What a mess they've all created. I'm seriously thinking of just giving money directly to people instead of going through a non-profit. They're playing fast and loose with other people's money - Allahu Akbar.
I would not believe everything in this article! It is defamation which has been answered at least by several of these organizations to the author but he has not published them here.
We give zakat to the “ most needy” please do that! whether at home or abroad inshallah they will receive it.
May Allah accept your Zakah and he knows your intention.
You can spend your Ramadan more productively than spamming my comments section with no useful information perhaps? You either have a link or you don’t.
I’ve emailed my regulars to see if they truly have no zakah policy and no accountability process.
Islamic relief is listed as among the better of all international charities reviewed.
Not sure I understand your question about who ‘us’ is. You implied you have knowledge that others don’t so I asked that you share it.
I also don’t understand the damage that is done here. All of us who pay zakah will still pay zakah. More likely we will end up paying more locally and directly to the needy rather to organizations that are far more inefficient than they let on. I also don’t see anywhere that Shaikh said these program don’t do real work.
Salaam! Here is one real program that Islamic Relief does:
Below is from one of its many volunteers on the ground serving families in distress:
Assalamu Alaikum dear families,
A small but important update regarding the Ramadan family visits 🌙
For those who would like to volunteer to visit one of the families, *Islamic Relief will provide transportation* — a car with a driver will take you to the family’s home and bring you back, inshaAllah, also an Islamic relief volunteer will accompany your family during the visit.
We are now approaching the *last ten nights of Ramadan*, the most blessed nights of the year. This is a beautiful opportunity for immense reward.
The Prophet ﷺ taught us the virtue of إدخال السرور على قلب مسلم — bringing joy to the heart of a Muslim — and the great reward of إفطار صائم - feeding the fasting.
Imagine what it means for a struggling family, living far from home, facing illness and hardship, to have someone knock on their door with food, kindness, and companionship. Sometimes a simple visit can lift a heart that has been heavy for a very long time.
*You can help in two ways:*
1️⃣ Volunteer your family to visit one of the families for Iftar and bring food to share with them.
2️⃣ Donate towards the 2500 TL grocery card we are preparing for each family (you can donate the full amount or any contribution).
Let’s try together to bring comfort, dignity, and joy to these families in these blessed nights.
First time I have seen such an analysis. I have been donating to many of these charities for years. No wonder Muslim charity has become a cottage industry with more and more popping up every year.
We really appreciate the work you are doing! I always suspected there is charity scam going on many levels. I started suspecting when they were aggressively fundraising for Gaza and there was absolutely no conduit (Aid) going into Gaza for quite sometime. A Palestanian told me that most of these organizations collecting money playing on people emotions are not delivering on thier promise. Actually the money was not a problem for the Gaza big wealthy donors were there (Govt, of Turkey,Arab countries such as Qatar, some European countries, UN, wealthy individual donors etc.) but challenge was to get that AID move inside.
Part of the problem is donors don't have time and energy to investigate and ask hard questions like you did.
I wish because of your efforts this fundraising-nonprofit sector moves towards reform and new peer to peer players come along with ironclad transprency. I am wondering if there is simillar exercise done for Canadian Charities?
Ameen. I have not done a deep dive on Canada but from what I can see its not great. Charities are regulated differently in Canada and perhaps that matters.
Clearly you're not familiar with the commercial corridor where orgs can buy inside Gaza. The prices are inflated but better to pay inflated prices than not give aid.
At least that's what the charities I donate to were doing
True ! The only way Gaza can get food is to pay at the door to Eygpt and Israel and sometimes even then it doesn’t get in.
Zakah is an intention the rest is done by Allah! If your intention is pure it will be to “ where most needed”
I know people who have witnessed the work of HHRD and Zakat Foundation and their work is impeccable and irreplaceable and they have sent rebuttals which have not been published by the author here ! He should do that!
Here is a crazy idea ... give your zakat to poor people where you live. If you think there are no poor people near you, that means you are out of touch and live in a bubble.
