Alms .Photo; courtesy
In a year marked by shrinking global humanitarian budgets and rising displacement, Islamic philanthropy has proven to be a lifeline for millions of vulnerable people.
The Islamic Philanthropy Annual 2025 Report shows that more than one million refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable host communities received assistance through the Refugee Zakat Fund of UNHCR, operating in 25 countries.
The Fund channels Islamic charitable donations into cash transfers, essential supplies, and educational support, drawing on Zakat, a mandatory form of giving in Islam, and Sadaqah, a voluntary charity that allows more flexible use.
Since 2017, the Refugee Zakat Fund has helped nearly 10 million people across 36 countries, reflecting both donor confidence and the Fund’s commitment to transparency and Sharia-compliant governance.
Zakat: Direct Support That Restores Dignity
In 2025, UNHCR received over USD 23 million in Zakat contributions, all fully distributed to eligible recipients under a 100 percent Zakat policy.
More than 579,000 refugees and IDPs across 17 countries, including Sudan, Chad, Jordan, and Afghanistan, benefited from this support.
Much of the aid came in the form of cash transfers, allowing families to decide how to address their most urgent needs whether rent, food, healthcare, or schooling.
M. Firaaz Azeez, Global Executive Director of Humaniti, said that cash assistance empowers families:
“The Fund’s cash assistance programs place Zakat directly into the hands of refugee families, empowering them to prioritize their most pressing needs, whether shelter, food, healthcare, or education.”
Azeez noted that while the model restores autonomy, the scale of need still outpaces available resources:
“We must acknowledge that current levels of cash assistance remain woefully insufficient. Addressing this gap requires focused, sustained, and collective effort from all stakeholders.”
The report shows that Zakat funding is reaching new regions, including Botswana, where displaced families received cash support, and the Central African Republic, where Zakat helped cover educational needs for vulnerable children.
Africa: Meeting Urgent Needs Across the Continent
Africa remains a focal point for the Refugee Zakat Fund.
Seasonal campaigns ensured targeted support during key periods.
During Ramadan, more than 199,800 displaced people received assistance, while Zakat al-Fitr provided over 2,000 refugees with aid ahead of the Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
During Eid al-Adha, nearly 5,000 vulnerable families in Yemen, Sudan, and Syria benefited from both Zakat and Sadaqah contributions.
In Sudan and Chad, Zakat directly supported families displaced by conflict.
In Botswana, newly introduced operations provided cash assistance, and in the Central African Republic, funding enabled access to education for children affected by displacement.
“This freedom of choice restores a measure of control and humanity in lives otherwise marked by uncertainty,” Azeez added, reflecting on the dignity restored through these programs.
These initiatives highlight how faith-based giving is not just about delivering aid it is about providing agency and stability in uncertain contexts.
Sadaqah: Flexible Giving for Long-Term Impact
Alongside Zakat, UNHCR mobilized USD 16 million in Sadaqah contributions in 2025, assisting more than 453,000 people across 18 countries, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Tunisia, India, and Namibia.
Unlike Zakat, Sadaqah allows broader application, funding both immediate relief and long-term resilience initiatives.
For instance, Sadaqah Jariyah charity that continues to provide lasting benefits funded long-term water projects in Bangladesh, helping at least 280,000 people access safe, clean water.
Since 2017, Sadaqah contributions have supported over 3.6 million people worldwide.
The report emphasizes that combining Zakat and Sadaqah enables humanitarian agencies to respond to both immediate crises and longer-term development challenges, offering flexibility to address evolving needs across continents.
Global Expansion and Strategic Financing
Beyond Africa, the Refugee Zakat Fund extended support to South America in 2025, reaching displaced communities in Brazil and Colombia.
Seasonal campaigns and mobile applications made contributions accessible and traceable, linking donors to beneficiaries in real-time.
A major milestone was the operational launch of the Global Islamic Fund for Refugees, a Sharia-compliant endowment established by UNHCR alongside the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development.
Designed to generate sustainable, long-term funding, it transforms seasonal giving into reliable, structured support for refugees and host communities.
Azeez highlighted the broader potential of Islamic philanthropy:
“This challenge compels us to reimagine the potential of one of Islam’s oldest institutions: Zakat. Within a global Ummah of nearly two billion people lies extraordinary capacity to alleviate suffering.”
He further noted:
“It is a sobering reality that many of the world’s refugees come from within the same Ummah that possesses this immense capacity to respond.”
The Refugee Zakat Fund provides a model for channeling this capacity efficiently, ensuring transparency, accountability, and direct impact.
The 2025 report demonstrates that Islamic philanthropy is evolving from faith-based charity into a structured, accountable humanitarian financing mechanism.
From Africa to Asia and South America, Zakat and Sadaqah are delivering cash, education, water, and other critical services to millions.
By combining centuries-old principles with modern governance and global reach, Islamic social finance is turning religious giving into a tangible, large-scale humanitarian impact.
