Ruling 1912. There are two niṣābs for gold.

1. Twenty legal (sharʿī) mithqāls.[1] A legal mithqāl is eighteen nukhuds.[2] Therefore, when gold reaches the weight of twenty legal mithqāls – which is equivalent to fifteen common (ṣayrafī) mithqāls – and if the other conditions that were mentioned are fulfilled, one must give one-fortieth [2.5%] – which is equivalent to nine nukhuds – as zakat. As long as gold does not reach this amount, zakat is not obligatory on it.

2. Four legal mithqāls, which is equivalent to three common mithqāls, meaning that if three [common] mithqāls are added to fifteen [common] mithqāls, one must give zakat on the entire eighteen mithqāls, which is equivalent to one-fortieth [2.5%]; and if less than three mithqāls is added, he must give zakat on only fifteen mithqāls [which was the first niṣāb mentioned above], and the extra is not liable for zakat. The same applies to every other addition, meaning that if three mithqāls are added, one must give zakat on the entire amount; and if less than three mithqāls is added, the added amount is not liable for zakat.