That would mean a radical reorientation in which mass education is needed that after giving Zakah al-Mal to one's family outside of immediate family members, those who are most entitled are in one's locality before giving overseas. I would not be suprised if 80% of American Muslims' Zakah al-Mal goes overseas. An orphan abroad can probably get sponsorship eaiser than an Muslim orphan or a Muslim child below the poverty line in America.
We have to remember that the money and resources from overseas have been stolen by the west thus giving zakat overseas by US and Canadian people is just returning some of their money back to them.
As an African American, I disagree with that reasoning. Governments and institutions are different from individuals. Moreover, the American government owes my people reparations, so why would African American Muslims send all of our Zakah overseas when harms against us haven't been made right here?
Salaams! Of course! if an African American person is currently in a condition that makes him or her eligible for zakat, then they should certainly be among the first to receive it. Zakat is given based on need and eligibility.
However, the concept of reparations is not the same as zakat. To my knowledge, the closest equivalent in Islam to repairing past wrongs is through tawba (repentance), istighfar (seeking forgiveness), and reconciliation. Islam does not hold children responsible for the sins of their parents. Even the Sahabah were not held accountable for the actions of their forefathers before Islam.
Continued demands framed as reparations can sometimes deepen anger and make forgiveness more difficult. Ultimately, it is Allah who truly restores and repairs hearts and injustices, not later generations who were not the perpetrators of those wrongs.
A more constructive path one that may resonate better with Islamic principles, could be for well-established African American communities to support the African regions from which enslaved people were originally taken. Investing in their economies, supporting education, and helping uplift those communities could be a powerful and meaningful way of creating positive change. In spirit, such efforts may represent a form of healing and restoration that aligns more closely with the ethical teachings of Islam.
I know that reparations and Zakah aren’t the same. I only mentioned reparations Dr.Asma because you mentioned that America and Canada wealth is based upon taking from others abroad which by that reasoning much was taken or denied right here, perhaps systematically more here than abroad. There are poor Muslims and Mu’allafat al-Qulub right here.
What is preferrable according to fuqaha is to pay one’s Zakah locally when and where there is need before sending outside of one’s jurisdiction. This is what I learned from my teachers. I just said this a few days ago on the minbar.
From HIdaya Foundation: Yes we do have a Zakat fund. We get 4 different types of donations: Zakat, Sadaqah, General, and Corporate Gift Matching, and all of those categories are tracked in our accounting system. We get these different types of donations to all of our various projects, and those are also tracked per project.
Our general overhead costs are around 5% every year, meaning out of $100, $95 would go towards the projects. However, we do not take any of the overhead costs out of the zakat funds - we use general, corporate gift matching, and if left over some sadaqah funds to take care of Hidaya Foundation's overhead costs. So, we will give 100% of your zakat donation towards the project.
That being said, every project and from country to country will have different implementation processes and teams, and varying overheads on implementing those projects until it reaches the people. However we try to include those in the donation. So for example, when we ask for $300 for a water hand pump, or $120 for a sadaqah sacrifice, or a set-price for Qurbani/Udhiyya - the expected overhead price is included in that figure, to ensure the implementation can be done without eating from other funds.
If you are looking for a way to send maximum funds to the end recipient, we recommend donating towards the Widow/Orphan support project, in which a straight cash stipend is given to widow and orphan families. This is our heaviest project in terms of spending, and it is the best and most recommended way to give zakat in which you give straight cash to the recipient so they may do with it as they please.
It would be good to reach out to Br. Waseem Baloch (founder of Hidaya) and also write a follow up based on the responses generated by your original piece.
Thank you for this important work and clarification Brother Ahmed. It is alarming to say the least to hear about the fake, wasted and hoarded donations by so called legitimate, zakat-collecting nonprofits, some of whom I have donated to in the past believing they would distribute nearly all of the funds to those Muslims and others in need globally
This is disheartening beyond belief. But I appreciate the investigative work you’ve done. Because only by knowing where our money is actually going can we be empowered to put it in the right hands.
