The Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) has announced the updated nisab zakat harta (minimum threshold for zakat on wealth) for the Islamic year 1446H, 2025.
Zakat, the fourth pillar of Islam, is an obligatory act for Muslims who meet the necessary conditions. As narrated in a hadith by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), no zakat is due until a person possesses twenty dinars of gold for a full lunar year, upon which half a dinar (equivalent to 2.5 per cent or 1/40) must be given as zakat (Abu Daud & Baihaqi). Scholars equate twenty dinars to 85 grammes of gold in modern calculation.
With currency replacing gold and silver as mediums of exchange, Islamic scholars have ruled that banknotes are also subject to zakat. Based on this, MUIB has set the nisab for zakat on wealth (savings) at BND8,157.45, derived from the gold price of BND95.97 per gram for 21-karat gold. The obligatory zakat payment for those who meet the nisab is BND203.94 (2.5 per cent of the nisab).
This new threshold takes effect from February 1 (2 Syaaban 1446H). Given that gold prices fluctuate, the nisab value may change accordingly, and MUIB will issue updates as necessary.
Muslims are required to pay zakat annually, based on either the Islamic or Gregorian calendar, if they meet the prescribed conditions under Islamic law. – Fadley Faisal
