Renewed Trust in the Refugee Zakat Fund
  • In a meeting recently held in Jeddah, the OIC's International Islamic Fiqh Academy, Al Azhar Islamic Research Academy and the Muslim World League's Islamic Fiqh Council each renewed their trust in the Refugee Zakat Fund and ratified a new review mechanism that ensures compliance with Zakat conditions.
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Dedicate Your Zakat

Refugees and IDPs Need Your Zakat
Trusted Zakat Distributor
0% Deduction
  • Zakat and Sadaqah donations made to The Refugee Zakat Fund enables UNHCR to deliver life-saving assistance to refugee and internally displaced families from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Myanmar (Rohingyas), Afghanistan, and Somalia. Refugees and IDPs are eligible to receive Zakat as they fall under 4 of the 8 Zakat categories.
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100% Zakat Distribution Policy
  • UNHCR is unique in pledging that 100% of Zakat funds go directly to the most vulnerable refugees, including in hard-to-reach areas. Through the Refugee Zakat Fund, your support is felt immediately by those most in need.
arrow white About the Refugee Zakat Fund
"Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to increase."

[Al Tawba:103]

Your Zakat is lifesaving for thousands of refugee families facing another harsh winter.

Zakat Funds

This year, winter comes to tighten the hardship of refugees in the region who are already living in extreme conditions. Many families will require UNHCR’s humanitarian assistance to survive the cold months ahead. Every $345 of Zakat funds received will allow 1 vulnerable family to cover their immediate needs for the entire winter. Through providing urgent cash assistance for families to afford their heating costs, warm food and clothes for their children, and medicine if needed, you can help a vulnerable family in need to stay safe and warm all winter long.

Most refugees and IDPs are deserving of your Zakat, as they live in extremely difficult circumstances, having lost almost everything, except their faith in a better tomorrow.

You can calculate your Zakat here and dedicate it to eligible families who have fled devastating crises. 100% of your Zakat is guaranteed to reach those in need as lifesaving cash or goods.

100% Zakat Distribution Policy
If you wish to donate through PayPal please make sure to select one of these currencies: USD, EUR, AUD, GBP
Your privacy
By submitting this form, you acknowledge you are aware that your personal data will be used in line with our Privacy Policy. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at care@unhcr.org
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Step 1

Please use the following bank account details: Kindly note the different IBAN for each currency.

UNHCR Non-Interest Bearing Fundraising Accounts:

In the transfer description field, please use “Zakat MENA” followed by the destination country of your Zakat (Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt , India, Jordan, Yemen, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Nigeria or Mauritania)

Step 2

Please notify us at care@unhcr.org when the bank transfer is done. Please make sure to include your name, the amount of your donation, contact info and country of residence. This will help us track your donation and update the counter of the families supported.

Please include your contact details (Email and phone number) when proceeding with the transfer so we can confirm receiving your gift and communicate with you properly

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6112
Refugee and IDP Families
Reached in 2022
17494
People Donated Their
Zakat in 2022

UNHCR's Refugee Zakat Fund is a trusted, compliant and effective distributor.

UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund is subject to rigorous governance and oversight, ensuring transparency at every step of Zakat collection and distribution.

Before establishing the Refugee Zakat Fund, UNHCR consulted several leading Islamic scholars and fatwa institutions across the Muslim world. To date, 16 fatwas have been received from more than 10 Islamic institutions globally.

Dedicate Your Zakat
The Supreme Council of Imams and Islamic Affairs of Brazil | Brazil
Fatwa
The Supreme Council of Imams and Islamic Affairs of Brazil | Brazil

The Supreme Council of Imams and Islamic Affairs of Brazil was established in Brazil in 2005. It aims to establish…

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The Tri-State Imams Council
Fatwa
The Tri-State Imams Council

The Tri-State Imams Council is a non-for-profit organisation, established in the state of New Jersey in 2011. It aims to…

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Al Azhar Islamic Research Academy
Zakat Al Fitr Fatwa
Al Azhar Islamic Research Academy

Following several requests from donors interested to devote their Zakat el Fitr to refugees and IDPs, UNHCR reached out in…

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Canadian Council of Imams
Fatwa
Canadian Council of Imams

