Give Your Zakat to Refugees

Zakat is an act of generosity, done by Muslims to help the poor and needy.

In this article, we will explore how zakat can be given to refugees.

Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. It is a form of charity that Muslims can give to those in need.

Muslims are encouraged to give their Zakat to refugees and those who are less fortunate than themselves.

Zakat helps refugees with the necessities like food, water, clothing, and shelter.

The article provides a detailed explanation of what Zakat is and how it benefits refugees.

Donate Zakat for Refugees

Zakat money can be donated to charities, humanitarian institutions, or relief organizations to provide food for the hungry and shelter for those who are displaced.

Refugees all around the world, and across the Middle East continue to live an unbearably hard life; “emergency within an emergency”, throughout the seasons, especially during the cold months, where humanitarian assistance is essential for those in need to survive. 

Allah (SWT) has mentioned in the Quran the eight categories of those who are eligible for zakat, and refugees are at the top of this category; “the poor and the needy”. 

It is the duty of every Muslim towards those in need in our society. Muslims donate zakat money to help and support those in-need, communities, individuals, including refugees, “as being the most in-need,” providing whatever is needed to give them a decent life.  

Sadaqah Jariyah

Sadaqah Jariyah is the act of giving long-term charity that will last for months and years to come, such as;

• Providing clean water like; donating a water-well.  
• Sponsoring an orphan.
• Planting trees and crops.
• Building an establishment like; schools, hospitals, or Masjids.
• Providing education for free. 

These are all acts of Sadaqah Jariyah. And that is different from the general Sadaqa, which is an act of short-term charity. 

Donate Zakat to help Refugees in Syria

Since March 2011, millions of Syrians have been impacted by years of severe brutal war, causing all types of devastation that will take decades to rebuild. 

Decimated infrastructure, social and economic activities have all been severely damaged.

Over the years, Muslims were donating zakat money to many charities and Islamic organizations to help provide vital humanitarian aid to their Syrian brothers and sisters who were forced to flee their homes.

Zakat donation is helping millions of refugees annually, assisting organizations in providing life-saving assistance like; 

• Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
• Shelter
• Health
• Education
• Food
• Orphan sponsorship
• Ramadan & Qurbani

Giving Zakat to help Refugees in Yemen

Yemen is one of the world’s poorest countries due to severe conflicts over the years, leaving over 20.7 million people depending on urgent humanitarian aid to survive, with 4 million people are internally displaced and many more beyond borders. 

Muslims donate zakat money to assist individuals and communities through charities and organizations. Zakat money has been a great Fund-box to many aid programs.

In 2020 zakat money has helped over 3.7 million refugees in Yemen, providing;

• Food aid.
• Clean water. 
• Nutrition. 
• Healthcare. 
• Orphan and child welfare.
• In addition to survival items and livelihood. 

As the Muslim community donates their zakat money to charities and organizations or even individuals, we can keep providing essential aid to refugees in Yemen. 

Donate Zakat to help Refugees in Palestine 

Most people in Palestine live inside the territories and live as refugees in the neighboring regions, depending on international aid to survive, and most basic needs of life are out of reach.

Not to mention the severe damage in the Infrastructure due to the ongoing conflict that depleted all sources of a decent life. 

Muslims community has helped refugees in Palestine by donating zakat money over the years, which has helped charity organizations provide;

•  Food aid.
• Clean water. 
• Healthcare. 
• Orphan and child welfare.
• In addition to empowerment programs for Palestinian women-headed families. 

How is Zakat Donations Distributed

In the law of Islam, zakat donations go to the poor and needy and the rest of the eight categories mentioned earlier. Zakat should be distributed as follows;

1. Zakat should be distributed within one year of collection. The Zakat account should be cleared annually.
2. Zakat does not necessarily have to be paid in cash. Zakat can be distributed in kind as long as the value covers the Zakat liability.
3. The Zakat payment should be unconditional.
4. A service cannot be stipulated in lieu of a Zakat payment.

Zakat for Education

Education is one of the most important needs in man’s life; it’s an essential need. And Islam has considered donating zakat for education as “Sadaqah Jariyeh” due to its long-term charity effect. 

As Muslims, our duty towards families and individuals in need is to have the right to a decent life, and that can’t happen without having a basic level of education. Therefore, many charities and organizations focus their efforts on supporting the education process by providing special channels for Muslims to donate their zakat money to educational facilities and materials. 

Many Muslims choose to donate their zakat to help some individuals to continue their education. Some others donate their zakat money to help build educational facilities simply because the Muslim community has realized that only education can pull it out of its fragility. 

Today, there are many organizations and charities that are setting great programs to go on with this mission of making education available to everyone who was forced to let go of their education under severe conditions. 

FAQ