Charity organisations & zakat

As-salaamu ‘alaikum!

Zakat (Arabic: زكاة‎ zakāt or zakāh, meaning ‘grow’, ‘purify’, or ‘foster’) is the Islamic concept of tithing and alms. It is an obligation on Muslims to pay 2.5% of their wealth to specified categories in society when their annual wealth exceeds a minimum level (nisab; 85 grams of gold). Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. (Text source: Wikipedia).

Sadly many of us are neglecting this major aspect of ibadah, and shockingly even amongst Muslim brothers who are usually very charitable (e.g. paying sadaqah and regular standing orders to good causes and charity organisations), do not pay their zakat. This attitude is very much like those who pray nafl or sunnah prayers (salaat) and neglect their obligatory/farz prayers. Pay your 2.5% zakat first – then if you have any spare money left, use that for ad hoc charity. Please also calculate your zakat correctly. This is very easy even for people with complicated finances. Check out the zakat calculators available on the web, e.g. 1st Ethical, Islamic Relief et al.

Zakat does not have to be paid in Ramadan – it can be paid any time of the year. It’s actually a misconception to think that there is extra reward for paying zakat in Ramadan. Also, you can spread your family zakat payments at different times of the year, and thus the poor and needy can benefit at different times through the year.

A number of charity and relief organisations/agencies:

• Interpal – Helping Palestinians in Need UPDATE: Ramadan Appeal
  
• Islamic Relief UK (DEC member) UPDATE: IR RAMADAN APPEAL.
• United Islamic Aid (as seen on Peace TV)
• Muslim Aid
• Islamic Aid
• Muslim Hands
  
• Helping Hands
• Islamic Help
• Small Kindness
• Ifees – Islamic foundation for ecology & environmental sciences
• Human Appeal International
• Human Relief Foundation
• Mercy Mankind – see their current appeal to raise money to feed orphans
• Muslim Charity

I do not work for any of the above organisations, and I know there are many more good charity organisations out there, but I am listing only those that I have used or come across. I use them various times during the year: e.g. emergencies, paying zakat, sadaqa/lillah, orphan sponsorship, qurbani, Ramadan food parcels, fitrana, Eid gifts etc. Please pay your zakat accurately and on time (a separate zakat article will be posted inshaAllah) and remember that even a very small amount will help alleviate the poor and the distressed.
InshaAllah, any help will count as a righteous deed. Never miss the opportunity; don’t miss out on daily, small deeds that guarantee reward. Tiny things that pile up into large amounts of credit on the Day. Our deeds – they are the ’saving ransom’ on the Day of Judgement.