• Once your Zakat has been used to help Muslims in need through your chosen funds, you’ll get an email update from our ZakaTracker to tell you where it went and how it helped. Read more about this service here. 
  • Remember to check your Junk/Spam folder to ensure you receive all NZF updates, and add us to your safe senders list! 

 

  • For eligible recipients of the Hardship Relief fund, we give them Zakat by sending it directly to their verified bank account. If they don’t have a bank account, they collect their Zakat from the Post Office. Some collect it from a registered referral agency.   
  • For eligible recipients applying to the other funds, we also give them Zakat directly, or (with their consent) to the local council (for council tax arrears), or to the landlord (for rent arrears), or to the relevant provider (e.g. for course fees). 

 

 

 

 

The amount of Zakat we give depends on the type of support the applicant has requested:

  • In the Hardship fund, we give between £270 and £1105 depending on family size.
  • In the Housing fund, we give up to £3,000 per grant depending on the specific Housing related need of the applicant.
  • In the Work and Education fund, we give up to £10,000 direct to the course provider to help applicants improve their employment/income situation and impact in the community.
  • See this answer for details on our eligibility checks.

 

Your Zakat helps Muslims in need in the UK by providing them with:

  • Cash support towards basic living costs like food, travel, clothing and monthly bills. 
  • Furniture 
  • Rent arrears & deposits 
  • Council tax arrears 
  • Moving and renovation costs 
  • Tools and work equipment 
  • Training course fees 
  • Learning resources 
  • Post-graduate education courses 
  • Vocational training 
  • And more! 

 

  • NZF is committed to safeguarding everyone involved in our charity, especially those who apply for Zakat.  
  • NZF’s Safeguarding Policy statement is publicly available here. 

 

 

  • As part of the application process, applicants have to provide 3 months of bank statements for all their accounts or provide us access to their accounts via an Online Banking Portal. 
  • We check bank statements provided for information which may indicate that the applicant has other accounts. These checks include:  
    • We check to see if any stated income (like benefits) are present in the bank statement provided. If they are not, we request bank statements for the account which is receiving the income.   
    • We check for any bank transfers made from the account to another account in the applicant’s name. This can indicate a savings account which has not been declared.  
  • We also request financial information about a person’s spouse so we can assess the situation of the family. Children above 18 are not included in the grant provided, however they can apply separately if they need help. 

 

  • We understand how important it is to make sure Zakat givers can trust that their Zakat is being given out to those who genuinely need it and in a way which is religiously sound.    
  • We meticulously ensure that only applicants who should be receiving it are given Zakat. We take a proportionate approach, weighing up the cost and time of checks with the value of the financial support.   
  • For applicants to all funds, we insist applicants provide proof of their identity. We check their documentation is genuine.     
  • For applicants to all funds, we check their financial situation. We insist applicants provide bank statements or provide us access to their accounts via an Online Banking Portal. Again, we check they are genuine.    
  • If there is any doubt as to whether a person qualifies for Zakat based on the information they’ve given us, our experienced Grants Officers will ask the applicant more questions before making a decision.    
  • For applicants to the Education fund, where the value of financial support we give is higher, we make extra checks. We ask for references and check that the individual is aligned with the values of the organisation and does not pose a risk to the interests of the Muslim community. 
  • We have someone in NZF dedicated to checking the quality of the eligibility checking process year round, and feeding back to make sure the team takes learnings on board. 
  • Independent scholars have checked and certified our Zakat policies and processes as religiously sound. See this page for our Certifications and Policies and you can view our Annual Reports here. 

 

 

We do not use your Zakat income to fund institutions or organisations. Our focus is on helping individual Muslims in need.  

Between 2018 and 2019, we funded organisations as part of a publicly announced strategy – Since January 2020 that is no longer the case, as our current model fits better with our givers’ concerns and priorities.

