Zakat FAQs
The Islamic Philanthropy Fund is the Islamic Philanthropy initiative of IOM, UN Migration. It was conceived in 2020 through a rigorous study conducted by Iktisad (formerly Iktisat), an Islamic advisory body composed of Islamic scholars from around the world. The findings of the study concluded that IOM is eligible to serve as a Zakat administrator, alongside other kinds of Muslim Alms.
Since then, IOM embarked on aligning its internal Islamic Philanthropy Fund processes and procedures to be 100% Zakat compliant, which has been approved and authorized at the highest level of the organization.
The Islamic Philanthropy Fund launched in 2025 as an initiative aligned with Shariah principles dedicated to mobilizing and distributing Zakat and Sadaqah to support vulnerable migrant and displaced populations worldwide.
Zakat, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is the obligatory almsgiving that requires Muslims, who meet a certain financial threshold (known as nisab), to give a portion of their wealth to people in need. The objectives of Zakat are to purify wealth, alleviate poverty, and promote social justice within communities.
Zakat collection and distribution must follow strict adherence to Islamic law.
Sadaqah is a form of voluntary charity in Islam that goes beyond the obligatory almsgiving of Zakat. It encompasses any act of giving intended to help those in need, regardless of the amount or frequency. Sadaqah can be in the form of money, goods, and services.
The Islamic Philanthropy Fund includes the collection and distribution of both Zakat and Sadaqah.
No. Your Zakat, without any deduction, will be delivered to eligible families in need. In 2025, 100% of Zakat funds raised will go to aid the Sudan Emergency Response.
The Islamic Philanthropy Fund aims to save lives and deliver humanitarian assistance to eligible beneficiaries by transforming Zakat and Sadaqah funds into lifesaving support for vulnerable migrants, refugees, displaced persons and victims of trafficking, as defined by Surah At-Tawbah (9:60).
- Integrity: Upholding ethical and transparent practices.
- Compliance: Ensuring processes are aligned with Shariah principles.
- Impact: Prioritizing sustainable, life-changing results.
- Trust: Partnering with globally respected Islamic scholars and institutions.
- Accountability: Providing transparent, regular reporting to donors and partners.
There are eight categories of eligible recipients mentioned in the Holy Quran for Zakat: "Alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them [Zakat], those whose hearts are to be reconciled, captives, debtors, in the cause of Allah, and wayfarers..." Surah At-Tawbah (9:60).
Millions of people who fall under IOM's mandate are eligible for Zakat, typically meeting at least four of these categories:
- The poor and needy.
- Refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
- Victims of trafficking.
- Migrants and stranded travelers.
Yes, the Islamic Philanthropy Fund is aligned with Shariah principles:
- A Fatwa was issued in 2020 affirming IOM’s role as a qualified administrator of Zakat and Sadaqah.
- Islamic scholars validated IOM’s Islamic Philanthropy Fund Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to align with Islamic law.
- An Islamic Philanthropy Fund Advisory Body provides ongoing guidance to ensure compliance.
IOM, UN Migration, is mandated to protect some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Migrant communities, including refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), impoverished labour migrants, and victims of trafficking, are eligible beneficiaries of Zakat.
IOM has access to support these vulnerable groups across the globe and provide immediate lifesaving humanitarian aid.
IOM is a credible Zakat agent backed by Fatwa from leading Islamic scholars and has approved Standard Operating Procedures certified by Iktisad, a religious advisory body. IOM’s internal systems ensure the efficient, transparent, and compliant administration of Zakat.
In 2025, the Islamic Philanthropy Fund will launch a pilot programme dedicating 100% of Zakat funds raised to aid the Sudan Emergency Response. Eligible families will receive your Zakat as a Cash-based Intervention, helping them to afford food, water, shelter, and medical care in Ramadan and beyond.
In 2025, Sadaqah donations will help displaced families who have escaped conflict or disaster in Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen. Sadaqah contributions will provide immediate lifesaving support such as shelter, food, water and medical care, as well as longer term aid that aims to help families rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.
IOM provides multiple digital payment options Via its online platform. For any further questions around payment options, you can contact IPF@iom.int.
At this stage, only donations made through the USA for IOM website are tax deductible.
IOM utilizes a trusted Zakat calculator, which is included here to support your Zakat calculation.
