Historic milestone for the UK Muslim Community
The National Zakat Foundation is pleased to announce that it has distributed a record £1 million of Zakat funds to the neediest members of the Muslim community in the UK. The figure represents a significant achievement for the young charity which was set up just two and a half years ago.
Since its inception, the National Zakat Foundation has helped transform the lives of over 1000 vulnerable families and individuals facing poverty and hardship, with over three quarters of cases relating to homelessness, hunger and destitution.
Ahmed Uddin, Head of Zakat Distribution at the National Zakat Foundation said:
“Distributing Zakat to those most in need in the UK is at the heart of what we do and the very reason the National Zakat Foundation came in to existence. Never before has this scale of help been available to the poor and destitute in our communities and we are both excited and humbled by this accomplishment. We would like to dedicate this achievement to all those who have supported our work and look forward to serving more beneficiaries in 2014.”
Taslima Khan, National Zakat Foundation beneficiary said:
“I will never forget how National Zakat Foundation helped me to get back on to my feet after suffering many hardships and tests in my life. I pray for everyone who helped me and hope to donate to NZF next year.”
The charity is aiming to distribute its next £1 million of Zakat by the end of 2014 and is also planning to launch a number of key projects including a specialist shelter for homeless women in Manchester (its third in the UK) and a supported housing project for ex-offenders.
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Notes to Editors
The National Zakat Foundation (NZF) is a ground-breaking initiative which utilises Zakat funds and voluntary donations collected in the United Kingdom for the benefit of local, deserving recipients. This group includes some of the most vulnerable members of our community, including the homeless, refugees, single parents and the elderly. NZF is the only charity in the UK providing an end-to-end Zakat service for the UK Muslim community.
Zakat is a compulsory act of worship that requires Muslims who own wealth at or over a certain threshold (called the Nisab) to donate a portion of their qualifying wealth, typically 2.5%, to eligible recipients. It is a right the poor have over the rich.
Name of beneficiary has been changed to protect identities.
