Is investing in silver halal?
Yes — silver follows the same rules as gold: permissible with spot settlement and real (or allocated) possession.
Silver is the second ribawi metal, so the same currency-strict rules apply: full payment, immediate or constructive delivery, no deferred-both-sides contracts. Physical coins and bars, or allocated storage, are cleanly permissible; futures and unallocated claims raise the same objections as with gold.
Silver's practical differences are worldly, not religious: more volatile than gold, bulkier to store per dollar of value, and often subject to sales tax (VAT) where gold is exempt — check your jurisdiction.
The conditions that matter
- Spot purchase with real or allocated possession
- Zakatable at 2.5% — silver's own nisab is 595g
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Is the silver nisab different from gold's?
Yes — 595g of silver vs 85g of gold. Because silver is cheaper, the silver nisab produces a lower threshold; some scholars prefer it as the more cautious basis for zakat liability.
Related
Educational summary of commonly held scholarly positions — not a fatwa or financial advice. Where scholars differ, we say so; for a binding ruling on your situation, consult your scholar. See how Penny screens.