Zakat and sadaqah for emergency relief: a simple guide

For many Muslims, giving to people in crisis is part of faith. Two kinds of giving are most common: zakat, the obligatory annual charity, and sadaqah, voluntary charity given at any time. This guide explains the basics and what to check when giving to emergency relief. It is not a fatwa; for personal questions, please ask a scholar you trust.

Sadaqah: give any time, to anyone in need

Sadaqah is voluntary, has no minimum and no fixed recipients. You can give it to any good cause, including emergency appeals for food, shelter, water or medical care, and to people of any faith. Most charities accept it on their normal donation page.

Zakat: an obligation with specific recipients

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims whose wealth is above a threshold (the nisab) for a full lunar year give 2.5% of it. The Qur’an (9:60) names eight categories of people who may receive zakat, including the poor, the needy, those in debt and travellers in need.

Many people affected by war and displacement fall within these categories, which is why several humanitarian charities run dedicated zakat funds.

What to check before giving zakat

• Does the charity have a zakat policy? Look for a clear statement of how zakat is kept separate from other donations and spent only on eligible recipients.
• Is the fund for a specific crisis? Some charities let you direct zakat to a particular emergency.
• Ask about administrative costs. Charities differ in whether they take any zakat for running costs; a good zakat policy explains this.
• When in doubt, ask. Scholars differ on some details. A trusted imam or scholar can advise on your situation.

Charities that state they accept zakat

On Nidaa, charities that state they accept zakat are marked “Accepts zakat”:

• UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund directs zakat to refugees and displaced families, and publishes reports on how funds are used.
• Islamic Relief Worldwide runs zakat-compliant appeals across many of the crises we cover.

You can filter for them on our donate page.

Give early, give wisely

Many Muslims give zakat in Ramadan, but emergencies do not wait. You may choose to pay zakat early when people are in urgent need; again, a scholar can advise. Whatever you give, giving through an established organisation already working on the ground means it reaches people quickly and safely.

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed which grows seven ears; in each ear is a hundred grains.” (Qur’an 2:261)

Sources

• UNHCR Refugee Zakat Fund
• Islamic Relief Worldwide