Very good. It would be great if you could publish your methodology so we can potentially crowdsource for other organizations or countries.
We live in Canada and I'm always concerned about giving my zakaat. We do try to give directly where possible, but honestly not that many people here in Canada are truly needy compared to the real desperation overseas. That usually means we need to go through international charities.
I know you're not necessarily taking requests, but would be great if you could do this for Canadian charities or help us to understand how so we can potentially do this. I'm sure we have similar regulatory frameworks and official charities have public reporting requirements.
Our local mosque (of which I am a sometimes board member, as we have elections and term limits) operates its own zakaat and I know that we keep 1 physical account for zakaat and sadaqah (seperate from operations) but track both seperately as virtual accounts, we don't have any expenses from either account but we do often give zakaat especially to these large international charities for big projects.
Thank u for the work u have done. If nothing else it will encourage these organizations to be more transparent. Unfortunately it did make it difficult to allocate zakat this year.
What a mess they've all created. I'm seriously thinking of just giving money directly to people instead of going through a non-profit. They're playing fast and loose with other people's money - Allahu Akbar.
I would not believe everything in this article! It is defamation which has been answered at least by several of these organizations to the author but he has not published them here.
We give zakat to the “ most needy” please do that! whether at home or abroad inshallah they will receive it.
May Allah accept your Zakah and he knows your intention.
Please don’t hold back! Clarify your accusations and inform us of what you know.
I have dealt with Zakat Foundation of America and they do what they say, they have a well documented rebuttal if you ask them
You can spend your Ramadan more productively than spamming my comments section with no useful information perhaps? You either have a link or you don’t.
Salaams!
If you contact the organizations I mentioned you can get your own rebuttal. I did and got their answer .
Be careful next time before you degrade the worldwide efforts of people who are working hard to provide what individuals cannot.
Yes ! Agree no such articles from you or anyone else in Ramadan that put doubt.
without proof.
Spend time doing good deeds instead of tearing the down.
End of discussion
Btw who is “us”?
I’ve emailed my regulars to see if they truly have no zakah policy and no accountability process.
Islamic relief is listed as among the better of all international charities reviewed.
Not sure I understand your question about who ‘us’ is. You implied you have knowledge that others don’t so I asked that you share it.
I also don’t understand the damage that is done here. All of us who pay zakah will still pay zakah. More likely we will end up paying more locally and directly to the needy rather to organizations that are far more inefficient than they let on. I also don’t see anywhere that Shaikh said these program don’t do real work.
Anyways Jazak Allahu Khair.
Fi Amanillah
You can write to them ( the organizations) directly for rebuttals instead of me being the go between, and then make your own assessment.
Salaam! Here is one real program that Islamic Relief does:
Below is from one of its many volunteers on the ground serving families in distress:
Assalamu Alaikum dear families,
A small but important update regarding the Ramadan family visits 🌙
For those who would like to volunteer to visit one of the families, *Islamic Relief will provide transportation* — a car with a driver will take you to the family’s home and bring you back, inshaAllah, also an Islamic relief volunteer will accompany your family during the visit.
We are now approaching the *last ten nights of Ramadan*, the most blessed nights of the year. This is a beautiful opportunity for immense reward.
The Prophet ﷺ taught us the virtue of إدخال السرور على قلب مسلم — bringing joy to the heart of a Muslim — and the great reward of إفطار صائم - feeding the fasting.
Imagine what it means for a struggling family, living far from home, facing illness and hardship, to have someone knock on their door with food, kindness, and companionship. Sometimes a simple visit can lift a heart that has been heavy for a very long time.
*You can help in two ways:*
1️⃣ Volunteer your family to visit one of the families for Iftar and bring food to share with them.
2️⃣ Donate towards the 2500 TL grocery card we are preparing for each family (you can donate the full amount or any contribution).
Let’s try together to bring comfort, dignity, and joy to these families in these blessed nights.
Inshallah after Ramadan I will send the rebuttals I received .
