Meet the Muslim collectors whose childhood hobbies are now worth thousands
Collectables including Pokémon cards and comics now count towards zakat, depending on why they are owned, meaning childhood treasures now carry both sentimental and financial weight
Aamir Hussain, a 29-year-old software engineer from Birmingham, first started collecting Pokémon cards as a child in the early 2000s, swapping duplicates with classmates in the playground and keeping his favourites in a worn plastic binder. What started as fun with friends has now grown into a hobby worth thousands of pounds, with sealed packs, graded cards and some of his earliest childhood finds tucked safely in his collection.
In February, just before Ramadan began, the National Zakat Foundation (NZF) confirmed that collectibles including Pokémon cards, comics and other nostalgic items such as action figures and vintage toys, may count toward zakat depending on why they are owned. Items held as trade or investment can be included, while those kept purely for enjoyment generally are not.
For collectors like Hussain, the guidance added a new dimension to a hobby that has long been about nostalgia and enjoyment. Childhood treasures now carry both sentimental and financial weight.
The guidance prompted Hussain to think about his collection differently. “It made me pause,” he says. “You don’t usually think of Pokémon cards in the same category as savings or investments, but if something you own has real financial value, it’s worth reflecting on how that fits into your responsibilities.”
Rare Pokémon cards can now fetch thousands of pounds. In February, a first-edition card described as a “holy grail” was sold at auction for £30,000. Despite the growing prices attached to rare cards, Hussain says the joy of collecting remains the same as it was when he was a child.
Like many collectors, he rediscovered the hobby in adulthood, joining online communities and tracking the market for rare cards and sealed packs. “I enjoy the hunt and the thrill of opening packs,” he says. “But when you see that some of these cards are worth thousands, the idea of zakat just makes sense. It feels fair and responsible as a Muslim, without taking away from the fun.”
“The card I pulled when I was nine, a holographic Charizard, is the one I’d never sell,” Hussain says. “It reminds me of that moment and that era, and it’s as much about memory as money.”
While some people treat Pokémon cards purely as an investment, Hussain sits somewhere in the middle, enjoying the thrill of collecting while being mindful of the value his collection has accrued. The NZF guidance, he says, makes perfect sense: “If these cards are worth thousands, why wouldn’t you consider it as a Muslim? It feels sensible and fair.”
Fahad Khan, 33, has a similar story. He first collected Pokémon cards in the late 1990s, inspired by the anime and Game Boy games, before stepping away as a teenager, and now shares his rare finds and updates through his TikTok channel. “The old spark came back,” he says.
His collection includes a mix of sentimental keepsakes and high-value items, including a rare Umbreon VMAX alternate art card worth more than £1,200 and several prized Charizards — some of the most sought-after cards, partly because far fewer of them are in circulation due to limited print runs. His full collection is estimated to be worth £8,000-£9,000.
“I track prices and follow trends, but beyond the numbers, there’s nostalgia, art and the memories that come with each card,” Khan says. “Seeing that these can count toward zakat feels natural. If they’re worth real money, a little of that can go to help others.”
Right: wider Pokemon collection
In Bradford, 19-year-old collector Rhys Ali runs Comic Collectives with his brother, a TikTok channel discussing their carefully curated stock of Marvel, DC, Image Comics and manga. “My interest started when my brother had comics lying around, along with Marvel and DC posters in his room,” Ali says, adding that part of the reason he collects physical copies is the experience of reading them. “Digital just felt boring. Paying for these books also feels like I’m supporting the creativity behind them.”
His hobby is also about connecting South Asian fans who might otherwise feel overlooked in the comic world. “From the start, the account was about sharing our passion and giving a voice to people like us,” he says. “There are so many fans who love comics but don’t see themselves represented, it feels important to make them feel seen.”
Even though Ali’s collection is primarily for enjoyment, he appreciates the logic behind zakat. “Even if my comics aren’t worth as much as Pokémon cards, the principle makes sense. If something you own has value, giving a small portion feels responsible and it doesn’t take away from the fun of collecting.”
For most collectors, the thrill will always be in the hunt. But as those childhood relics quietly climb in value, the humble binder or rare comic begins to carry an unexpected extra — albeit one with a small charitable deduction attached.