The Islamic Philanthropy Fund aims to operate globally, focusing on Muslim-majority countries and regions most in need. Its current pilot project prioritizes IOM’S Sudan Emergency Response. Other projects are forthcoming.
IOM will report annually on the Islamic Philanthropy Fund starting from 2025. All reports will be found here from July 2025.
IOM has a rigorous selection and approval process to ensure that existing and new projects proposed for Zakat distribution align with its eligibility requirements. All projects selected are 100% aligned with Shariah principles regarding Zakat. These projects are humanitarian and focused primarily on cash-based interventions in emergency contexts, including the Islamic Philanthropy Fund’s pilot programme in Sudan.
Zakat is allocated based on vulnerability assessments conducted in each of IOM’s Country Offices. All Country Offices follow IOM’s standard operating aligned with Shariah principles regarding Zakat. To ensure the highest regard for Zakat projects at IOM, these are reviewed, approved, and signed off at the highest level and discussed with the Islamic Philanthropy Fund Advisory Body.
To ensure that funds go directly into the hands of its targeted beneficiaries, Zakat funds are distributed through cash-based interventions. IOM’s Cash-Based Initiatives Unit has rigorous processes in place to ensure the open and transparent distribution of cash assistance to vulnerable families.
Many aid organizations, including IOM, increasingly use cash-based interventions in emergency situations to empower affected populations and support local markets. By offering cash assistance to people in crisis, we give families the freedom to choose goods and services that best suit their needs, respecting their autonomy and dignity.
Cash-based interventions are fast, effective, and environmentally friendly. There are no overhead costs for cash-based assistance.
The Islamic Philanthropy Fund primarily distributes funds through cash-based interventions (CBI), which ensure swift and direct aid delivery to eligible beneficiaries. Cash based interventions are distributed in the most efficient way possible to each family in need, whether via bank, mobile or cash transfer. The cash approach is preferred as it upholds the principles of empowerment and dignity and has a direct impact on a family’s ability to meet their essential needs.
Through years of experience and open discussions with Islamic advisory groups, staff, and beneficiaries, we have data-led findings that show how vulnerable communities spend their cash on essentials – food, water, shelter, medicine, and other critical needs.
The Islamic Philanthropy Fund will issue annual reports on Zakat distributions and their impact.
The majority of families spend the money received on food, water, shelter, medicine, and other essential items including heating, school lunch and bus fees, and hygiene products, among others.
In 2025, all Zakat funds raised will go to aiding the Sudan Emergency Response. IOM is looking forward to scaling up its Zakat initiatives in other countries in the forthcoming years.
Yes, you can choose where you dedicate your Sadaqah. In 2025, you can choose to provide lifesaving support to displaced families whether in Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen. You can also choose to give Sadaqah where it’s most needed, allowing IOM to allocate funding according to the most urgent needs on the ground.
Your Zakat is managed with the utmost care and accountability. Key measures include:
- Alignment with Shariah principles verified by Fatwa and an Advisory Body of Islamic scholars.
- Regular impact reporting on fund allocation and beneficiary outcomes.
- Allocation to only eligible beneficiaries, as outlined in the Holy Quran.
Yes, the Islamic Philanthropy Fund collaborates with respected Islamic institutions. These partnerships ensure the credibility and Shariah alignment of all processes.
The Islamic Philanthropy Fund is overseen by the Islamic Philanthropy Unit (IPU) under IOM’s the Office of Partnerships Advocacy and Communications - Private Sector Partnerships Division. The IPU coordinates at the global level with regional offices and country offices, to ensure proper fund management.
Iktisad (formerly Iktisat) led a study to assess IOM’s eligibility as a Zakat administrator. Religious opinions in the form of fatwa (pl. fatawa, religious legal verdicts) were received from selected leading scholars at Iktisad. These opinions were prepared after obtaining perspectives from several respected Islamic scholars covering different regions and after a review of primary and secondary sources of Islamic law:
- Opinions were gathered from four world renowned scholars, namely:
- Sheikh Dr. Abdulsattar Abu Ghuddah (Syrian Arab Republic)
- Prof. Dr. Mohammed Akram Laldin (Malaysia)
- Dr. Abdulrazzaq Alaro (Nigeria)
- Prof. Dr. Abdulaziz Bayindir (Turkiye)
- Fatwa issued by the Iktisad
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