Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam, an obligatory charity that must be paid by every adult Muslim in sound mind who possesses wealth beyond a certain threshold, known as the nisab.

Muslim Hands provides a range of Zakat-eligible projects designed to transform the lives of those in need. With the support of our experts on the ground, we ensure that your Zakat donations reach the most vulnerable communities, making a meaningful and lasting impact.

Check our Zakat eligible projects here.

The Nisab is the minimum value of wealth a person must possess to pay Zakat. Gold and silver are two values used to calculate the Nisab threshold. The Prophet (saw) set Nisab at a rate equivalent to 87.5 grams of gold or 613 grams of silver.

Since we don’t use silver/gold as a currency, checking current market rates, can help you determine the exchange value of Nisab rates.

Why not use our free online Zakat Calulcator to help you calculate your Zakat ?

Once you fulfill your Zakat obligation, Muslim Hands Canada allocates your funds to life-saving projects, spending it in the most effective pay possible to relieve the suffering of the most vulnerable communities worldwide.

Your Zakat Helps provide:

•  Emergency Assistance
•  Orphan Care
•  Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
•  Education
•  Shelter & Protection
•  Livelihood Support
•  Medical Care

In 2024, we distributed your Zakat to thousands of people worldwide !

Your Zakat saves lives and empowers communities in need.

If the wealth has been in the individual’s possession for a full year, he or she must give 2.5% of it as Zakat.

Total wealth can include:

• Gold and Silver
• Cash in hand and bank accounts
• Pensions
• Investment Property
• Stock and shares
• Money lent out
• Business stock
• Agriculture produce

Having trouble calculating your Zakat?

Our free online Zakat calculator is here to help!

This simple and convenient tool takes the hassle out of the process by doing all the calculations for you.

Just input the required details, and it will provide an accurate amount for your Zakat, ensuring you can fulfill this important obligation with ease and confidence.

The Poor (Al-Fuqara): Those who cannot meet their basic needs including food, clothing, and shelter.

The Needy (Al-Masakin): Those facing hardship due to an illness, disability, or other misfortunes or cannot support themselves financially.

Zakat Collectors (Amil Zakat): Those responsible for collecting, managing, and distributing Zakat.

New Muslims (Muallafatul Qulub): New converts to Islam who may need financial assistance.

Slaves or Captives (Riqab): Those who are in slavery or captivity. This category is less common today. They may help them secure their freedom or improve their circumstances.

Debtors (Al-Gharimun): Individuals unable to pay off their debts. Zakat can be used to help them pay off their debts.

For the Cause of Allah (Fi Sabilillah): Individuals involved in activities that spread Islam, such as scholars, preachers, and those working to further the cause of Islam.

The Wayfarer (Ibn as-Sabil): Stranded travellers or those in need of financial support while on a journey, even if they are wealthy but temporarily without resources during travel.

Zakat can be given at any time of the year, however, many people choose to give it during the holy month of Ramadan to maximize the blessings and spiritual benefits.

Zakat is due once a lunar year has passed since the wealth first reaches the nisab threshold.

When Salimata Traore's husband died, her family was left without a breadwinner, and she was forced to raise her daughter, Setou, without any support.

For widows like Salimata, life in developing countries can be especially hard. With no income or livelihood, supporting a family alone is incredibly difficult. 

Luckily, her daughter Setou was sponsored by a generous donor and was accepted at the Muslim Hands School Of Excellence in Bamako, where she has been studying for a year now.

Once Setou's donor learned about her mother's dire circumstances, she was moved to do more. Her donation enabled Salimata to open her own shop selling skin and hair products, allowing her to earn an income and support her family. 

When Diakaridia Samake’s father died, he and his family were left with little hope for the future. His mother struggled to raise her young family, gripped by poverty in the village of Tienfala, Mali.

So desperate was their situation that young Diakaridia had to go out to work in a bike mechanics. He was just eight years old.

Thanks to your Zakat, the Muslim Hands staff were able to enroll him in school, where he receives the best education in the region, free meals, and healthcare.

His life has been transformed, and Diakaridia is so much happier at school than he was before. An education is a passport to a brighter future full of hope and potential for children like Diakaridia. 

Zakat is the third pillar of Islam and a transformational concept that has the ability to change the world. 

Zakat is intended to purify our wealth, not only physically, but also spiritually. It purifies our hearts against selfishness as well as ensuring that society's poorest are protected against hunger. and destitution. 

It plays a key role in not only enshrining the rights of the poorest in the community, but it also facilitates in enabling them to gain the skills and aid needed in today’s economy to come out of a life of poverty.

Zakat also crucially builds a relationship of consideration and appreciation between different members of society by providing ongoing support from the rich to the poor.

We know that calculating your Zakat and getting your head around the basics can be sometimes difficult and for that reason, we have created a short illustrated guide.

We’ve broken down some of the most common questions and cleared up the main misconceptions about Zakat.