 

 

 

 

  • For their privacy, the details of specific individuals we’ve supported and how we have helped them is kept confidential. Islamic scholars and financial auditors check samples to make sure we are following processes properly.  
  • We are open about eligibility criteria and the way we distribute Zakat through each fund:
    https://nzf.org.uk/apply/work-fund/ & https://nzf.org.uk/apply/education-fund/.
  • We give examples of how we support people using anonymised real-life case studies. We communicate these through email, social media and the website.
  • You can choose which fund/s your Zakat goes towards.
  • If you have any further questions, please get in touch via [email protected]

 

  • All recipients are checked for Zakat eligibility before receiving funds. 
  • A key aim of Zakat is to uplift the Muslim community and bring about positive, lasting change.  
  • Muslim religious leaders and others in financial need often want to invest in their training and development but are held back by their financial circumstances. 
  • NZF gives Zakat givers the opportunity to support those in need looking to invest in their future. This improves their own financial situation and benefits the community. Every individual giving their Zakat through NZF can choose how much of their Zakat will go to help people in hardship, how much to people in need of housing support, and how much to those applying for financial help with work and education.
  • Scholars endorse our Zakat policy. Our approach to distributing Zakat is certified as sound by Markaz al-Iftaʾ wa’l-Qadaʾ, the Centre for Religious Rulings & Mediation. Mufti Amjad from Markaz al-Iftaʾ wa’l-Qada checks and advises on our distribution regularly. See our certifications here.  

 

 

We do help people on benefits. Sometimes, benefits are not enough for individuals and families who have been affected by a recent change in their living situation. Their situation can be made worse by external factors such as inflation in the price of food, fuel and utility bills. 

 

  • We make sure your Zakat goes out to Muslims in need in the UK within 11.5 months (a lunar year).   
  • People in need apply for Zakat throughout the year. So even though most of our donors like to give Zakat in Ramadan, we need to be able to give out Zakat funds to people in need throughout the year. This means that it might take a few months for your Zakat to be given out to people in need.
  • We’ll update you after your Zakat has been distributed. For information on how we do this, check out this page here.

 

 

You can let us know how you want your Zakat to be used by completing our Giving Form here. 

 

If you know someone who is in need of Zakat, let them know they can apply here: https://nzf.org.uk/apply-for-zakat/. They can apply to the Hardship, Housing, Work or Education Fund. If they need help, you can help them apply.

 

 

  • You can see you how many people we have been able to help in your area, thanks to the Zakat you and others have given, on this page here.  
  • You can choose how your Zakat is split across our three funds (Hardship Relief, Housing, Work and Education).   
  • Right now, we’re not able to offer you the choice to give to a specific geographical area.  
  • We’re making improvements to the way we get your Zakat to those in need all the time. 

 

 

  • The distribution service is not admin. When you give Zakat, NZF checks applications from people in need. NZF checks the applicants are genuine, using technology such as Open Banking. NZF checks they are eligible for Zakat. If eligible, NZF takes care to get them financial support as quickly and directly as possible, in the way they would like it. When a Muslim in the UK is in need, NZF’s infrastructure means NZF can support them regardless of whether they are in Plymouth, Belfast, or even Inverness! (You can have a look here!). That might mean NZF sends it to their bank account, it might mean they pick up the Zakat from their local Post Office. That’s not admin, that’s a Zakat distribution service, just for you!  
  • It’s like when we send flowers to a friend: we want a florist that does more than just find a bunch of flowers – we want the florist to choose them carefully, wrap them and send them direct to our friend’s home. We don’t think of that as admin, that’s a service that we value.   
  • NZF don’t use any Zakat to raise funds or for core costs.  
  • NZF gives you the option to contribute to your Zakat distribution service through adding an extra voluntary donation. Whether you contribute through your Zakat, or through the extra voluntary donation, both are Islamically valid ways of giving Zakat.
  • Scholars have developed NZF’s Zakat Policy. This policy has been certified as sound by Mufti Amjad Mohammed of Markaz al-Iftaʾ wa’l-Qada. You can find more information and the certificates here: https://nzf.org.uk/about-nzf/policies/.

 

 

When is my duty to pay Zakat discharged?

