, to non-Muslims, to research, to environmental causes, to animals. Sadaqah does NOT discharge Zakat — you cannot re-label Zakat as sadaqah to change its rules.

Sadaqah Jariyah — the "flowing" sadaqah

A subset of sadaqah that continues to yield benefit after the giver's death. The Prophet ﷺ said: "When a person dies, all their deeds cease except three — sadaqah jariyah, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for them" (Sahih Muslim 1631). Examples: planting a fruit tree, contributing to a water well, building a masjid, teaching Quran, funding an orphan's education long-term.

Waqf — the permanent endowment

Waqf is a legal instrument that PERMANENTLY dedicates an asset (usually property or an investment fund) to a charitable purpose. The asset itself is FROZEN — it can never be sold, gifted, or inherited. Only its INCOME is distributed to beneficiaries. Historic examples: al-Azhar University in Cairo has been operating on waqf endowments since 970 CE. Modern examples: waqf shares (share-fund units where dividends flow to charity forever), scholarship funds, medical clinics.

How they fit together in one giving plan

A balanced annual plan looks like this: (1) FIRST, calculate and pay Zakat on your wealth (obligation). (2) THEN, give discretionary sadaqah throughout the year (piety and social solidarity). (3) FINALLY, over a lifetime, build one or two waqf assets that will keep giving after you die (legacy). Together these fulfil the individual obligation, feed the community present-tense, and build multi-generational impact.

Using our tools

Our free Zakat calculator handles pillar 1. Our upcoming Sadaqah tracker (in the Life Suite) helps you log recurring monthly giving for pillar 2. Our Estate Planner (also in the Life Suite) includes a waqf section for pillar 3. Everything free, everything private.

Zakat vs Sadaqah vs Waqf: The Three Pillars of Islamic Giving