Generosity can take many forms, one of which is charity to those less fortunate than ourselves by providing aid for Muslims and others – this kindness is recommended in Islam.

However, what is the best form of charitable donation?

The answer to this question depends on whether you are trying to obtain a reward from Allah or not.

Moreover, it depends on what type of person you are, as the ideal charitable act varies from person to person and vice versa.

The following are forms of charitable donations made in the Qur’an and Sunnah and some unrecommended ones.

The Best Charitable Donation for Others & Aid for Muslims

Sadaqah Jariyah

Sadaqah Jariyah is the most preferred form of charity. It is defined as giving to a poor person individually. Typically once or a few times, without asking for anything in return. It’s the type of charity performed by Muslims worldwide as an aid for Muslims and non-Muslims.

Sadaqah Jariyah for Deceased

Sadaqah Jariyah for the deceased is the second-best form of charitable donation after Sadaqah Jariyah for living recipients. It consists of giving to one or more persons in the Muslim nation that the deceased used to assist with charity (i.e., poor, beggars, orphans).

Sponsoring a Child, Teacher, or Orphan

The third best form of charitable donation is to sponsor a child, teacher or orphan who would otherwise not have the means to pay for their school fees or basic needs. Sunnah encourages sponsorship of 10% of one’s income for Muslims and 2.5% for non-Muslims if it does not cause harm.

Spreading Knowledge

Most forms of charitable donations encourage sharing knowledge that can benefit Muslims, for example, by donating books to libraries. However, Sunnah supports one’s students in both Islamic and secular education.

Charity for Others to Pay Their Zakah

It is recommended in Islam that we donate our Zakah (obligatory charitable donation) to others so they can pay their Zakah. For example, if you donate $100 to your local mosque or Islamic Center and $100 to your local orphanage, you will have paid your Zakah by the time you pay the second annual Zakah. Naturally, it is better not to give Zakah to others so that there is a constant stream of Zakah (in the form of money regularly) for the community. We also recommend using this opportunity by giving less than our established quota for charity.

Building a Mosque, School, or Hospital

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “When a Muslim plants a tree or sows a field, or tends a flock of sheep, he is doing an act of charity.”

Scholars have listed building a mosque as one of Islam’s greatest forms of charitable donation. Also included in this category are schools because they work to both train and educate the next generation of Muslims. Scholars also point out that hospitals are included in this category since they, too, serve the sick and wounded.

It is important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all way of giving. The key is to give as you can when you can. If you cannot give your Zakah (obligatory charitable donation) annually, it is still important to contribute what you can. Your good deed will be recorded, and Allah Almighty will reward you accordingly.

The Al-Ansaar Islamic Foundation was started by a group of highly dedicated and passionate Muslims with a focus on knowledge and scholarship. Our ambition centres around the idea of contributing to communities by creating leaders, educators, and conscious individuals. We are ultimately concerned with building strong communities that impact the lives of others and motivate, inspire, and contribute to the good of humanity. Contact us toll-free at 1 (855) 633-6222.

Donate Zakat: Can Zakat be given to relatives?

Zakat is an important element in Islam and is deemed one of the five pillars. Charitable acts can purify your earnings if your income exceeds what is required to give you the essentials to live. Inevitably, as you think of ways to give Zakat, you might be wondering if it is permitted to help blood relatives or if this is disallowed under the specific terms of Zakat. While the particulars of who you can give Zakat to may seem murky, they can be easy to learn.

Discover all you need to know about how to donate Zakat and if helping family members struggling with money can be a method of giving Zakat.

Giving to relatives

If you want to give a relative money to supplement their needs, this is generally a permitted act of charity under the Zakat conditions. Though parents cannot give their children money and children cannot give to their parents as forms of charity, you can bestow monetary gifts to other relatives who may be living below their needs. Before you give your Zakat, you still need to properly navigate this form of charity before pursuing it by examining three different factors that could determine whether giving money to relatives is an acceptable form of Zakat.