 

For Zakat to be validly discharged, it should reach the beneficiary or a representative of the beneficiary. NZF UK is set up in a manner to represent beneficiaries and act in the interests of the beneficiaries through an agency agreement signed by applicants. As such, when NZF receive the Zakat payment, they take receipt on behalf of the beneficiaries. Therefore, the mere receipt by NZF will result in the Zakat payer’s obligation to be discharged.

Allah knows best.

 

Approved by Mufti Amjad 6th August 2023

Q: Please help me by suggesting whether Zakat will be permissible to someone who wants to go for higher studies in a foreign land and his father’s only earning is a flat which has been rented out and they live in a relatives’ house. JazakAllah.

A: If that person has net wealth below the Nisab (approx £260) or is in debt with a net that takes him below the Nisab, he may receive Zakat funds.

And Allah knows best

 

Approved by Mufti Amjad 12th August 2023

Q: I have relatives in UK who are in debt. But at the same time they are also splashing out on holidays etc, instead of paying off their debt. Should I still give them my Zakat?

A: In theory, a person in debt can receive Zakāt if the debt was brought about in providing for the family. If you feel that someone is spending frivolously then you have the ultimate discretion of choosing where your Zakat goes and ensure you give it responsibly.

And Allah knows best 

Approved by Mufti Amjad 12th August 2023

Q: Someone is struggling to pay off her debt, can I help her with my Zakat?



A: Yes you can help her if she is eligible to receive Zakat in the first place see link.

The Hanafi school permits the payment of Zakat to any person whose liabilities exceed his Zakatable and surplus assets. Such a person is in debt. Other schools of Islamic law consider the eligibility based on the Kifayah criteria where a person would need to prove that they have entered into a financial agreement which they cannot fulfil and has indebted them, burdening them in such a way (thoroughly monthly repayments/charges) that they are unable to finance their most basic needs 

The other school of jurisprudence i.e. the Malikis, Shafi’is and Hanbalis have also added a condition; that the nature of the debt must Islamically lawful.
Hence according to them, if the debt was incurred due to a sinful reason such as gambling, then giving Zakat to such person would not be permissible unless they have repented from this sin in which case the Zakat can be given to them.

 

 

Q: Can you give Zakat to a hospital in Pakistan for the treatment of poor patients who need medical eye treatments and surgery such as cataract surgery or corneal transplants. The treatment for patients is free of charge. Some of the Zakat funds that are collected by the hospital will be used to pay the salaries of the surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and even administrators – these are legitimate costs associated with delivering the free service to the patients.

 

A: The hospital cannot collect Zakat to use it to the pay the salary of their workers directly.
The Zakat fund can only be used for a patient who is:

eligible to receive Zakat
and who has authorised the hospital to use the Zakat amount that he/she needs for their treatment.

Once the recipient has given permission to use the Zakat on their behalf, the hospital can effectively use it to cover the cost of the treatment and pay part of the salary of the doctors etc involved in the treatment of the patient. Even then there should not be an abuse of the Zakat fund when paying the salary of the doctors and other staff. If their salaries can be met by using different funds other than Zakat then this would be more preferable.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Billal Omarjee

Approved by Mufti Amjad 12th August 2023

Q: Why was Zakat given to winning hearts?

This meta-category is considered to be ‘soft power’. Soft power in political theory refers to the ability to influence and persuade without force and coercion. Influence under soft power is achieved by building networks and communicating compelling narratives. The result is Tamkin (firm establishment), influence and power. This gives rise to greater stability and self-determination. The categories subsumed by this meta-category can include: individuals helping the wider community to have more positive perceptions of Islam and Muslims; those who may pose harm to Muslims; and those new to the faith in order to deepen their sense of belonging and commitment. In the context of Muslim-minority communities, this meta-category presents primarily as constructive social and political engagement with the aim of achieving a more conducive environment for Muslims to practise their faith. NZF does not give Zakat to this category.
 
And Allah knows best

Approved by Mufti Amjad 13th August 2023

Q: When giving Zakat to a debtor, does it have to be given to him in their hand or can be paid to the creditor directly?



