I find it suspicious that religious officials today say that zakat is calculated based on gold and silver. The reason is because:
In the past people traded using ordinary metal coins, silver coins, and gold coins. Metal coins held the lowest value, while gold coins held the highest.
Gold and silver jewelry in jewelry stores was regarded as a form of treasure and wealth, given that gold and silver coins were used in trade. Jewelry could be melted down and fashioned into gold and silver coins, which could then be used to purchase valuable items. Consequently, paying Zakat on gold and silver made sense and was logical at that time.
Nowadays everyone makes purchases using paper money and Bank cards. Gold and silver are therefore viewed as ordinary metals—like copper, iron, and others—with no special status. Gold and silver jewelry no longer holds the same kind of value.
Today the trade in gold and silver—and the work of goldsmiths—is often viewed with suspicion, associated with fraud and deception.
In my opinion it is illogical to calculate Zakat based on gold and silver today, since people no longer trade using gold and silver coins.
What is your opinion on this matter?
In the past people traded using ordinary metal coins, silver coins, and gold coins. Metal coins held the lowest value, while gold coins held the highest.
Gold and silver jewelry in jewelry stores was regarded as a form of treasure and wealth, given that gold and silver coins were used in trade. Jewelry could be melted down and fashioned into gold and silver coins, which could then be used to purchase valuable items. Consequently, paying Zakat on gold and silver made sense and was logical at that time.
Nowadays everyone makes purchases using paper money and Bank cards. Gold and silver are therefore viewed as ordinary metals—like copper, iron, and others—with no special status. Gold and silver jewelry no longer holds the same kind of value.
Today the trade in gold and silver—and the work of goldsmiths—is often viewed with suspicion, associated with fraud and deception.
In my opinion it is illogical to calculate Zakat based on gold and silver today, since people no longer trade using gold and silver coins.
What is your opinion on this matter?