Raising the standard of zakah governanceFor UK charities that collect and distribute zakah: a morning of scholarly guidance on how zakah is collected, distributed and overseen.
- WhenMonday 9 November 2026, 9am to 2pm
- WhereCity Hall, Royal Victoria Dock, London
- WhoBy invitation, for UK charities
Clear guidance for the charities entrusted with zakah
Charities running zakah-funded projects often can't be certain their programmes qualify, and scholarly guidance on how zakah should be collected and distributed isn't always easy to find. That uncertainty is a risk for charities and for the donors who trust them.
IFA has published a Zakah Policy to help close that gap. This forum brings it to the charities it was written for, with the scholars behind it in the room to answer your questions.
Nobody is assessed on the day. It's a space to ask honestly, with no obligation to seek certification.
Read the Zakah PolicyWhat you'll leave with
- Clarity on IFA's position on zakah, from the scholars who set it
- A plain walkthrough of certification, and whether it suits your charity
- Answers to your own questions, in a room where it's safe to ask
- A summary of the Zakah Policy and a guide to certification to share with your trustees
The questions charities bring
Questions charities often have to answer alone, worked through with IFA's scholars in one room.
Does our programme qualify?
Whether a zakah-funded project reaches the eight categories zakah is owed to.
Are we distributing it correctly?
How zakah should be collected and passed on, in the way the Shari'ah prescribes.
Where do the scholars differ?
The range of scholarly opinion on zakah, and how IFA's policy navigates it.
What should our agreements say?
Memoranda of understanding and contracts between charities, and what's reasonable to expect of each side.
What about fundraising partners?
External fundraisers, social media influencers and advertisers, and raising zakah through them responsibly.
Is certification right for us?
What the process involves, what it proves to your donors, and how to begin.
Five conversations, 9am to 2pm
Arrival
Registration and welcome refreshments.
Welcome
An introduction to IFA and to the day.
Zakah, clearly
What zakah is for, the eight categories it is owed to, and where the scholars differ.
The IFA Zakah Policy and certification
The parts of IFA's published policy that matter most to charities, then how certification works, step by step.
Certification in practice
A real certification case, then certified charities on why they sought it and what it has meant for them.
Refreshments break
Protecting trust in zakah
Where zakah goes wrong in the community, including through social media appeals, and the good practice that keeps donors' trust.
Ask the Panel
Your questions, put to all three speakers.
Closing
Closing remarks and next steps, including how to start a certification enquiry if you're ready.
Zuhr
See certification from the inside
The day walks through a real zakah certification, and hears from the charities who've been through it.
A real case study
How a charity's zakah project is reviewed, step by step, using a real certification.
Charities in their own words
Certified charities on why they sought certification, and what it has meant for them and their donors.
What gets published
The certificate, the letter and the seal, and a public register entry anyone can check.
Who you'll hear from
Built for the people who handle zakah
Charity leaders
Trustees, finance leads and programme managers at UK charities and Islamic institutions that collect or distribute zakah.
Certified charities
Organisations already certified by IFA, sharing what the process meant and helping others reach the same clarity.
Scholars and professionals
Scholars, and Shari'ah-compliance and Islamic finance professionals who work alongside these charities.
Places are by invitation, for UK organisations. Giving zakah yourself? See Before You Give
City Hall, on the Royal Docks
The forum is held at City Hall, the home of the Greater London Authority: a glass hall on the water in East London, with room to sit and talk between the sessions.
- Address
- City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, London E16 1ZE
- Getting there
- The closest stations are Royal Victoria on the DLR and Custom House on the Elizabeth line and DLR.
Register your place
- Date
- Monday 9 November 2026
- Format
- 9am to 2pm, in person
- Cost
- Free to attend
- Venue
- City Hall, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16
- Places
- By invitation, up to two per UK charity or institution
- Filming
- The day is filmed and photographed. We'll ask for your consent when you register.
Haven't received an invitation? Get in touch