Baznas Explains Rationale for Using 14-Karat Gold Standard in 2026 Earnings Zakat Nisab

Jakarta – Indonesia’s National Zakat Agency (Baznas) has clarified its rationale for setting the 2026 earnings and service zakat nisab using 14-karat gold as the reference standard. The policy has prompted questions, as the Indonesian Council of Islamic Scholars (MUI) fatwa has historically referenced an 85-gram gold standard without specifying the gold purity level.

Baznas head Rizaludin Kurniawan emphasised that the earnings zakat nisab of Rp 7,640,144 per month or Rp 91,681,728 per year remains aligned with Islamic law and applicable regulations. According to him, earnings zakat regulations differ from wealth zakat, which requires a one-year holding period.

“Earnings, income, and service zakat do not require a holding period; rather, the zakat is paid upon receipt, similar to agricultural zakat which is paid at harvest. There are references in the Minister of Religion Regulation and Baznas decisions regarding zakat types and payment methods,” Kurniawan said when contacted by Republika.co.id on Saturday (28 February).

He explained that the earnings zakat nisab reference remains based on the 85-gram gold standard as stipulated in the Minister of Religion Regulations (PMA) No. 52 of 2014 and PMA No. 31 of 2019, as well as the MUI fatwa. However, these provisions do not specifically indicate the gold purity standard used as a reference.

According to Kurniawan, Baznas does not adopt policies unilaterally. Every legal decision is always consulted with the government and religious scholars, including the MUI.

“In both the PMA and the MUI Fatwa, the 85 grams referenced had not previously been defined as to whether it refers to pure 24-karat gold or other gold quality categories circulating in the market and recognised by the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) as gold,” Kurniawan said.