Donate ZAKAT and Sadaqah Today

Zakat, the third pillar of Islam offers an important resolution to the problem of economic disparity through redistributing wealth to the most vulnerable of the community. With Zakat, the obligation to assist the less fortunate in overcoming their difficulties while preserving their dignity rests upon the most privileged members of the community.

Zakat usually involves three primary agents: (1) the Zakat payer, (2) the Zakat recipients, and (3) the Zakat distributor. While the role of the Zakat payer is clear, it is important to clarify how the second and third agents relate to Hidaya Academy.

Zakat recipients are individuals who are deemed eligible to receive Zakat funds in accordance with Islamic law. According to the Quran, Zakat is exclusively distributed to eight categories of people, (1) the poor (al-Fuqarā’), (2) the needy (al-Masākīn), (3) Zakat administrators, (4) those whose hearts are to be reconciled (new Muslims, sympathizers, etc.), (5) Bondsmen and bondswomen (not anymore relevant), (6) the debt-ridden (al Ghārimīn), (7) in the cause of God, and (8) The wayfarer.

It is the consensus of scholars from the four different Madhāhib that Zakat recipients must be people and the expression “in the cause of God” refers to soldiers, it DOES NOT include institutions, building, mosques, schools, etc.

As a school, Hidaya Academy is NOT considered a Zakat recipient, however, Hidaya has students whose families fall under three of the eight categories mentioned earlier (the poor (al-Fuqarā’), the needy (al-Masākīn), and the debt-ridden (al Ghārimīn). These families are eligible to receive Zakat funds, which they can use to pay for their children's education. This is where the Hidaya Academy Zakat Fund comes into play as a Zakat distributor, collecting Zakat funds from donors and distributing them to eligible families.

The Zakat distributor is responsible for collecting and distributing Zakat funds to the rightful recipients. In this case, the Hidaya Academy Zakat Fund will function as the Zakat distributor, which will gather Zakat contributions from donors and allocate them to eligible students in need. Some  families initially deny being eligible for Zakat, but after entering their details into the Hidaya financial assistance software the result shows that they qualify as Zakat recipient under the category

of “the needy (al-Masākīn)”. The Hidaya Academy Scholarship Fund will ensure that funds are properly collected, distributed, and utilized to assist the underprivileged students at Hidaya Academy.

Option One: This option is in accordance with the four Madhāhib, the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi, Hanbali. The Hidaya Academy Scholarship Fund will provide checks made payable to "Hidaya Academy" with the amount due and distribute them to the families so that the condition of Zakat possession can be met. The families can then use the checks to pay their fees to Hidaya Academy.

Alternatively, the donor may choose to sponsor a family or student directly. The Hidaya Academy Scholarship Fund will send the donor invoices related to the selected student or family, and the donor can write a check made payable to "Hidaya Academy". The checks will be presented to the families, who can then use them to pay Hidaya Academy.

Option Two: This option is valid according to the Maliki and Hanbali Madhāhib only. In this case, the  Hidaya Academy Scholarship Fund will utilize the funds to directly settle any past dues owed by the families, without first handing the funds over to the families.

Alternatively, the donor may choose to directly sponsor a family or student, and the Hidaya Academy Scholarship Fund will send him invoices related to the selected student or family. The donor can then write a check or checks made payable directly to "Hidaya Academy" without handing it over to the family first.

HIdaya Academy will distribute funds using the second option. 

To make a donation specifically for Zakat, please use Zelle or a check and specifically state Zakat payment. This way, we can specifically allocate the payment into the Zakat fund. If you have any additional questions please feel free to email us a hidayaacdemucu@gmail.com. 

The official Fatwah can be downloaded below.