Charity sits close to the centre of Muslim life. It is one of the ways a person looks after their neighbour, and one of the ways a community holds together when some of its members are struggling.
Most people who give want to do it well. That usually raises two questions: what am I giving for, and which kind of giving is this?
Giving with intention
In Islam the intention behind an act matters as much as the act itself. Giving quietly, without expecting recognition, is part of what makes charity what it is.
In practice this is simpler than it sounds. It means pausing for a moment before you give and being clear with yourself about why. That small pause is what turns a transaction into an act of worship, and it costs nothing.
Different ways to give
You will meet several different forms of giving on this site. Here is a short introduction to each. These are descriptions, not rulings: where the details matter, each has its own page, and a scholar is the right person to ask about your own circumstances.
- Zakat. The obligatory annual charity due from Muslims whose wealth reaches a set threshold.
- Sadaqah. Voluntary charity, given at any time and in any amount.
- Sadaqah Jariyah. Giving directed towards something lasting, such as a well or a place of learning, which continues to serve people over time.
- Lillah. Voluntary giving for the sake of Allah, not bound by the conditions attached to Zakat.
- Fitrana. Given at the end of Ramadan, calculated per member of the household.
- Fidya. Given when a fast cannot be kept and cannot later be made up.
- Kaffarah. A compensatory payment connected to a broken fast or oath.
If you are not sure which applies, General Donation is always available, and you are welcome to ask us.
Supporting people and communities
Whichever form your giving takes, it arrives as something practical. The work it supports includes food for households that have run short, clean water close to home, education for children who would otherwise miss it, and care for orphans and the families looking after them.
It also includes the places a community shares. Mosques and madrasah projects serve everyone in a village rather than one household, and emergency relief reaches people in the days after a flood or a storm, when help is worth the most.
Giving with purpose
Giving with purpose simply means letting your intention meet a real need. Someone moved by the thought of children learning may give towards a madrasah. Someone who has been ill may give towards medical care. Someone who wants their giving to keep serving people long after they have forgotten it may choose a well.
None of these is better than the others. They are different ways of answering the same question honestly.
About HF Trust UK
Hazrat Fatimatuzzuhura (RA) Trust U.K. is a charity registered in England and Wales, working in Bangladesh. We offer each of the forms of giving above as its own option, so you can choose the one that matches your intention, and the type you choose is the reference your gift is recorded under.
Where to go next
Have a look at the different ways to give and choose the one that reflects what you intend. If you would rather read first, each page explains what that form of giving is and what it supports.