A: It is not necessary to give the Zakat in his hand. Zakat can be given to the creditor on behalf of the debtor with the latter’s acknowledgement.

And Allah knows best!

Reviewed on 23/11/2021

If a person missed a Zakat payment despite having the ability to pay their Zakat, such a person will be considered sinful.

Once a command of Allah applies to a person, to delay without any genuine justification is regarded as a sin.

Imam Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Our scholars (the Shafi’I scholars) agree that when Zakat becomes binding upon an individual who has ability to pay, he must give immediately. Delaying the payment of Zakat will make him sinful. This is also the view of Imam Malik, Imam Ahmad and the majority of scholars. Our evidence is the words of Allah, may He be exalted:
“And give Zakat” (Qur’an 2:43). This command implies that is to be paid immediately. (al-Majmu’ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab 5/335)

And Allah knows best!

Is it permissible to call the Zakat money a gift?



It is permissible to tell the Zakat recipient that the payment is a gift.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Q: Is it necessary to tell the person you are giving Zakat to that it is Zakat?


A: It is not necessary to tell the Zakat recipient that the wealth is Zakat. It is permissible to call the payment a gift.

And Allah knows best!

Reviewed on 01/11/2021

Is it necessary to own Zakatable assets above the Nisab threshold for the entire year?


According to the Hanafi school, it is not necessary to own Zakatable assets above the Nisab for the entire lunar year. Zakat will be payable as long as one owns wealth equalling the Nisab on the Zakat anniversary. Fluctuations of wealth during the year will be overlooked, unless any fluctuations reduce a person to zero in terms of net wealth or below zero and in debt.

However, the Shafi’i and Hanbali school condition that Zakat is only payable if one owns wealth equal to the Nisab or more for the entire year. Therefore, if one’s net wealth dips below the Nisab in the year, Zakat will not be due anymore for that year.

And Allah knows best!

Reviewed on 25/11/2021

Q: How can I determine the type of pension I have?


A: To determine the type of your pension, you may:
Check your pension statements
Call your pension provider
If it is a workplace pension, consult the HR department

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Q: Have scholars ever divided the categories of Zakat into themes?

A: Classical scholars have divided the meta-categories for different reasons. For example, Ibn al-Munayyir (d.733 AH) categorised the categories into two based on the conjunction Lam and Fi. Ibn Qudamah (620 AH) divided the meta-categories of Zakat into two based on Zakat distribution being revocable or not. Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728 AH) divided the meta-categories into two in relation to why Zakat was being distributed: for the individual needs or for the needs of the Muslim community as a whole .

Q: I send my Zakat abroad to my relatives who are poor. But some of them are young, healthy and able to work, yet they do not seem to make any effort to find a job. In fact, it feels as if they chose not to work because they know they will always receive Zakat from us. Is it permissible to give them Zakat in this situation?

A: Yes, it is permissible for you to give them Zakat in this situation. This is the opinion of the Hanafi and the Maliki schools of jurisprudence. However, you do not have to give them your Zakat if you choose not to.

On the other hand, based on what you have mentioned, it would not be permissible to give such people Zakat according to the Shafi’s and Hanbalis. A healthy person who can find a decent job but chooses not to, will not be eligible to receive Zakat.
The scholars of these schools have however made some exceptions:
– if the person has gone to seek Islamic knowledge and cannot find the time to work
– the person wants to work but cannot find a job that is
a) lawful (halal)
b) that befits his status and dignity (e.g. a scholar cannot be expected to work as a cleaner)

And Allah knows best!

Reviewed on: 25/11/2021

Q: I wanted to know if i can give my Zakat in the form of ready-made clothes instead of giving cash?



A: Zakat can be given in the form of ready-made clothes. You just need to ensure that the monetary value of the clothes covers your Zakat liability.

And Allah knows best!

Reviewed on 09/11/2021

Can I buy a fridge with my Zakat money to give it to a poor person eligible to receive Zakat?

