The Fatwa Council of Tareem | Yemen

The Fatwa Council of Tareem is located in Hadramaut, Yemen. Hadramaut has been a major centre for scholarship for over a millennium and has produced many of the world’s leading Shafi’i scholars. The fatwa starts by reasserting that Zakat funds must be distributed to the categories mentioned in the verse 60 of Surah 9 in the Quran: {Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [Zakat] and for bringing hearts together

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Dar al-Ifta al-Missriyyah | Egypt

Dar al-Ifta al-Missriyyah is one of Egypt’s centers for Islamic legal research. It was established in 1895 and is considered one of the earliest modern fatwa producing institutes. Dar al-Ifta al Missriyyah is among the pillars of the religious foundations in Egypt, which include Al-Azhar Mosque, Al-Azhar University, Ministry of Religious Endowments, and Dar al-Ifta al-Missriyyah. It plays a significant role in giving rulings to the masses and in consultation to the judiciary in Egypt. The fatwa starts by stating

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Senior Scholars’ Council | Morocco

The Council of Senior Scholars of Morocco is the highest official religious authority in Morocco, and includes a fatwa council. It follows the Maliki School. The fatwa starts by reasserting the importance of Zakat as one of the five pillars of Islam. It then explains that Muslims must give Zakat on their own to legitimate beneficiaries from their countries, who are the categories mentioned in the Quran, Surah 9, verse 60. But it is also allowed to transfer some or

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The Power of 2.5%

Philanthropy has evolved over the past century and driven some of the most profound social impact success stories. At UNHCR, we develop partnerships with aspirations of achieving audacious results and successes. Our Refugee Zakat Fund is an innovative initiative that hopes to bring a catalytic and systemic change in the way we approach and perceive ‘giving’ in general, as well as, the way we look at support for refugees – dignified support. Of course, we cannot aspire alone. It takes

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What are refugees praying for during Ramadan?

Last Ramadan, UNHCR field staff in Lebanon and Jordan asked Syrian refugee families about how they are spending Ramadan – and we discovered something beautiful. Despite living in severe need, refugee families are praying for others every single day during Ramadan and beyond. Please watch this heartwarming video that we made out of the prayers that were caught on camera… “I pray for all mankind, may god enrich our hearts with kindness towards each other, and put mercy in the

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IMAGINE RAMADAN WITHOUT GIVING!

As we make our way through the Holy month of Ramadan this year, millions of people are observing this blessed month in hardship: After fleeing war or violence and now under the exceptional circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Refugees and other displaced people are among the most vulnerable members of our societies and are particularly at risk during this pandemic. The majority of the world’s refugees live in countries with weak water, sanitation and health systems, and often rely

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Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayya | UAE

Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayya is a renowned scholar from Mauritania. Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayya is the Chairman of the UAE’s Fatwa Council, and an instructor at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. He served in the past as a judge at the High Court of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and was the Head of Shari’ah Affairs at its Ministry of Justice. He currently serves as the President of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, based in Abu Dhabi.

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Dr Sheikh Ali Gomaa | Egypt

Dr. Sheikh Ali Gomaa is the former Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt and professor of Islamic jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University. He is currently a member of Al-Azhar’s Council of Senior Scholars[1]. As his fatwa is concise, we decided to put the full text as follows: “We would like to let you know that it is allowed in the Shari’ah to have non-Muslims distribute Zakat provided that they are not considered as those employed to collect Zakat who

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