Muslims in Need's Orphan Sponsorship certified Zakah Eligible

Sponsoring an orphan is among the most loved acts of charity in Islam — but can it be paid from your zakah? Not automatically. Zakah has specific recipients set by the Shari'ah, and whether an 'orphan sponsorship' qualifies depends on the circumstances of those it reaches and how the money is delivered — not on the label alone.

Muslims in Need, a Derby-based UK charity, has had its Orphan Sponsorship programme certified Zakah Eligible by the Islamic Finance Advisory.

What was checked

IFA reviewed the Orphan Sponsorship programme against its published Zakah Policy and Standards & Procedures for Zakah Certification, alongside the established rules of zakah in Islamic jurisprudence — looking at how the funds are collected, held and disbursed, and whether the recipients fall within the categories entitled to zakah. On that basis the programme was certified, and the certification remains valid subject to an annual review.

About Muslims in Need

Muslims in Need is a UK charity that sponsors orphans and supports vulnerable families and communities in need.

Why it matters for your zakah

For a donor, the certification settles the question: zakah given to this programme reaches recipients who genuinely qualify to receive it, so the obligation is discharged with confidence. Muslims in Need's certification can be verified any time on IFA's Certification Register, where the full certificate and letter are published.