Zakat (zakaat, zakah), or almsgiving, is one of the five pillars of Islam. This means that zakat is mandatory for Muslims, along with the other four sacred pillars of prayer (salah), fasting (sawm), pilgrimage (Hajj) and belief in Allah and His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) (shahadah). For every sane, adult Muslim who owns wealth over a certain amount – known as the Nisab – he or she must pay 2.5% of that wealth as zakat.

“…and those in whose wealth there is a recognised right, for the needy and deprived” (Qur’an 70:24-5)

Eligible Muslims pay zakat once a year, and it is due as soon as one lunar (Islamic) year has passed since meeting or exceeding the nisab (certain amount of wealth). The zakat of every Muslim is then distributed to those who meet the criteria to receive it. At Islamic Relief, your zakat is distributed with the utmost care to ensure that the most vulnerable, including children, those affected by war, disease and climate disasters, have access to the help that they need.