The closeness of the relative

One question you may want to ask yourself before giving your Zakat to a family member is: How close is this family member? Suppose you are particularly distant from this relative and have no legal or moral obligation to help them with their expenses. In that case, it is okay to send your Zakat to them, directly or indirectly. If you are close to a relative, like a husband to their wife, a child to their parents and vice versa, grandchildren to their grandparents, and vice versa, you cannot give your Zakat to those relatives. This is disallowed because giving money to such a close relative is essentially like giving money to yourself under Zakat conditions. According to Zakat resources, relatives eligible to receive your Zakat charity can include cousins, aunts and uncles, siblings, and nieces and nephews.

Who is giving the Zakat?

Another question you need to ask yourself before giving a charitable portion of your money to a family member is who exactly is giving the Zakat? If you are giving your Zakat to a charitable organization that a family member uses to supplement their lack of funds, this is actually permitted. While you cannot give money to your parents or children directly, if you happen to donate to a charity that helps your close family members, this form of Zakat still counts and is undoubtedly permissible.

Financial responsibilities

There are often telltale signs indicating whether you can give your Zakat to a relative. If you live with a relative, they are most likely barred from receiving your Zakat. Similarly related, if a family member is already financially dependent on you, they are also unable to receive Zakat from you when you’re already providing for them.

Husband and wife

Though it may seem that giving your Zakat to your spouse would be disallowed, under some circumstances, it is permitted. To donate Zakat to your spouse is allowed when the wife gives their Zakat to a husband that is struggling financially, though some scholars argue that a wife should not do this if they benefit from this indirectly or directly. Because a husband is responsible for a wife’s financial needs, husbands are not allowed to give their Zakat to them.

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. The others are belief in the oneness of Allah, offering obligatory prayers five times a day, fasting the whole month of Ramadan, and pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah (Mecca). It simply means almsgiving and is an obligation upon Muslims to pay at the end of a year of possession. Zakat is calculated at the rate of 2.5% on the total wealth present at year-end, which includes money, silver, gold, investments, livestock, trading stock, and agricultural produce. It is worth mentioning that Poor people do not pay Zakat. Rather, it is an obligation on the wealthy people and delivered to the poor, needy, and destitute people. Suppose a sane, adult person (male or female) owns wealth equal to the current market value of roughly 600 grams of silver. In that case, they are commanded to donate Zakat.

How to donate Zakat

If any Muslim is eligible to donate Zakat, they must find qualified people. Zakat is not given just to anyone; it is paid to the poor, the indigent, the debt-ridden, the wanderer, the enslaved person seeking freedom from bondage. Some people are aware that they can give Zakat to their local mosque. They must know that one cannot donate Zakat money to any mosque, per se, whether for construction or refurbishment purposes. Any individual does not own mosques, but they are rather dedicated to the worship of Allah. So, it is the unanimous decision of the scholars of Islam that mosques are not entitled to receive any Zakat amounts as such. However, if a mosque collects Zakat money to distribute it, it is permitted. The mosque committee generally manages the payments of Zakat. Here, when you donate Zakat money, it will not be used for the mosque in any manner but will rather be given out to the ones eligible to receive Zakat.

Why Donate to Muslim Charity

The question arises, “Why should a Muslim donate Zakat?” First of all, we must understand that Zakat is a commandment of Allah that must be followed by every Muslim if they are eligible. Secondly, according to the Holy Scriptures, Zakat is a means of purification of the total wealth, i.e. if a person donates his Zakat amount, then the wealth left behind becomes pure wealth, or else impure. Thirdly, donating Zakat money creates an equilibrium in society as the rich give off a small amount of their total wealth to the poor and needy. Thus, donating Zakat helps ease the difficulties of the lives of the financially weak and needy people.

The spirit of giving and charity is infused into the Islamic religion. Regardless of the time of year, zakat and sadaqah are constantly in our thoughts as we actively strive to better our community and help those around us.

