Baznas Establishes New Zakat Nisab, Indef: Adjustment Necessary to Prevent Zakat Payers from Being Eroded by Gold Prices

The Head of the Centre for the Development of Islamic Economics (CSED) at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef), Nur Hidayah, has argued that adjustments to the zakat income nisab threshold are necessary amid surging gold prices in recent years.

The proposed change to this standard is expected to maintain the balance between Islamic compliance and the sustainability of zakat collection. She explained that the global increase in gold prices necessitates adjustments in setting the zakat income nisab threshold.

“Of course, many adjustments are needed in other areas, including zakat itself,” said Nur Hidayah during a public discussion titled “Zakat Nisab Increases: Burden or Path to Virtue?” held online on Friday, 13 March 2026.

According to her, gold prices have experienced significant increases over the past two years. In 2024, gold prices rose approximately 32.4 per cent, whilst throughout 2025 the increase reached 54.38 per cent.

If the old standard of 85 grams of 24-carat gold remained unchanged, she noted, the near 86 per cent increase in gold prices over the past two years could potentially result in fewer people falling into the category of those obligated to pay zakat.

“With this increase over two years of nearly 86 per cent, it will certainly result in fewer zakat payers falling into the category of those obligated to pay zakat,” she stated.