 

Yes you can do that for as long as that fridge is a necessity for the eligible recipient. Assurance should be obtained that the recipient is not already in possession of an existing fridge in perfect working condition

Q: Can you give a step-by-step guide on how to calculate Zakat on shares?

 

A: STEP 1: Get hold of the balance sheet

If shares are bought as an investment to attain dividends, the shareholder needs to view the balance sheet of the company. This can be acquired by searching online by simply typing in the company name followed by balance sheet e.g. “XYZ Balance Sheet”.

STEP 2: Identify Zakatable assets on Balance Sheet and add up their values

The following are typical Zakatable assets on a balance sheet:
• Trade and other receivables
• Inventories
• Derivative financial instruments
• Investments
• Cash and cash equivalents

The following are typical non-Zakatable assets:
• Intangible assets
• Property, plant and equipment

Add up the value of all Zakatable assets on the balance sheet.

STEP 3: Subtract deductible liabilities from the Balance Sheet

The following are typical deductible liabilities on a Balance Sheet:
• Current loans and other borrowings
• Trade and other payables
• Current tax liabilities

STEP 4: Find out the market cap (the worth) of the company

Find the market cap of the company you have shares in by simply making a search online of ‘Market Cap XYZ’. This should show up on the search:

STEP 5: Calculate the percentage of Zakatable assets in the company

Divide the net Zakatable assets by the market value of the company and multiply by 100. This will give you a percentage.

STEP 6: Calculate the equivalent amount in pounds of the percentage acquired from step 5

Apply the percentage calculated from step 5 to your shares. You will get a value in pounds.

Step 7: Pay Zakat on shares by paying 2.5% of the value from step 6 or add it to the rest of your calculation

Pay 2.5% Zakat of the Zakatable assets amount in pounds.

And Allah knows best!

Reviewed on 29/11/2021

Can my Zakat be paid to one person?

A: Zakat can be paid all to one eligible person. However, it is discouraged to give such a person more than that is required to the extent he becomes wealthy. Wealthy, meaning that the person’s total net assets reached or exceeded Nisaab which will make him liable to pay Zakat and not receive it.

And Allah knows best!

Last updated on 19/04/2022

If the purpose of Zakat is solely to help the poor and needy, then it makes sense to give Zakat abroad due to the extent of poverty abroad. However, all acts of worship, including Zakat, are to bring us closer to God – as individuals and a community. We can only achieve this communal purpose of Zakat if it is: primarily distributed locally and holistically, to individuals in hardship, for Muslim community development and for advocacy for Islam and Muslims.

Many scholars recommend that Zakat should be given locally. This is based in part on the instruction that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave to his companion, Mu’adh, who was sent to spread the message of Islam in Yemen, “O Mu’adh! Inform them that Allah makes Zakat obligatory for them. (It is) to be taken from their rich and given to their poor.” [Bukhari]

NZF recommends you give Sadaqah to support causes in any other country, or any cause in this country which does not fall under the categories of Zakat mentioned in the Qur’an.

Can I split my Zakat, so it benefits a number of different people?

A: It is permissible to split one’s Zakat payment to a number of people.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Can I pay Zakat in other forms other than cash?

A: Zakat can be paid in kind according to the Hanafi school, whilst other schools either reject this entirely or allow it in some circumstances and not others or allow it with a degree of reprehensibility .

If a person pays Zakat in kind, he must ensure he valuates the assets correctly to cover his Zakat liability. Thus, a person may pay Zakat by giving their belongings such as a laptop, mobile phone etc., however, one must accurately determine the current market value of the item to ensure the Zakat liability is covered.

And Allah knows best!

Reviewed on 23/11/2021

Can I pay Zakat before my Zakat anniversary?

A: Zakat can be paid before one’s Zakat anniversary in advance .

The wisdom behind this is to encourage people to increase in worship and capitalise on blessed times like Ramaḍan or the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

Once, al-Abbas came to the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) and asked if he could pay Zakat in advance. The Prophet permitted him making an advance payment. (Sunan al-Tirmiẓi)

The scholars agree that one must have a Zakat anniversary and a yearly cycle in order to pay in advance. Whilst the Shafi’i school permit only one year’s payment in advance, the Hanafi school does not limit the years for which one can pay in advance.

