• 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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Trusted Zakat Distributor
100% Zakat Distribution Policy
  • 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.
  • 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.
"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.

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. 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.

Disclaimer: Transaction fee may be applied by a few credit card-issuing banks. For details, please contact your card-issuing bank.
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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 (Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Egypt and 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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UNHCR: a trusted agent to fulfil your Zakat obligations

UNHCR’s Zakat initiative is fully compliant and backed by five fatwas from leading scholars and institutions.

It is permissible to give Zakat to UNHCR for distribution to victims, refugees and displaced individuals in the region. In such a case, UNHCR is considered an agent. The entirety of the collected Zakat must be distributed to eligible recipients mentioned in Quran 9:60. None of it can be used to cover operations or wages; those must be covered by other sources.

Dar al-Ifta al-Missriyyah
Fatwa
Dar al-Ifta al-Missriyyah

Dar al-Ifta al-Missriyyah is one of Egypt’s centers for Islamic legal research. It was established in 1895 CE and is…

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The Senior Scholars’ Council of Morocco
Fatwa
The Senior Scholars’ Council of Morocco

The Senior Scholars’ Council of Morocco is the highest official religious authority in Morocco, which includes a fatwa council. Their…

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The Fatwa Council of Tareem
Fatwa
The Fatwa Council of Tareem

The Fatwa Council of Tareem is located in Hadramaut, Yemen. Hadramaut has been a major center for scholarship for over…

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Dr Sheikh Ali Gomaa
Fatwa
Dr Sheikh Ali Gomaa

Dr Sheikh Ali Gomaa is the former Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt and professor of Islamic jurisprudence…

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Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayya
Fatwa
Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayya

Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayya is the chairman of the UAE’s Fatwa Council, and an instructor at King Abdulaziz University in…

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The International Islamic Fiqh Academy
Fatwa
The International Islamic Fiqh Academy

The International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) was created in 1981 and is located in Jeddah, KSA. It is a subsidiary…

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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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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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International Shariah Research Academy (ISRA)
Fatwa
International Shariah Research Academy (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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Why should I give my Zakat for refugees?
The majority of the world’s 22.5 million refugees fall under at least four of the eight stipulations required by recipients of Zakat funds.

These stipulations are:

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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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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UNHCR is following a 100% Zakat policy.
UNHCR’s Zakat initiative is subject to rigorous governance, ensuring transparency at every step, from donation to provision of assistance. 100% of your Zakat obligation goes directly to eligible refugees.

UNHCR is unique in its commitment to follow a 100% Zakat policy, and pledges that 100% of Zakat funds go directly to eligible refugees. Through its Zakat initiative, your support for refugees facing hardship is felt immediately by those most in need. Exceptionally for the Zakat initiative, UNHCR has waived its standard 7% overhead costs, and any other expenses associated with the distribution of Zakat funds are covered by other (non-Zakat) sources of funding.

UNHCR publishes quarterly reports about the received and distributed amounts of Zakat funds on this website.

UNHCR implements a wide range of humanitarian assistance programmes including provision of shelter, healthcare, education, and cash assistance; the latter has been identified as the best fit for Zakat funds. All Zakat funds received by UNHCR are strictly dedicated to compliant cash assistance programmes, which complements other aid provided by UNHCR.

 


Did 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