A Guide to Zakat Giving

The concept of Zakat reflects the Islamic principle that wealth is a trust, and people with resources have a responsibility to support those without. Zakat is an obligatory form of almsgiving required of adult Muslims who meet the minimum wealth threshold known as Nisab.

The word “Zakat” means purification and growth. By giving a portion of qualifying wealth, Muslims purify what they retain and contribute to a more balanced society. Zakat is calculated annually and distributed to specific categories of people defined in the Quran.

Many Palestinians face poverty and lack access to healthcare driven by Israel’s occupation, blockade, forced displacement orders, and restrictions on livelihoods and public services. Poverty in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with most households reliant on aid to survive.

The health impact is severe. The World Health Organization has confirmed famine conditions in parts of Gaza, alongside widespread malnutrition affecting children and adults alike.

In this context, many Palestinians clearly meet the criteria outlined in the Quran for Zakat. Zakat helps families access food, medical care, and essential services when cost, displacement, or the collapse of local health systems would otherwise prevent treatment.

MAP’s Solidarity Polyclinic in central Gaza illustrates how Zakat-eligible support can make healthcare accessible when systems are overwhelmed and costs are prohibitive.

The clinic provides essential services including primary care, wound treatment, maternal health support and mental health support, helping families access care with dignity in the face of extreme hardship.

Zakat-funded support helps ensure that patients can access healthcare with dignity, responding to urgent need while remaining rooted in justice and collective responsibility.

From its earliest implementation, Zakat was organised as a system rather than left solely to personal discretion. In early Islamic societies, Zakat supported food security, debt relief, and public welfare, forming a core part of social protection mechanisms.

This historical model highlights that Zakat is intended to prevent extreme inequality and uphold social cohesion, particularly where other systems fail to protect basic rights.

Zakat is obligatory for Muslims who:

• Adults who are of age and possess the capacity to make financial decisions
• Who own wealth equal to or above the Nisab threshold
• Who have held that wealth for one full lunar year (Hawl)

Those whose wealth does not reach the Nisab are not required to pay Zakat, ensuring fairness and preventing undue burden. Clear explanations of these conditions are provided by guidance organisations like the National Zakat Foundation.

Zakat becomes due once Nisab and Hawl conditions are met. Many Muslims choose to give during Ramadan, though it can be paid at any time of year.

Zakat may be given directly to eligible individuals or through trusted organisations that distribute it responsibly and in line with Islamic principles.

Zakat traditionally applies to:

• Cash and savings
• Gold and silver
• Business stock and trade goods
• Agricultural produce and livestock under specific conditions

In contemporary settings, Zakat may also apply to:

• Shares and investments
• Rental income
• Cryptocurrency holdings
• Pension funds that are accessible

Because modern wealth can be complex, many people seek guidance to calculate Zakat accurately.

Non-Zakatable Assets

Personal items such as a primary home, household goods, and personal vehicles are not subject to Zakat.

The standard Zakat rate is 2.5% of qualifying wealth held for one lunar year.

1. Add up all Zakatable assets
2. Subtract eligible debts and liabilities
3. Confirm the remaining amount meets or exceeds Nisab
4. Apply the 2.5% rate

Practical example
If a person has £10,000 in qualifying wealth after debts, their Zakat due would be £250.

The Quran specifies eight categories of people who are eligible to receive Zakat in Surah At-Tawbah (9:60). These categories define who Zakat is for and ensure that it is distributed fairly and with purpose.

These categories reflect the purpose of Zakat as a system of social responsibility and justice. They recognise poverty, displacement, debt, and restricted access to basic rights as collective concerns rather than personal failings.

Zakat may be distributed locally or internationally, depending on where needs are most severe and clearly defined, as long as recipients fall within the Quranic categories.

MAP accepts and distributes Zakat donations in alignment with Islamic principles and humanitarian standards. These donations are earmarked for Zakat-eligible projects, such as humanitarian emergency response, mental health programmes, vaccination campaigns and mobile clinic operations.

As a locally led organisation, MAP works with trusted partners to ensure that Zakat is directed responsibly, transparently, and in ways that centre dignity and rights.

In a setting where basic systems of care are under pressure, this approach allows Zakat to complement broader humanitarian response while staying true to its purpose of economic justice and community support.

Read more about how to Donate Zakat to MAP or donate to our Ramadan appeal.

Zakat is a pillar of Islam that combines spiritual accountability with practical justice. It protects dignity, supports communities, and addresses inequality.

In contexts where people face systemic barriers to basic rights, including healthcare, Zakat remains a vital mechanism for collective responsibility.

By understanding and fulfilling this obligation carefully, Muslims contribute to fairness, solidarity, and the wellbeing of those most in need.