QUESTION:
Is Quicksilver a metal on which Zakaah is payable?
ANSWER:
What is Quicksilver? The metal mercury resembles silver in color. Unlike silver and most other metals though, mercury is liquid at ordinary temperatures, For that reason it is able to flow and to move almost as if it were alive. The old English word for mercury was cwicseolfor, a combination of cwic, meaning ‘alive’ or ‘moving,’ and seolfor, meaning ‘silver.’ The modern English quicksilver comes from the Old English cwicseolfor. Mercury is a naturally-occurring chemical element found in rock in the earth’s crust, including in deposits of coal. In conclusion, mercury is known as quicksilver because of its fast molecular motion and mobility.
If this is the ‘Quicksilver’ that you are referring to, then there is no Zakaat on it, as it is not silver metal which is Zakaatable. Zakaat is payable on gold and silver metal when equivalent to Nisaab or more.
الزكاة واجبة في الذهب والفضة، مضروبة كانت أو غير مضروبة، نوى التجارة أو، لا إذا بلغت الفضة مائتي درهم، والذهب عشرين مثقالا (المحيط البرهاني ص 240 ج2)
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date:- 15 Jumadal Ula 1445 / 29 November 2023
