How Will Zakat Be Used in 2026?

Zakat is a powerful form of charity in Islam and makes up one of the five pillars of the religion. Charity is a valuable act of worship for Muslims all over the world, as the faith focuses on helping others and creating a strong sense of community. It is vital for believers to carry out acts of generosity to share their blessings that Allah (SWT) gave them. The reason why charity is so important is that it helps believers focus on what truly matters (their faith and helping others) rather than materialistic possessions.

Zakat is one of the most valuable forms of charity in Islam and is obligatory for all able, adult Muslims. Its sole purpose is to purify a Muslim’s wealth and share it with those in need, to start their wealth with basic necessities they can’t afford. This type of charity is an annual payment that Muslims who have wealth above the Nisab threshold must make. They must have held this wealth for one full Islamic lunar year before they give the donation and ensure that it is done correctly. Doing this allows Muslims to gain immense blessings from Allah (SWT) and help transform the lives of those in desperate need.

Every Muslim knows that Zakat is an obligation of their faith and must be made if they fall into the criteria to give the donation. However, once the donation has been made for the year, many don’t actually understand what happens with it or, simply, just forget about it. It’s important to know the use of Zakat money for you to fully understand why this donation is so essential, as well as for you not to be in the dark about where your money goes. When you give Zakat, you want to make a big impact and choose a charity that will prioritise the most vulnerable to bring hope for a better future. Find out how Zakat will be used in 2026 and see how Charity Meals will distribute your donations to help those most in need.

What is Zakat Money Used For?

So, what is Zakat money used for? Primarily, your donations are used to help vulnerable communities that are struggling to survive. Zakat is distributed across the world to those facing hardship, hunger, despair and extreme poverty to give them a lifeline and put them on the path to a brighter future. This means that when you give your Zakat, you are redistributing your wealth to impoverished families and individuals who can’t afford basic necessities. You can start their wealth in the form of necessities they need to survive and thrive, while cleansing your wealth and obeying your religious duty.

At Charity Meals, we have some incredible appeals that tackle poverty all over the world and help to end hunger. Your Zakat can contribute towards our appeals to provide the poor and hungry with nutritious food and basic necessities, giving them hope, sustenance and a lifeline. One of our main uses of Zakat focuses on deprived regions in the world and areas that are facing despair, where supplies for a comfortable life are limited. This means that you can give those who struggle to feed themselves and their families nourishing food and water to completely change their lives. All of our appeals aim to provide those in need with nutritious hot meals, food parcels for struggling families and access to clean and safe drinking water for those who face long journeys to get unsafe water. Our team makes sure that your donation counts and makes a difference to the poor, allowing them to finally have some wealth that they can build on and gain a positive future.

Uses of Zakat

There are many uses of Zakat after you’ve given your donation that all help one of the eight categories of people who have been determined by Allah (SWT) to receive donations. These uses can be:

• Helping the Poor: Zakat can be used to provide food, clothing and shelter to the poor, as well as covering basic healthcare and medication that they can’t afford.
• Supporting Those in Debt: Your Zakat can help to pay off legitimate personal debts for people facing hardship. It can also support small businesses that have suffered loss and even with repaying student loans.
• Strengthening the Community: One of the uses of Zakat is to support reverts with adjusting to the faith and providing Islamic education, mentorship and community support.
• Freeing Captives: Zakat can be used to pay legal fees for those held captive and support refugees or victims of human trafficking.
• Helping Stranded Travellers: Your donation can help people who are stuck in another country who don’t have the funds to get back home, as well as refugees, migrants or disaster evacuees.
• Assisting with Humanitarian Aid: Donations can assist with funding humanitarian aid to help those facing war, famine and natural disasters.

Can You Use Zakat to Build a Mosque?

When it comes to Zakat, many people wonder, “Can you use Zakat to build a mosque?”. This is a topic that is regularly debated amongst Islamic scholars, but many agree that Zakat cannot be used for building mosques. Building a mosque doesn’t come under the eight categories of recipients that Allah (SWT) stated. Many schools of thought, such as Hanafi, state that building a mosque isn’t one of the uses of Zakat. Instead, Zakat should be used for those facing poverty and hunger, or for those who fall into the eight categories stated in the Quran. However, a few scholars do argue that building a mosque can fall into the category of fighting in the path of Allah (fisabilillah), but this argument isn’t widely accepted.

To help build a mosque, you can donate Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity) alongside your Zakat because Sadaqah can go towards this sort of cause. This way, you can support this type of cause and earn immense rewards that carries on into the afterlife!

Can You Use Zakat to Build a Well?

Building a well can be a use of Zakat money as long as it meets specific conditions. This is because a water well is typically installed to help the poor who don’t have access to safe and clean drinking water. The conditions that need to be met to be able to use Zakat to build a well are as long as it is being installed to serve the poor and needy who can’t access or afford clean water. So, if someone has to undergo long journeys to access dirty water or if their local water source is dirty, they can use your Zakat for a water well.

Can Zakat Be Used for Education?

Another heavily debated topic for Zakat is can Zakat be used for education. Some scholars believe that Zakat should only be given directly to one of the eight categories of recipients the Quran outlines, while others determine that Zakat can be used for education as long as it serves vulnerable communities. Zakat is only for the poor and needy, and so donations must go toward helping these people that are specified in the Quran. This means that educational initiatives can only take Zakat donations if they’re supporting these people. Alongside this, educational centres that are dedicated to teaching and spreading knowledge of Islam can be permissible because they bring guidance to vulnerable communities.

If there are educational initiatives that don’t serve one of the eight categories that Zakat can go to, then you cannot donate Zakat to them. Instead, these types of initiatives can be given in the form of Sadaqah Jariyah to continuously help others learn, gain guidance from Islam and secure a better future.

Donate Zakat to Charity Meals

Donate your Zakat to Charity Meals today to ensure that it reaches those who need it most. You can feel at ease that the use of Zakat money will support and supply basic necessities to vulnerable communities all across the world. Our team supply people facing poverty and hardship with everything they need to live comfortably and set them up on the right path toward a brighter future. All you have to do is donate online to make a huge difference to countless lives. Every contribution counts and has the power to touch many people in need. Your money can bring hope, happiness and survival to these communities and change their lives.