For now the damage is done
Let us spend the next few days and nights in Istighfaar for what is already done.
May Allah forgive us!
a thorough expose. You are a must follow for the US Muslim community
First time I have seen such an analysis. I have been donating to many of these charities for years. No wonder Muslim charity has become a cottage industry with more and more popping up every year.
Good analysis brother
We really appreciate the work you are doing! I always suspected there is charity scam going on many levels. I started suspecting when they were aggressively fundraising for Gaza and there was absolutely no conduit (Aid) going into Gaza for quite sometime. A Palestanian told me that most of these organizations collecting money playing on people emotions are not delivering on thier promise. Actually the money was not a problem for the Gaza big wealthy donors were there (Govt, of Turkey,Arab countries such as Qatar, some European countries, UN, wealthy individual donors etc.) but challenge was to get that AID move inside.
Part of the problem is donors don't have time and energy to investigate and ask hard questions like you did.
I wish because of your efforts this fundraising-nonprofit sector moves towards reform and new peer to peer players come along with ironclad transprency. I am wondering if there is simillar exercise done for Canadian Charities?
Ameen. I have not done a deep dive on Canada but from what I can see its not great. Charities are regulated differently in Canada and perhaps that matters.
Clearly you're not familiar with the commercial corridor where orgs can buy inside Gaza. The prices are inflated but better to pay inflated prices than not give aid.
At least that's what the charities I donate to were doing
True ! The only way Gaza can get food is to pay at the door to Eygpt and Israel and sometimes even then it doesn’t get in.
Zakah is an intention the rest is done by Allah! If your intention is pure it will be to “ where most needed”
I know people who have witnessed the work of HHRD and Zakat Foundation and their work is impeccable and irreplaceable and they have sent rebuttals which have not been published by the author here ! He should do that!
This reinforced the system of looting the already victimized Gazans. Israel, Egypt and some Gazan traitors created the system of commercial goods as aid, charging exorbitant fees to move goods and selling aid for profits. https://www.madamasr.com/en/2025/12/11/feature/politics/kings-of-famine/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email. Maybe your solution is the best one can do but it has significant issues as well.
Can’t imagine the time and rigor involved in examining all these charities. Thank you for your efforts.
Here is a crazy idea ... give your zakat to poor people where you live. If you think there are no poor people near you, that means you are out of touch and live in a bubble.
That would mean a radical reorientation in which mass education is needed that after giving Zakah al-Mal to one's family outside of immediate family members, those who are most entitled are in one's locality before giving overseas. I would not be suprised if 80% of American Muslims' Zakah al-Mal goes overseas. An orphan abroad can probably get sponsorship eaiser than an Muslim orphan or a Muslim child below the poverty line in America.
We have to remember that the money and resources from overseas have been stolen by the west thus giving zakat overseas by US and Canadian people is just returning some of their money back to them.
As an African American, I disagree with that reasoning. Governments and institutions are different from individuals. Moreover, the American government owes my people reparations, so why would African American Muslims send all of our Zakah overseas when harms against us haven't been made right here?
Salaams! Of course! if an African American person is currently in a condition that makes him or her eligible for zakat, then they should certainly be among the first to receive it. Zakat is given based on need and eligibility.
However, the concept of reparations is not the same as zakat. To my knowledge, the closest equivalent in Islam to repairing past wrongs is through tawba (repentance), istighfar (seeking forgiveness), and reconciliation. Islam does not hold children responsible for the sins of their parents. Even the Sahabah were not held accountable for the actions of their forefathers before Islam.
Continued demands framed as reparations can sometimes deepen anger and make forgiveness more difficult. Ultimately, it is Allah who truly restores and repairs hearts and injustices, not later generations who were not the perpetrators of those wrongs.
A more constructive path one that may resonate better with Islamic principles, could be for well-established African American communities to support the African regions from which enslaved people were originally taken. Investing in their economies, supporting education, and helping uplift those communities could be a powerful and meaningful way of creating positive change. In spirit, such efforts may represent a form of healing and restoration that aligns more closely with the ethical teachings of Islam.
