Islamic giving

Zakat is an Islamic act of worship made in the form of a charitable donation. By donating your Zakat to SOS Children, you can help give vulnerable children a loving mother and a family home. Here, you can find out about Zakat and other forms of Islamic giving with SOS Children.

Please click the button below if you would like to make a Zakat donation now, or scroll down to read more.

Make a Zakat donation

On this page

• What is Zakat?
• Who is liable for Zakat?
• When to pay Zakat
• The spirit of Zakat
• Who should Zakat be paid to?
• What are the benefits of Zakat?
• Making a Zakat donation to SOS Children
• Sadaqa or voluntary giving

What is Zakat?

Zakat (Arabic for “that which purifies”) is an act of worship in the Muslim faith which is enacted through charitable giving. It is:

• the third pillar of Islam
• an obligatory act of worship (not a tax) based on the Quran and Sunnah
• required of every Muslim man or woman, at a rate of 2.5% of their lawfully acquired wealth exceeding the minimum amount (“nisab”) for basic needs
• applicable on Zakatable wealth that has been in the giver's possession during the current lunar year.

Who is liable for Zakat?

Most scholars of Islamic law agree that all Muslims must pay Zakat, provided that:

• their wealth is acquired by lawful means
• they are “mature” (i.e. have reached the age of puberty)
• their mental health is sufficient to enable clear intention (clear intention is a prerequisite of Zakat)
• they have sufficient wealth to meet their basic needs (i.e. above the level of nisab).

When to pay Zakat

• Zakat can be paid any time during the Islamic lunar year
• Many Muslims choose to pay it during Ramadan
• When someone dies, Zakat should be paid from their estate before the distribution of the remainder of their estate
• According to Hadith, Zakat should be paid as soon as it becomes due because the poor become the rightful owners in the sight of God.

The spirit of Zakat

The payment of Zakat is a religious act. This means that giving should be preceded by a clear intention to give, and should be carried out with a spirit of kindness and well wishing. The giver should not expect any benefit, and neither the giver nor the recipient should be reminded of it afterwards. Zakat should not be used to generate profit.

The Quran has the following to say on this subject:

“O ye who believe! Cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like those who spend their substance to be seen of men, but believe neither in Allah or in the Last Day. They are in Parable like a hard barren rock on which is a little soil; on it falls heavy rain which leaves it a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing aught with what they have earned.” Al-Baqara 2:264

Who should Zakat be paid to?

The Quran (9:60) specifies eight categories of people to whom Zakat may be donated. These are:

• Destitute people (“miskeen”) who are those who do not have enough money to meet their basic needs

• Zakat collectors (“amilna alayha”) who collect and distribute Zakat
• Muslim converts (“mu'allafatu'l qulub”) who may be estranged from their families and are in need of help
• Emancipating slaves (“fi'r riqab”) who in current times include trafficked children, those in bonded labour, those involved in child labour, child soldiers, migrant workers whose passports have been confiscated, and those exploited through threat of force
• Debtors (“al gharimin”) who are overwhelmed by debt
• Those promoting the cause of Islam (“fi sabillah”), including those involved in establishing Islamic centres or writing lectures, and others devoted to supporting Islam's value system
• Travellers (“Ibnus sabil”) who are stranded while travelling and who need money, such as refugees.

Specifically, Zakat may not be paid to the rich, those capable of work but unwilling to undertaking it, relatives of the giver, or those belonging to the family of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

What are the benefits of paying Zakat?

For Muslims, the benefits of Zakat are numerous. Formal practices such as Zakat are intended to aid the personal and spiritual growth of each believer. Combined with faith, these actions are rituals which provide a means of purification, and help Muslims control the “nafs” or soul.

Specifcally, Zakat is thought to reaffirm faith and express commitment and trust in God, bringing blessings on the giver and helping them wipe out their sins. It also helps givers develop a sense of justice and selflessness, as well as mercy and compassion for those less fortunate than themselves. At the same time, it fosters a society which supports those in poverty and in which poor people can find a way out of destitution.

Making a Zakat donation to SOS Children

By making your Zakat contribution to SOS Children, you can be sure your donation will help give some of the world's neediest children a loving family home. In accordance with the spirit of Zakat, we will store your donation in a non-interest bearing bank account until it is spent.

Make a Zakat donation now

Alternatively, decide where you want to give your Zakat donation by seeing where you can help Muslim families.

Sadaqa or voluntary giving

Zakat is an obligation and is seen as the right of the poor. Additional, voluntary charity is called “Sadaqa”. Sadaqa comes from an Arabic word meaning “truth” and “honesty”, whereas Zakat means to “grow” or “purify”.

Sadaqa ia entirely optional, ranging from a smile to the establishment of a permanent asset such as a well or school. It may be given at any time and in any amount. Muslims are encouraged to give to charity at all times according to their means.

Sadaqa Jariya is a special form of Sadaqa which provides a continuous service, and as a consequence brings continuous rewards for the contributor even long after he or she has passed away. It includes digging a well, building an orphanage, mosque or school or distributing knowledge.

To perform meaningful and longlasting Sadaqa, you might consider sponsoring a child with SOS Children. By doing so, you will help an orphaned or abandoned child grow up in the care of a loving mother, surrounded by their SOS brothers and sisters in a loving family home.You can choose from most of the 125 countries where we work, many of which have a substantial Muslim population. Find out more.

We are grateful to trustee Ayesha Khan for help with this section of our website.