Date: 26/1/2026
The International Islamic Fiqh Academy Calls on Governments and Institutions to Allocate a Portion of Zakat and Charitable Donations to UNRWA
The International Islamic Fiqh Academy called on the governments of Islamic countries, Muslim communities, charitable institutions, and benefactors around the world to allocate a portion of zakat, alms, and donations and disburse them to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), in order to enable it to meet the needs of unarmed Palestinians in the occupied territories, based on the decision of the Academy’s Council referred to above.
In a statement issued today, Monday, regarding the disbursement of zakat to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in support of Palestinians in the occupied territories, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy stated:
“Stemming from the position of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, emanating from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as the foremost global juristic reference for the Islamic Ummah; and out of a sense of its intellectual responsibility toward the various issues of the Ummah; and in fulfillment of its Sharia duty to clarify Islamic rulings on emerging issues and developments, and to provide effective solutions to the problems of contemporary life and other matters of concern to Muslims across the world; and based on the Sharia texts found in the Holy Qur’an, the Noble Prophetic Sunnah, and the rich Islamic heritage, which emphasize the bonds of faith-based brotherhood among Muslims, and command cooperation and mutual compassion among them, and define what should characterize Muslims in terms of love, mercy, and solidarity, as well as the duty they owe one another when facing hardships, tribulations, and calamities.”
The statement continued: “Accordingly, the Academy affirms that the issue of refugees and displaced persons in the Palestinian territories is, first and foremost, a humanitarian issue. It further affirms that refuge and displacement are directly related to the higher objectives of Sharia that the divine laws have called for preserving. After the objective of preserving life—which is the foremost of these objectives and among the most essential interests—comes the objective of preserving human dignity for refugees and displaced persons by enabling them to obtain a dignified and decent livelihood and by providing appropriate healthcare.”
The Academy also reaffirmed its Resolution No. (165) (18/3) concerning activating the role of zakat in combating poverty and regulating its collection and disbursement, which includes, among its provisions: “Fifth: Other categories of zakat recipients: those employed to administer it. In contemporary application, the category of ‘those employed to collect zakat’ includes institutions, administrations, and their facilities that are officially mandated to collect zakat from the wealthy and distribute it to the poor in accordance with Sharia regulations.”
The Academy stressed the necessity for zakat institutions to enjoy financial and administrative independence from other state bodies, while remaining subject to oversight and supervision to ensure transparency and the implementation of sound administrative guidelines. Institutions legally authorized to collect and distribute zakat hold the funds as a trust and are not liable for loss of the funds in their possession except in cases of negligence or misconduct, and the obligation of the zakat payer is fulfilled upon handing over the zakat to such institutions.