However, if a person does pay Zakat in advance, it is necessary to recalculate Zakat on the actual Zakat anniversary to ensure the advance payment offsets the actual Zakat liability one had.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

If a person genuinely does not have the financial capacity to pay off the entire missed Zakat balance immediately, it will be permissible to pay off the outstanding missed Zakat balance in instalments.

Reviewed on 30/11/2021

It is permissible to give Zakat to one’s needy uncle.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Q: Can I give Zakat to my step children?

A: According to the Hanafi school, Zakat can be given to one’s step children.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Q: Can I give Zakat to my parents?

A: The Hanafi and Hanbali schools prohibit giving Zakat to one’s parents or children as the Zakat payer will be indirectly benefit from his Zakat. Thus, it is akin to using Zakat for oneself .

The Maliki and Shafi’i scholars prohibit giving Zakat to all those people whom the Zakat payer is obliged to maintain financially. This includes parents and children.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Q: Can I give Zakat to my nephew?

A: It is permissible to give Zakat to one’s needy nephew.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Q: Can I give Zakat to my neice?
****

A: It is permissible to give Zakat to one’s needy neice

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Q: Can I give Zakat to my mother?

A: The Hanafi and Hanbali schools prohibit giving Zakat to one’s mother. The Maliki and Shafi’i scholars prohibit giving Zakat to all those people whom the Zakat payer is obliged to maintain financially. This includes one’s mother.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Q: Can I give Zakat to my grand parents?

It is not permissible to give one’s Zakat to one’s grandparents. They should be assisted and looked after through other payments.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Q: Can I give Zakat to my grand children?

A: According to the Hanafi school, Zakat cannot be given to one’s grandchildren.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Q: Can I give Zakat to my father?

A: The Hanafi and Hanbali schools prohibit giving Zakat to one’s father. The Maliki and Shafi’i scholars prohibit giving Zakat to all those people whom the Zakat payer is obliged to maintain financially. This includes one’s father.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Q: Can I give Zakat to my children?

A: The Hanafi and Hanbali schools prohibit giving Zakat to one’s parents or children as the Zakat payer will be indirectly benefit from his Zakat. Thus, it is akin to using Zakat for oneself.

The Maliki and Shafi’i scholars prohibit giving Zakat to all those people whom the Zakat payer is obliged to maintain financially. This includes parents and children

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

It is permissible to give Zakat to one’s needy aunt.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

Q: Can I give my Zakat to my wife?

A: Ibn Qudamah says there is a consensus among scholars that a husband cannot give Zakat to his wife. The Hanafi and Hanbali school maintain that the Zakat payer will indirectly benefit from his Zakat.

The Maliki and Shafi’i school state that a husband cannot give Zakat to his wife as he must financially maintain her with other funds.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

It is permissible to give Zakat to one’s needy step-brother who qualifies for Zakat.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

It is permissible to give Zakat to one’s needy step-sister who qualifies for Zakat.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

It is permissible to give Zakat to a Muslim neighbour who is eligible for Zakat.

Q: Can I give my Zakat to my husband
****

A: There is a difference of opinion among the scholars with respect to the wife giving Zakat to her needy husband. The Hanafi school is of the opinion it is not permitted whilst the Shafi’i school permit it.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

It is permissible to give Zakat to one’s needy brother who qualifies for Zakat.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

It is permissible to give Zakat to one’s friend who is eligible to receive Zakat.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

It is permissible to give Zakat to one’s needy colleague at work.

And Allah knows best! 

Reviewed on 23/11/2021 

No, you do not need to pay Zakat on your cab as this is not considered a business asset from a shariah perspective.

Reviewed on 30/11/2021

No, a parent can’t give Zakat to their child to stop them from student loan. What you can do is instead give Zakat to your nephew or neice for their student loan and ask other family members to assist pay the tuition fees of your son/daughter with Zakat funds.

And Allah knows best!

Mufti Faraz Adam

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