Allah knows best.
I know that reparations and Zakah aren’t the same. I only mentioned reparations Dr.Asma because you mentioned that America and Canada wealth is based upon taking from others abroad which by that reasoning much was taken or denied right here, perhaps systematically more here than abroad. There are poor Muslims and Mu’allafat al-Qulub right here.
What is preferrable according to fuqaha is to pay one’s Zakah locally when and where there is need before sending outside of one’s jurisdiction. This is what I learned from my teachers. I just said this a few days ago on the minbar.
What I find concerning is that people’s pain and suffering was used to manipulate well intentioned givers
This is why I refused every and all offers to work with these aid organizations. Alhamdulilah.
From HIdaya Foundation: Yes we do have a Zakat fund. We get 4 different types of donations: Zakat, Sadaqah, General, and Corporate Gift Matching, and all of those categories are tracked in our accounting system. We get these different types of donations to all of our various projects, and those are also tracked per project.
Our general overhead costs are around 5% every year, meaning out of $100, $95 would go towards the projects. However, we do not take any of the overhead costs out of the zakat funds - we use general, corporate gift matching, and if left over some sadaqah funds to take care of Hidaya Foundation's overhead costs. So, we will give 100% of your zakat donation towards the project.
That being said, every project and from country to country will have different implementation processes and teams, and varying overheads on implementing those projects until it reaches the people. However we try to include those in the donation. So for example, when we ask for $300 for a water hand pump, or $120 for a sadaqah sacrifice, or a set-price for Qurbani/Udhiyya - the expected overhead price is included in that figure, to ensure the implementation can be done without eating from other funds.
If you are looking for a way to send maximum funds to the end recipient, we recommend donating towards the Widow/Orphan support project, in which a straight cash stipend is given to widow and orphan families. This is our heaviest project in terms of spending, and it is the best and most recommended way to give zakat in which you give straight cash to the recipient so they may do with it as they please.
where is this?
I personally emailed them and this was their response to me
That sounds good.
It would be good to reach out to Br. Waseem Baloch (founder of Hidaya) and also write a follow up based on the responses generated by your original piece.
Thank you for this important work and clarification Brother Ahmed. It is alarming to say the least to hear about the fake, wasted and hoarded donations by so called legitimate, zakat-collecting nonprofits, some of whom I have donated to in the past believing they would distribute nearly all of the funds to those Muslims and others in need globally
Interesting breakdown, I’m tempted to put this into an excel or power bi for more analysis lol
I have a notion database, but am learning. I do hope to get better at bigger data projects and hopefully not make many mistakes Insha Allah.
This is disheartening beyond belief. But I appreciate the investigative work you’ve done. Because only by knowing where our money is actually going can we be empowered to put it in the right hands.
Very good. It would be great if you could publish your methodology so we can potentially crowdsource for other organizations or countries.
We live in Canada and I'm always concerned about giving my zakaat. We do try to give directly where possible, but honestly not that many people here in Canada are truly needy compared to the real desperation overseas. That usually means we need to go through international charities.
I know you're not necessarily taking requests, but would be great if you could do this for Canadian charities or help us to understand how so we can potentially do this. I'm sure we have similar regulatory frameworks and official charities have public reporting requirements.
Our local mosque (of which I am a sometimes board member, as we have elections and term limits) operates its own zakaat and I know that we keep 1 physical account for zakaat and sadaqah (seperate from operations) but track both seperately as virtual accounts, we don't have any expenses from either account but we do often give zakaat especially to these large international charities for big projects.
Obat Canada -- they fundraise separately for their upkeep. All money sent is delivered to intended targets.
AlRashid Islamic institute -- darul uloom in ON. oldest in Canada.
3rd pillar
Thank u for the work u have done. If nothing else it will encourage these organizations to be more transparent. Unfortunately it did make it difficult to allocate zakat this year.
Thank you for such deep work to bring to light all this.