Is Husband Obliged to Pay Zakat on Wife's Savings & Jewelry?

A husband is not directly responsible for paying Zakat on his wife’s savings or jewelry.

He is not obligated to pay Zakat on her behalf unless he chooses to do so voluntarily. Zakat is a personal obligation, meaning each individual is responsible for paying it on their wealth.

If the wife’s savings exceed the Zakat Nisab and have remained so for a full lunar year (Hawl), she is required to pay 2.5% of the total value of her savings as Zakat. Similarly, if she owns gold or silver above the Nisab threshold, she is obligated to pay Zakat for it.

If the wife cannot afford to pay Zakat from her savings, her husband or another relative may choose to assist her financially. While this is not mandatory, such assistance can be considered an act of charity.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz has stated that it is permissible for a family member to pay Zakat on the wife’s behalf, provided she consents to it. Additionally, Zakat can be calculated based on the current market value of gold or silver at the end of the Hijri year.

Therefore, Using a Zakat calculator that includes the current market prices of gold and silver can help provide accuracy and flexibility in payment.

In cases where the wife lacks sufficient funds and her husband is also unable to help, she may need to use or sell a portion of her jewelry to fulfill her obligation.

Concerns are often raised that this might cause her to lose all her jewelry!

However, scholars clarify that only the portion required to pay Zakat needs to be sold, reducing her jewelry’s value until it falls below the Nisab, at which point Zakat is no longer applicable.

Some scholars argue that jewelry regularly worn for personal adornment is exempt from Zakat. However, if the jewelry is infrequently used or held as an investment, Zakat is due on it.