Zakat is not a gift from the rich.
It is a right of the poor.
“Zakat is only for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer it, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free those in bondage, and for those in debt, and in the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer — an obligation from Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.”
Surah At-Tawbah 9:60This verse is the whole law of zakat distribution. Eight categories, named by Allah. Our only job is to make sure your zakat reaches one of them — and to prove to you that it did.
Who zakat may be given to
Zakat is not general charity. Unlike sadaqah, which may be given to anyone for any good cause, zakat may only be given to the eight categories of recipient named in the Qur’an. An organisation that spends your zakat outside these categories has not discharged your obligation — it has simply spent your money.
100% of your zakat reaches an eligible recipient.
We take nothing from it.
Not one cent of your zakat pays for our salaries, our overheads, our fundraising, our software, or the cost of getting the aid to the door. Your zakat is passed through whole — the full amount, to the people it belongs to.
We can make that promise because of how Amin is funded. Our operations and the people who run this organisation are paid for by a separate, private circle of supporters who knowingly fund the running of Amin. That means your zakat is never asked to carry the weight of the organisation. It is passed through, whole, to the people it belongs to.
Which of our programmes are zakat-eligible
Where we mark a programme zakat-eligible, we show you which of the eight categories it serves, and why. Where a programme is eligible only under certain conditions, we say so plainly rather than rounding up in our own favour.
| Programme | Category served | Status | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back-to-School KitBack-to-School Kit | —Categories · — | Pending review | — |
| Summer FanSummer Fan | —Categories · — | Pending review | — |
| Water AC (Evaporative Cooler)Water AC (Evaporative Cooler) | —Categories · — | Pending review | — |
| Where Most NeededWhere Most Needed | —Categories · — | Not eligible | This fund may be spent on anything, including costs outside the eight categories. We will not accept zakat into it. A separate zakat-only fund is being built. |
Before we mark any programme zakat-eligible, we confirm with our field partners exactly what the aid is, who receives it, and how their need is verified — and we seek scholarly guidance where the question is contested. A programme that has not been through that check stays marked pending, and we will not accept zakat for it.
How we know a recipient qualifies
A programme being eligible in principle is not enough. The person receiving your zakat must actually fall within one of the eight categories. Eligibility is assessed on the ground, before distribution, by the local teams who know these communities.
Every household we serve is assessed for need at intake, and that assessment is recorded against the family. Our field partners confirm which of their services meet the conditions of zakat, and we hold that confirmation in writing. Where need is a per-household judgement — as with orphan sponsorship — it is made per household, not assumed across a whole programme.
You will see where your zakat went
Your zakat is an obligation — you are entitled to know it was discharged, not merely told so. Every zakat donation moves through the same tracked stages as any gift to Amin, and the proof is sent to you.
What your zakat will never pay for
Working out what you owe
Zakat al-Mal is due at 2.5% of your qualifying wealth, once that wealth has been held above the nisab threshold for one full lunar year (a hawl — around 354 days, not 365).
Qualifying wealth generally includes cash and savings, gold and silver, money owed to you, and business assets — with immediate debts deducted. The nisab threshold is set by the value of gold or silver, and moves with the market. Scholars differ on which standard to apply; the silver standard is lower and therefore captures more givers.
We will state plainly which standard we follow — and show you the reasoning rather than simply printing a number. If your wealth is complex, speak to a scholar directly. A calculator is a tool, not a fatwa.
Common questions
What's the difference between zakat and sadaqah?+–
Zakat is obligatory — a pillar of Islam, owed at a fixed rate, payable only to the eight categories named in the Qur’an. Sadaqah is voluntary, can be any amount, given at any time, and may be spent on any good cause. At Amin you can designate a gift as either. If you designate it as zakat, the rules on this page apply to it strictly.
Can I give my zakat overseas?+–
Yes. Zakat may be given to eligible recipients anywhere in the world. Where need is comparable, many scholars give preference to those nearest you; where need abroad is severe, it takes precedence. Our work is currently in Jordan, serving displaced and impoverished families.
Does Amin take a cut of my zakat to cover its costs?+–
No. The Qur’an permits a share for “those employed to administer it” — a legitimate provision that many organisations rely on to do their work. We have chosen not to claim it. Our operations are funded separately by a private circle of supporters, precisely so that your zakat can pass through whole. That is a choice we made about ourselves, and we are happy to be judged on it.
How do I know my zakat actually reached someone eligible?+–
Because we show you. Your zakat is tracked from the moment it is received to the moment it is delivered, and photographic proof of that delivery is sent to you. You are not asked to trust us — you are shown.
What happens if my zakat can't be spent as intended?+–
It is held, and moved only to another zakat-eligible programme. It is never absorbed into a general fund, and never spent outside the eight categories. Our systems are built to make that allocation impossible, not merely discouraged.
Is my zakat tax-deductible?+–
In the United States, donations to a recognised charitable organisation are generally tax-deductible. Amin Relief Co. is a Texas nonprofit corporation and its application for 501(c)(3) recognition is pending with the IRS. Keep your receipt, and speak to your tax adviser about your own circumstances.
How do you decide what counts as zakat-eligible?+–
Before we mark a programme zakat-eligible, we confirm with our field partners exactly what the aid is, who receives it, and how their need is verified — and we seek scholarly guidance where the question is contested. Where a programme qualifies only under certain conditions, we mark it that way and tell you the condition. Where we haven’t completed that check, the programme stays pendingand we don’t accept zakat for it.