The best place to give Zakat in the UK is a registered charity that keeps Zakat in a separate fund, has a clear Zakat policy, and checks that every recipient is eligible. You can also give Zakat directly to eligible people you know, or through a mosque that passes Zakat on to eligible individuals. Before Ramadan 2027 begins on Monday 8 February, check the charity’s registration on the official Charity Commission register and decide when you will pay.
Ramadan is the month when most British Muslims pay their Zakat, and it is also the month when scam appeals and pressure tactics are most common. This guide from Human Concern International UK explains where you can give Zakat in the UK, the checks to make before you donate, whether your Zakat should stay in the UK or go abroad, when to pay in Ramadan 2027, and how to give your Zakat with us.
In the UK you can give Zakat through a registered Muslim charity, through a mosque Zakat scheme, or directly to eligible people. Each option is valid if the Zakat reaches one of the eight categories named in the Quran.
| Option | Good for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Registered UK Muslim charity | Reaching verified need in the UK and overseas, with records and receipts | Registration number, separate Zakat fund, Zakat policy |
| Mosque Zakat scheme | Supporting eligible families in your local area | That Zakat goes to eligible people, not building or running costs |
| Directly to an eligible person | Relatives or people you know well | That they are eligible, and not your parent, child or spouse |
The eight categories are set out by Allah:
“Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect it and for bringing hearts together and for freeing captives and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the stranded traveller.” (At-Tawbah 9:60)
Our guide to who is eligible to receive Zakat in the UK explains each category in plain terms.
Check six things before you give your Zakat to any UK charity. These checks take a few minutes and protect your Zakat.
The Charity Commission has also advised donors in Ramadan to check a collector’s ID badge, make sure collection tins are sealed, ask questions if unsure, and never feel pressured into giving on the spot. A genuine charity will always be happy to explain its work.
Your Zakat can go to eligible people in the UK or overseas. Giving locally has strong support, and sending Zakat abroad is allowed by many scholars when the need is greater or when you are helping eligible relatives.
When the Prophet ﷺ sent Mu’adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) to Yemen, he told him to teach the people that Zakat “is taken from their rich and given to their poor” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Scholars took from this that local need comes first. Many scholars, especially in the Hanafi school, also allow moving Zakat to another country where people face greater hardship, such as famine, war or disaster, or to support relatives.
There is real hardship in the UK, including among Muslim families, and there is severe need in places hit by conflict, hunger and displacement. Many British Muslims divide their Zakat between the two. If you live in a large city, our local guides on where to donate Zakat in London and the best Zakat charity in Birmingham can help.
You can give Zakat to a mosque only if the mosque passes it to eligible people, such as local families in need. Zakat cannot be spent on building a mosque, paying its bills or running its classes, because these are not among the eight categories. Donations for those purposes are Sadaqah. If your mosque runs a Zakat scheme, ask how it chooses recipients.
You can give Zakat to eligible relatives such as brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins, but not to your parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren or spouse. Many UK families support eligible relatives in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, Nigeria and elsewhere.
Giving to relatives in need carries a double reward. When Zaynab, the wife of Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with them), asked whether she could give charity to her husband and the orphans in her care, the Prophet ﷺ said she would have two rewards: the reward of kinship and the reward of charity (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
Give your Zakat early in Ramadan 2027, ideally in the first week, so charities have time to deliver food, cash and aid before Eid. Ramadan 2027 is expected to run from Monday 8 February to Monday 8 or Tuesday 9 March.
| When | Dates (expected) | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Before Ramadan | By Sunday 7 February 2027 | Calculate your Zakat and check your charity. |
| First week of Ramadan | 8 to 14 February | Gives time for aid to reach families before Eid. |
| By the last ten nights | Saturday 27 February | Pay Zakat al-Fitr early so families can prepare for Eid. |
| Before the Eid prayer | Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March | Final deadline for Zakat al-Fitr. |
Remember that Zakat is due on your own Zakat anniversary. If it falls before Ramadan, pay on time rather than waiting. If it falls after Ramadan, most scholars allow you to pay early in Ramadan. Our guide on how to pay Zakat the right way explains the timing in more detail.
You can give your Zakat with Human Concern International UK online, by phone or by bank transfer, in four simple steps:
Policies differ between charities. With Human Concern International UK, Gift Aid is applied to general funds rather than to Zakat itself. If you are a UK taxpayer, tick Gift Aid on your Sadaqah to add 25% at no extra cost.
Human Concern International UK is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1206222) and based in Manchester. We keep Zakat in a separate fund and spend it only on eligible recipients from the eight categories. Our field teams work with trusted local partners to verify genuine need before aid is given, so your Zakat reaches families facing hunger, illness and displacement. Our reports are published on our website for every donor to see.
Is it safe to pay Zakat online?
Yes, if you go directly to a registered charity’s own website and pay through its secure donation page. Avoid clicking payment links in unexpected emails or text messages.
Is it better to give Zakat to a large or a small charity?
Size matters less than trust. Choose a registered charity with a separate Zakat fund, a clear policy and published accounts.
Do I have to tell someone that my gift is Zakat?
No. Most scholars say your intention is enough, so you can give Zakat to an eligible person without embarrassing them.
Can I pay my Zakat in instalments?
Yes, if you pay in advance. Many scholars allow paying Zakat in parts before it is due, as long as the full amount is paid by your Zakat anniversary.
Can Zakat be given to non-Muslims?
Most scholars say Zakat is for Muslims in need. Sadaqah can be given to anyone in need, of any faith.
For more answers, read our comprehensive FAQs on Zakat.
Your Zakat is a trust from Allah, and where you give it matters. Check the charity, plan your timing and give early, so your Zakat reaches people in need when they need it most.
Human Concern International UK will make sure your Zakat goes only to eligible recipients, through verified cases of hardship. Give your Zakat today and let Ramadan 2027 be the month your Zakat changes a family’s life.
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