Browsing by Subject "Zakat"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Empowering Communities: The Transformative Potential and Practices of Zakat in the Contemporary United States - Insights from Scholars, Theologians, Practitioners, and Community Leaders
    (Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, Lilly Family School of Philanathropy, Indiana University, 2025-02-27) Siddiqui, Shariq; Samad, Abdul; Mofawaz, Mohannad; Elbenni, Ahmed
    Islamic Relief USA, in collaboration with the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative (MPI) at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, hosted the first annual Symposium on Zakat in Contemporary United States at the Islamic Relief USA Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, on November 18-19, 2024. This symposium was a meeting of select Islamic scholars and leaders to discuss contemporary issues of zakat in the United States using Chatham House Rules to allow for a robust and frank discussion. Muslims in the United States are highly diverse, which results in a diverse set of opinions and debates related to how zakat can be collected and distributed among Muslims, non-Muslims, and potentially others in the United States. This white paper presents six key insights that emerged during the symposium on the role of zakat in the contemporary United States and helps us develop consensus on some of these issues.
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    Muslim American Giving Report: Motivations of Giving
    (Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, 2023-05-29) Siddiqui, Shariq; Cheema, Jehanzeb; Noor, Zeeshan; Hughes, Micah; Wasif, Rafeel; Samad, Abdul; Mofawaz, Mohannad
    This report evaluates an adaptive self-report scale regarding what motivates people in the United States to give to charitable causes or organizations by using a theoretical framework of perceived benefits. An exploratory factor analysis on charity motivation scales revealed that religion, in addition to basic socioeconomic demographics such as gender, age, education, race, income, marital status, and geographic location, significantly influence Americans’ motivation to give. The other notable factors were found to be political leaning, civic participation, political conservatism, and involvement in nonprofit service, as they all have an important effect on giving motivation. For this purpose, a representative sample of 1,733 U.S. adults (866 Muslims and 867 non-Muslims) from various ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds were polled to discover more about their giving patterns and what motivates them to contribute. The findings, which mostly aligned with the Muslim American Giving Report 2021 (Siddiqui & Wasif, 2021), indicated Muslims and non-Muslims evidently have different motivations for contributing.
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    Muslim American Zakat Report 2023
    (Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, 2023-08-29) Hughes, Micah; Thapa, Sitashma; Cheema, Jehanzeb; Ajmal, Mariam; Wasif, Rafeel; Siddiqui, Shariq; Paarlberg, Afshan; Noor, Zeeshan; Mofawaz, Mohannad
    Zakat, the third of the five pillars of Islam, refers to obligatory alms for all eligible Muslims and is required by God. Often described as an alms tax and a form of “financial worship,” an individual’s intentions determine whether a zakat act is charitable. The 2023 Zakat Report expands knowledge about everyday zakat practices among U.S. Muslims. This report branches out from existing zakat research as it aims to understand lived perspectives and contemporary techniques. Using an SSRS cross-sectional survey, we research U.S. Muslim nonprofit organizations offering tools (i.e., zakat calculators, social media, etc.) and opinions regarding how to perform charitable acts. This report also researches the link between socio-economic demographics and zakat giving. Our findings emphasize the importance of thinking beyond numbers when considering Muslim philanthropy and understanding practices beyond Western-centric definitions.
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    Muslim Philanthropy Institute's 2023 Impact Report
    (Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, 2024-04) School of Philanthropy, Indiana University Lilly Family
    MPI’s projects and research are driving key decisions of Muslim nonprofits and its work has deeply enriched the Muslim nonprofit and philanthropic sector. This report is a testament to MPI's impact and the progress made by it towards its mission in 2023.
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    Ramadan, U.S. Muslims, and Zakat: Insights from a National Survey
    (Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, 2024-03-28) Siddiqui, Shariq; Thapa, Sitashma; Cheema, Jehanzeb; Ahmed, Tulip
    Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, observed by Muslims through fasting from dawn to dusk. In 2024, it began in early March and ends in early April. This report explores the link between Ramadan and zakat, a mandatory form of almsgiving and one of Islam's five pillars. A survey of 1,136 U.S.-based Muslim adults revealed that the majority prefer giving zakat during Ramadan, often through fundraising iftars or community prayers. Demographic trends show that Muslim women, married individuals, those in the $50,000-$75,000 income bracket, and the 30–39 age group, particularly registered voters, have a higher propensity to give zakat during this period. Additionally, higher religiosity levels correlate with increased zakat giving during Ramadan, offering insights for nonprofit and Muslim faith-based institutions.