The Five Pillars of Islam are essential acts of worship that define a Muslim’s faith and practice:
- Shahada: The declaration of faith, affirming the oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad.
- Salah: The obligatory prayers are performed five times a day, serving as a direct connection with Allah.
- Zakat: The act of giving a portion of one’s wealth to those in need, promoting generosity and social justice.
- Sawm: The month of fasting during Ramadan, which is a time for spiritual reflection and self-discipline.
- Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca, which is required at least once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially capable of undertaking it.
What is Zakat?
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam and is a compulsory charitable payment for all eligible adult Muslims. Zakat holds significant importance in Islam. Muslims who can do so must donate 2.5% of their wealth (5% for Shia) toward Zakat.
Could the Islamic Zakat tax be funding terrorism, in the UK or abroad?
The 9/11 Commission Report, officially the Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, is the official Report into the events leading up to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It concluded that Zakat was used to fund Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups:
“Al Qaeda and its friends took advantage of Islam’s strong calls for charitable giving, Zakat.”
(Page 170 of the 9/11 Commission Report).
Categories of Zakat Recipients
There are eight categories of Zakat recipients; among them are the poor, the needy, those employed to collect Zakat, and those striving in the path of Allah—individuals who are engaged in Jihad or other noble causes.
So, Jihad is one category of Muslim causes to the recipients of Zakat. There are many ‘Zakat’ charities in the UK. One such charity is The National Zakat Foundation (Charity number: 1153719). It had a total income of £10.17 million for the year ending December 31 2024.
Being a charity offers numerous advantages, including financial benefits. According to the UK Charities Commission, a charity must engage in exclusively charitable activities.
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I asked AI (Gab AI) this question:
“Does paying Islamic Zakat tax in the UK, specifically in relation to “for the cause of Allah (Fi Sabilillah)”, contravene the Terrorism Act 2000?”
[NB: We should remember that AI can provide incorrect answers]
Here is the AI answer:
That is a critically important and legally nuanced question.
Under UK law, the **general act of paying Zakat—including to the category of “Fi Sabilillah” (in the cause of Allah)—is not inherently illegal** and does not automatically contravene the Terrorism Act 2000. Zakat is a recognized pillar of Islam and a legitimate religious practice.
However, the legality **depends entirely on the specific recipient of the funds.**
Here is the crucial distinction:
1. **Paying Zakat to Legitimate Causes:** Donating to registered UK charities that provide humanitarian aid, build wells, support education, or provide general welfare for the poor and needy—even under the banner of “Fi Sabilillah”—is perfectly legal. These organizations are regulated by the Charity Commission and operate within the law.
2. **Paying Zakat to Proscribed Organizations:** The issue arises if the funds are knowingly or recklessly directed to an organization that is **proscribed** (officially banned) as a terrorist group under the Terrorism Act 2000. The UK government has proscribed numerous groups that operate under jihadist or Islamist ideologies, such as:
* Hamas (in its entirety)
* Al-Qaeda
* Islamic State (ISIS)
* Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
* And several others.
If a person in the UK intentionally channels Zakat funds, including those designated “Fi Sabilillah,” to one of these proscribed groups—or to a front organization that funnels money to them—they **would be committing a serious criminal offense.** This could include offenses such as:
* **Funding terrorism** (Section 15-18, Terrorism Act 2000)
* **Inviting support for a proscribed organization** (Section 12, Terrorism Act 2000)
* **Belonging to or supporting a proscribed organization** (Section 11, Terrorism Act 2000)
**In summary:** The law targets the *destination* of the funds, not the religious principle itself. A Muslim fulfilling their Zakat obligation through legitimate, transparent channels is acting within the law. Knowingly using Zakat to fund proscribed terrorist groups is a clear violation of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The Crown Prosecution Service and police counter-terrorism units focus on the intent and the ultimate beneficiary of the funds, not the religious terminology used to describe the donation.
Please see this webpage for more information: https://myislam.org/surah-taubah/ayat-60/
The following is taken from the myislam.org page link above.
Surah Taubah Ayat 60 in Arabic Text
۞إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلۡعَٰمِلِينَ عَلَيۡهَا وَٱلۡمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمۡ وَفِي ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلۡغَٰرِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِۖ فَرِيضَةٗ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٞ,
Ala-Maududi’s English translation:
(9:60) The alms are meant only for the poor[61] and the needy[62] and those who are in charge thereof,[63] those whose hearts are to be reconciled,[64] and to free those in bondage,[65] and to help those burdened with debt,[66] and for expenditure in the Way of Allah [67] and for the wayfarer.[68] This is an obligation from Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
The line in question is ‘…in the way of Allah’ above/
Footnote (67) relating to ‘in the way of Allah’ reads:
67. “For Allah’s cause” is a general term which implies all those good works which please Allah. That is why some jurists are of the opinion that Zakat funds may be spent on every kind of good work. But the fact is, and the majority of the earliest Muslim scholars have opined, that here the ‘Allah’s cause’ stands for Jihad in the path of Allah, that is, the struggle to eradicate the systems based on kufr and to establish the Islamic system in their stead. Therefore the Zakat funds may be utilized to meet the expenses of the journeys the people make, or for procuring means of conveyance, equipment, weapons and other articles needed for Jihad, irrespective of the fact whether they are so well off or not as to need any help for personal requirements. Likewise help of a temporary or permanent nature may also be given to those people who devote all of their time and energies, temporarily or permanently, for this work
It should also be noted that there has arisen a misunderstanding regarding the “cause of Allah” for the early scholars usually use for Jihad the Arabic word as (ghazyah) which is synonymous with “fight”. They, therefore, are of the opinion that Zakat fund may only be used for the purpose of fighting. But Jihad in the Way of Allah is a much more comprehensive term than mere fighting in the Way of Allah. Jihad applies to all those efforts that are made to degrade the word of kufr and to exalt the word of Allah and to establish the Islamic system of life, whether by propagating the message of Allah in the initial stage or by fighting in the final stage of the struggle.