Charity Meals 2025 - Registered charity no. 1202716 - Powered by Pillar
Charity Meals 2025 - Registered charity no. 1202716 - Powered by Pillar
£1 Hot Meals: Feed Just ONE Hungry Person Today
Learn More
“Wealth never decreases because of charity.”
[Muslim, 2588]
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. As an obligatory charity, it lays the foundations of the system of social responsibility in a Muslim society. Looking after the needy is considered everyone’s duty and a crucial part of worshipping Allah (SWT). To donate Zakat, a Muslim must meet the minimum criteria as it is based on surplus wealth through one’s possessions. Zakat payments specify a fixed ratio of a person’s wealth, which contributes to the welfare of the whole community, in particular, the most vulnerable of its members.
After the deduction of debts and other liabilities, the amount of Zakat to be paid is equivalent to 2.5% of one’s net worth.
When a Muslim gives Zakat for wealth, they complete and perfect their faith. Giving to the poor and needy is a demonstration of the obedience of Allah (SWT), which is specified in the Quran. It indicates an individual’s devotion to the injunctions of Islam and a commitment to fulfil one’s duty set out by Zakat regulations.
The believers pay Zakat to achieve the purification of their wealth. Giving from one’s wealth is a source of protection from problems and an increase in provision. The following verse of the Quran illustrates this promise of growth for those who give in charity.
“The example of those who spend in the way of Allah is just like a grain that produced seven ears, each ear having a hundred grains, and Allah multiplies (the reward) for whom He wills. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” [2:261]
This type of mandatory charity secures salvation from the hardship of the day of judgment. The Prophet (SAW) said:
“Every man will be in the shade of his charity on the Day of Resurrection.” [Sahih al-Jaami 4510]
In another hadith, the Prophet (SAW) mentioned Zakat as a means of entering paradise.
“Feed the hungry, spread peace, speak kind words, and pray at night when people are sleeping. You will enter Paradise in peace.” [Musnad al-Bazzaar 2497]
When Muslims donate Zakat regularly, every lunar year they’ve held that wealth for, they contribute to the prosperity of society. Zakat has the power to bring financial security and support food poverty in vulnerable communities. It can help to prevent financial crimes, like stealing, theft and robbery. Having a good distribution of Zakat donations can also aid with diminishing social inequality and empowering individuals who are disadvantaged. This, therefore, helps them to gain a little bit of economic independence that provides them hope for a brighter future.
The Quran mentions the eight categories of people that answer the question who is eligible for Zakat.
“The Sadaqat (prescribed alms) are (meant) only to be given to the poor, the needy, to those employed to collect them, to those whose hearts are to be won, in the cause of the slaves and those encumbered with debt, in the way of Allah and to a wayfarer. This is an obligation prescribed by Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.” [9:60]
According to this verse, when believers give Zakat, it can be spent on the categories given below:
People Who Cannot Receive Zakat Donation
According to the established regulations, Zakat payments cannot be given to the rich, disbelievers, dependent children, parents, and the family of the Prophet (SAW).
When it comes to Zakat in 2026, Muslims can easily give their payments online to Charity Meals to reach those in desperate need across the world quickly. We are a UK-based charity that works to fight hunger and starvation across the globe. Our team works hard to provide access to hot, nutritious meals to those facing hardship in the UK and globally. The work we do in the UK helps people who are homeless, refugees and vulnerable families that can’t afford basic necessities due to the rise in the cost of living. Many people in the UK are struggling to provide nutritious meals for themselves and their families, and our projects, like Family Food Parcels, are there to fight food insecurity and starvation in the UK. Your Zakat 2026 can go towards these UK-based projects to help people struggling all over the UK.
As well as this, we can use your donation to help our projects that tackle food poverty around the world. Many of these projects are eligible for you to donate Zakat to. You can contribute to Charity Meals’ initiatives that provide hot meals and food parcels for struggling families. You can also give Zakat to the projects to ensure access to safe drinking water for those living in areas affected by water shortage.
To donate Zakat, an individual has to establish the eligibility of their wealth. If it meets the Nisab threshold, which is equivalent to 85 grams of gold, a Zakat donation must be paid for it. Zakat is paid in cash, salary, gold, jewellery, livestock, crops, and investment shares. It is 2.5% of the wealth after debts or certain liabilities are deducted from the wealth.
For your convenience, Charity Meals has integrated a handy Zakat calculator in our Zakat donation appeal. You can put the value of your possessions in this online tool, and it will give you the total you need to pay as Zakat.
Zakat is paid once a year from when a Muslim has been in possession of the Nisab for one full lunar year. This means that every Muslim gives Zakat at different times during the year. It all depends on the date from when they first meet and sustain the Nisab threshold. The Islamic calendar (Hijri calendar) is based on the lunar calendar, and it is used to calculate the full lunar year since a Muslim has exceeded and kept the Nisab. From this, you can use this date every year that follows to determine when to pay Zakat.
Many Muslims prefer giving Zakat during Ramadan as a way to gain the immense blessings for acts of worship that the holy month provides. This is especially the case during Laylat al-Qadr, the night of power, because this period of the month can give rewards that are equivalent to more than a thousand months. Many believers carry out increased charity in Ramdan as it is a key act of worship that gets them closer to Allah (SWT) and pleases Him. As long as you’ve held the wealth for a full lunar year for when Ramadan occurs, you can give Zakat during the month.
If you go under the Nisab threshold or owe debt throughout the year, you need to meet the Nisab again and keep it for a full lunar year before you need to pay Zakat once more.
Zakat al-Fitr 2026 is a different type of charity that all able Muslims must give. This is a donation that should be paid before the Eid prayer for all believers who have more than one ‘saa’ (3kg) of common staple food, basically having food in excess of their needs. Due to this, every Muslim should pay this donation, including children in the household. It is a donation that believers make for the whole family and it aims to ensure that everyone can celebrate the joys of Eid with a warming, nutritious meal, even those in desperate need who usually can’t celebrate the occasion.
Muslims should give this donation as early as possible before the Eid prayer to ensure the needy receive it in time for Eid. The cost of the donation is equivalent to one ‘saa’ (3kg) of staple food items in your country, which means Zakat al-Fitr 2026 is around £6 per person. You can give this donation to Charity Meals as well to spread the joy of Eid to those who usually aren’t able to join in the celebrations. You can provide a nutritious meal for them to experience happiness and hope during Eid al-Fitr.
You can pay Zakat online from the comfort of your home. Charity Meals is working to help alleviate food poverty in multiple countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the UK. You can give your Zakat to Charity Meals and support one of their appeals to feed a number of families this Ramadan.
Fulfil your mandatory obligation of Zakat and take a step towards alleviating hunger from the world. Support Charity Meals and donate Zakat to help the most vulnerable in deprived communities. Your generosity can save many lives.