However, whenever Ramadan is upon us, we often find ourselves motivated to give back a little more than usual. So is giving to charity mandatory during Ramadan? And why is there such an emphasis on donation during this time?

Let’s explore why so many Muslims are inspired to give to charity during Ramadan.

Why Muslims Give To Charity During Ramadan

Zakat

Zakat is one of the five pillars of individual worship on which Islam is built. To fulfill this particular fundamental foundation, an obligatory payment of 2.5% of an individual’s surplus wealth is given every year. However, one can choose to pay more if they are so able, while others do not have to pay if they do not meet the Nisab threshold. This money is then divided up and given to those who have qualified as beneficiaries of the payment.

While paying zakat is not required during Ramadan specifically, many Muslims opt to offer their payments at this time. Ramadan is considered the holy month, so higher spiritual rewards await those who are able to donate zakat during this time.

While Muslims generously donate to charities throughout the year, the numbers are particularly impressive during Ramadan. Islamic Relief UK estimates that £150 million were donated to charity during Ramadan by British citizens alone.

Five Pillars

As mentioned above, charity is one of the five pillars of Islam, in addition to fasting, prayer, faith, and a pilgrimage to Mecca. During the holy month, people practice generosity and a spirit of giving.

For those who are unable to offer zakat, at least during Ramadan, focusing on sadaqah is often a popular option. Sadaqah is a voluntary charitable donation, with no fixed percentage or requirements. This allows Muslims to fulfill their fifth obligation during Ramadan and embody the ideals of the holy month.

As qualifying adult Muslims gather their wealth every year to donate zakat, they can feel good about the positive impact they will have on their community. As one of the five pillars of Islam, fulfilling charitable obligations is an incredibly valued aspect of the faith.

Admittedly, calculating your required zakat donation can be confusing, and determining how and which elements of your personal wealth can be shared can be a journey. Therefore, once you’ve established your zakat donation, it makes sense that you’d be eager to give that away.

But where exactly do you donate your zakat to? Let’s take a look.

Where Your Zakat Donation Goes To

Who Qualifies

Zakat cannot be offered to just anyone, regardless of whether you feel they could use the extra help. The Holy Qur’an outlines which individuals are eligible to receive zakat donations. These eight categories are:

Fakir: those with little or no income or wealth
Miskin: those who are without food
Amil: anyone designated to collect and distribute zakat
Riqab: anyone held involuntarily in captivity or as a slave
Garmin: those struggling with unmanageable debt
Fisabilillah: those fighting for Allah
Ibnus Sabil: struggling and/or stranded travellers
Muallaf: friends of the Islamic community and/or revert Muslims

How Do I Pay It?

Fortunately, the methods of making zakat donations have modernized, and you can simply make your payment online. This allows for a quick and simple process, enabling you to fulfill your obligations in no time.

Where To Send It

You are able to choose a zakat-accepting charity of your choice, provided they meet the requirements of who is eligible to receive zakat. While your selections are not as broad as they would be for sadaqah, as that is optional and personally-driven charity, there are still a good number of charities to choose from. Some organizations in Canada that accept zakat include:

Transparent Hands
National Zakat Foundation
Islamic Relief Canada
Canada Zakat
IDRF (International Development and Relief Foundation)
MIZAN (Muslims Implementing Zakat Associated Network)
Canada Helps
Human Concern International
Muslim Association of Canada

Feel free to take your time and research which organization you would most like to donate zakat to. There is no hard deadline of when your donations need to be made; rather, they need to be made once every lunar year. While Ramadan is a popular time for Muslims to pay zakat, it’s by no means a set rule, and you are able to make your donation on your own schedule.

Charity is an incredibly important aspect of the Islamic faith. As a community, we strive to aid and support one another, understanding that those in need are just as valid as anyone else. Therefore, regardless of our income, making financial contributions to those around us is valued in our society.

But how much should Muslims actually be donating to charity? Let’s take a look!

