Besides prayer, charity is one of the most foundational teachings to which all Muslims must dedicate themselves.

There is a reason why it’s the third pillar of Islam. A simple charitable act is not only felt and impacted by one person’s life for the better. Charitable acts remind us we are bound by others, which inspires and ripples toward birthing a better future for everyone on a collective level.

No wonder it’s the noblest way of spending wealth and bringing delight to Allah.

See how you can find Islamic charities to donate to, so you can spread generosity on a bigger scale for the betterment of others.

How to Donate Wisely to Islamic Charities

Donating with Right Intentions

In Islamic teachings, charitable actions and donations are meant to be rooted in the right intentions. After all, Allah rewards those who spend their abundance with a pure heart. Therefore, donating must be done with genuine selflessness without prideful recognition. It’s important not to expect thanks nor request the gratitude of the individual to whom you give for a good cause. Furthermore, according to Islam, it’s preferable to donate discreetly than openly. If you’re flaunting or making yourself seem generous, you’re donating with selfish intentions. All these wrong intentions for donating are a false sense of reward. Anyone with good intentions knows the reward of donating for Allah’s delight depends on the almighty – the ultimate reward comparatively.

Research Charities Validity

Another important factor to consider when donating to an Islamic charity is to ensure its validity. Nowadays, you can donate to numerous Islamic charities – local, national, or even global organizations. Yet, practicing discernment is imperative when donating to an Islamic charity. Unfortunately, some people create fake charities. As a result, your donation doesn’t end up going to those in need or properly supporting a cause. That’s why you need to research charities before you donate to them by donating more wisely. A good way to check if a charity is legitimate is by checking Canada’s list of charities database. You can see what ones are properly registered as well as other relevant information to help give you insight.

Understand the Charity’s Background

Part of donating with the right intentions is finding a charity’s cause that speaks to you. Once you do, you can look into how donations are allocated. Knowing how much will be given is imperative since even registered charities might not provide an acceptable percentage of donations. Do your research by checking what previous donors have to say about a charity – they will be honest about if the charity functions properly or not. Furthermore, when looking for Islamic charities, you want to ensure that you donate properly. After all, there are several ways to give charity in Islam (e.g. giving Sadaqah or paying your Zakat or paying a Fidya/Kifarah). Check to see if the Islamic charity you’re interested in has programs where it relates to the type of donation you wish to give.

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

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.

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!

A core aspect of the Muslim faith is offering assistance, kindness, and support to those in need. Both Zakat and Sadaqah place emphasis on helping others, but there are key differences between the two.

Let’s take a look at what those differences are.

The Differences Between Zakat and Sadaqah

Zakat

Zakat is one of the five pillars of individual worship that Islam is built on. 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 and 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. Such people have been outlined in the Quran and include:

The poor
The hungry
Those responsible for distributing Zakat
Those in captivity and slavery
Those living with unmanageable debt
Those who fight in the name of Allah
Stranded or struggling travellers
New Muslims and friends of Muslim communities

muslim man giving food box to homeless people, volunteer help and support poor old man. in cartoon flat illustration vector isolated in white background

When it comes to determining one’s wealth, nine categories are considered. It is from these categories that one must donate Zakat’s designated amounts:

Livestock
Gold and silver
Business goods
Agricultural produce
Animal products
Minerals and sea products
Improvements
Earnings
Financial instruments

Zakat is designed to strengthen the Muslim community by redistributing wealth and ensuring that everyone is cared for. By donating Zakat, one can be sure that each member of their community has the resources they need to survive.

Sadaqah

Sadaqah, meanwhile, is a voluntary charitable donation. Sadaqah does not have a fixed percentage, and one is permitted to donate as much money and as often as they so choose.

Sadaqah also has a more liberal definition of what charity can include. While such things as money and property are still considered, acts of kindness, such as good deeds or salutations, also make up such charity. The idea behind Sadaqah is that one is simply to give freely, without expectations of receiving something in return; rather, the intention is to please Allah.

When it comes to monetary donations, one can choose where the funds are directed, and the recipient does not have to fit into any of the categories that Zakat focuses on.

While both Zakat and Sadaqah focus on the importance of giving, their differences ensure that various groups of people are taken care of.

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.

There are many ways for us to find guidance and support in our daily lives. One of the ways that our Muslim charity has found to be particularly helpful is the Muslim care-line we launched. For a full review of this service, continue reading down below.

What the Muslim Care-Line Does

The Muslim care-line is an ongoing project funded by our Muslim charity, the Al-Ansaar Islamic Foundation. This care line helps Muslims in distress who are looking for support, advice or help. Our compassionate and understanding Ulema provide guidance and advice for these individuals in a convenient and accessible environment.

When to Use the Muslim Care-Line

Using the Muslim care-line is simple and easy. All you need to do is navigate to the correct page on the website and select a time that works best for you. Current booking times are available on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, meaning there is always a reliable time slot available for compassionate support and advice. Keep in mind that Wednesday bookings are for females only, and Thursday bookings are for males only.

Who Can Use the Muslim Care-Line

The Muslim care-line is available to everyone looking for advice, guidance and support from an Ulema within the Muslim community. As part of the services offered by our Muslim charity, this service is a great opportunity to learn more about what ails you and how to address it appropriately.