Established in 1990, the Canadian Council of Imams gathers imams from around the country to serve the Muslim community in…

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ISRA
Fatwa
ISRA

International Shariah Research Academy (ISRA) was established in 2008 by the Central Bank of Malaysia as an Islamic finance and…

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Tabah Foundation
Fatwa
Tabah Foundation

Based upon our previous report and taking into consideration new fatwas from Dr Sheikh Ali Gomaa and The Fatwa Council…

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Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD)
Fatwa
Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD)

Dr. Ahmed Al Haddad has served as the Grand Mufti of Dubai since 2011. He holds a PhD in Shari’a…

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Fiqh Majlis of Canada
Fatwa
Fiqh Majlis of Canada

The Fiqh Majlis of Canada is an independent non-profit organization working with Muslim Scholars of Fiqh to act as a…

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Al-Azhar Islamic Research Academy
Fatwa
Al-Azhar Islamic Research Academy

The university-mosque of Al-Azhar, situated in Cairo, Egypt, is the foremost center of religious learning in the Muslim world and…

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Muslim World League
Fatwa
Muslim World League

The Muslim World League (based in the Holy City of Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) was established in 1962 following…

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Why should I consider refugees and IDPs with my Zakat?
Majority of the world’s refugees and IDPs fall under at least 4 of the 8 Zakat categories.

More than 50% of the world’s refugees and IDPs originate from Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries and most of them are hosted in low to middle-income countries, many of which have weaker health and water systems.

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pink icon Abna’ al Sabeel
The Stranded Travellers or Wayfarers
The Stranded Travellers or Wayfarers
Abna’ al Sabeel
The Stranded Travellers or Wayfarers

A wayfarer is someone who is travelling on foot, which is the case for the vast majority of refugees, who…

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pink icon al Gharemeen
The Debtors
The Debtors
al Gharemeen
The Debtors

Over 50% of refugee and displaced families are in debt. After losing their homes and possessions, and exhausting their savings,…

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pink icon Al Fuqara’ wal Masakeen
The Poor and the Needy
The Poor and the Needy
Al Fuqara’ wal Masakeen
The Poor and the Needy

Most refugees are poor and in need of support to survive; they lack assets or income in their long stays…

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UNHCR is following a 100% Zakat distribution policy.
100% of Zakat donations is distributed to the most vulnerable refugee and internally displaced families, including in hard-to-reach areas.

Dedicate Your Zakat

This support goes in full to help families affected by lockdowns and lack of economic opportunities. Exceptionally for Zakat funds, UNHCR has waived its standard 6.5% indirect support costs, in order to ensure that 100% of your Zakat goes directly to the most vulnerable families. Any expenses associated with the distribution of Zakat are covered by other sources of funding to UNHCR.


Do you know?

How your Zakat helps vulnerable refugee and displaced families

Vulnerable families are often headed by women alone who often face cultural, legal and childcare obstacles when looking for work. Providing refugee families with cash or in kind assistance prevents those most in need from having to resort to desperate survival strategies – such as pulling children out of school or child labour. Cash assistance in particular ensures that the immediate needs of families are met according to their own priorities. This also means that thousands of refugees who are restricted from working in host countries avoid facing severe hardships, while being empowered to manage their own finances. It helps to improve social networks through enabling refugees to repay loans borrowed from family, neighbours, and landlords, thereby reducing household tensions. Additionally, it benefits the local economy as refugees become customers at local shops and markets.

Do you know?

How your Zakat helps vulnerable refugee and displaced families

Vulnerable families are often headed by women alone who often face cultural, legal and childcare obstacles when looking for work. Providing refugee families with cash or in kind assistance prevents those most in need from having to resort to desperate survival strategies – such as pulling children out of school or child labour. Cash assistance in particular ensures that the immediate needs of families are met according to their own priorities. This also means that thousands of refugees who are restricted from working in host countries avoid facing severe hardships, while being empowered to manage their own finances. It helps to improve social networks through enabling refugees to repay loans borrowed from family, neighbours, and landlords, thereby reducing household tensions. Additionally, it benefits the local economy as refugees become customers at local shops and markets.

Dedicate Your Zakat