The Amount That Muslims Should Give To Charity

Understanding Zakat

Zakat is one of the five pillars of individual worship that Islam is built on. Also known as “mandatory giving,” zakat requires all eligible Muslims to donate at least 2.5% of their accumulated wealth each year. However, you can choose to donate more money to an Islamic charity if you would prefer, and those who do not meet the Nisab threshold are not obligated to pay.

This money is then divided up and given to those who have qualified as beneficiaries of the payment. Such people have been outlined in the Quran and include:

The poor
The hungry
Those living with unmanageable debt
Stranded or struggling travellers

This act of donating 2.5% of your wealth to the poor is an incredible way to strengthen the entire community and provide relief to those in need.

Understanding Sadaqah

Sadaqah, meanwhile, is a voluntary charitable donation. This means that there are no rules or guidelines dictating how much– if any– money you should be donating. Additionally, while zakat is once a year, you are permitted to donate as frequently as you would like under sadaqah.

As well, you can choose where your money is directed towards, regardless of whether it fits under a zakat category.

Understanding The Total Sum

Ultimately, it is expected that Muslims should donate a minimum of 2.5% of their wealth every year to charity. However, you are more than welcome to exceed that amount if you so choose; it is entirely up to you and your financial situation.

We can all strive to better ourselves every day; one way to do this is through education! The Mishkat Institute aims to serve anyone in need of further understanding of their Islamic faith. But how exactly is that achieved?

Let’s explore what the Mishkat Institute is and how it can benefit you.

Understanding The Mishkat Institute

The Mishkat Institute offers a range of educational events, day-long seminars, crash courses, and weekly classes in partnership with Al-Ihsan. The goal of the Mishkat Institute is to educate as many Muslim people as they can about Islam and the Arabic language in an effort to provide an alternative to full-time institutional learning.

The Mishkat Institute believes that a deep understanding of Islam is critical to building strong Muslim communities across Canada and the world. This is why they often allow their courses to be taken online or as a part-time student, allowing you to access knowledge in a way that works best for you. By empowering students to take charge of their education, the Mishkat Institute is hopeful that you will eventually step into the roles of leaders and mentors.

Another benefit of the Mishkat Institute is the opportunity for social engagement with a community of fellow Muslims. By creating an environment where you can connect with others who share your faith and commitments, you can feel excited every time you partake in a course or class, as you know your thoughts and ideas will be valued and respected.

Offering courses on comprehensive Islam, the essentials of Islam, and the foundations of Arabic, the Mishkat Institute has you covered. They also provide Spring Youth and Summer Youth programs, which are designed specifically for children and implement the teachings through exercise, practice, and workshops.

Ready to dive into Islamic and Arabic education? Reach out to the Mishkat Institute to learn more!

Among the many options available to provide aid for Muslims, none can compare to the need for education and devotion to the Islamic faith. Through the higher education institution of Darul Uloom, Muslims of any age and gender can learn more about their faith, its origins and scriptures, and the religion as a whole. Let’s look at some of the specific ways Darul Uloom helps your faith.

Darul Uloom Strengthens Your Faith Through Aalimiyya

Through the Aalimiyya, or Aalim, you can receive aid for Muslims through a strengthening of your values and understanding of the Islamic sciences. These sciences include Adab, Aqida, Fiqh, Tafsir, Hadith and more. Plus, graduating from a full-time program can grant access to becoming an Islamic scholar, further increasing your devotion. Still, for those who have other time commitments, part-time courses and female-only courses are offered at our institution, making the learning accessible for everyone.

Muslim woman reading from the quran stock photo

Darul Uloom Provides Aid for Muslims Through Hifdh

Another way that Darul Uloom provides aid for Muslims is through Hifdh, the memorization of authentic Islamic texts. Understanding the words of the prophet and committing them to memory helps you carry the teachings throughout your daily life, strengthening your faith and leading you on the path to wisdom, piety and discipline.