Find your cause · Make an informed choice
Compare Muslim charities working in the UK and internationally. Explore their purposes, programme evidence and the questions to ask about Zakat, Sadaqah and emergency appeals.
Quick answer
Muslim charities in the UK include organisations delivering international relief and development, alongside organisations supporting people locally. Islamic Relief Worldwide, Muslim Hands and National Zakat Foundation describe different purposes and programmes. Compare the specific appeal, location, evidence and giving policy, especially when making a Zakat donation.
Start with the work
The same cause can involve very different services. Use these distinctions to choose what you want to support, then compare organisations doing similar work.
01
Compare the country programme and the need being addressed: emergency supplies, water, education, livelihoods or longer-term recovery. A charity’s UK registration and its overseas delivery partners are separate things to check.
Evidence to look forLook for named delivery arrangements, dated programme updates, safeguarding and ways for affected people to raise concerns. Check whether results refer to the UK entity, an affiliate or an international network.
02
Decide whether your priority is support in the UK or overseas. Zakat funds may have their own eligibility, administration and distribution policies; those policies can differ between organisations.
Evidence to look forRead the organisation’s published Zakat policy, oversight arrangements and fund reporting. Ask who is eligible, how funds are allocated and how administration is funded. A Clarity Score does not certify religious compliance.
03
A general voluntary gift, a named water project and a long-term sponsorship can involve different commitments. The label on an appeal does not explain ownership, maintenance or what happens if delivery changes.
Evidence to look forCheck restricted-fund terms, the project location, follow-up and arrangements after the initial donation. Ask how ongoing maintenance and running costs are paid and how progress will be reported.
Different approaches
Selected examples, in alphabetical order, using the organisations’ own descriptions and matching registered identities. These illustrate different approaches; they are not endorsements, an exhaustive list or a ranking of impact. Source descriptions checked . Inclusion is not a verification of every programme claim.
Charity № 328158
Describes a faith-inspired humanitarian organisation working on relief, development and advocacy.
View accounts, evidence & contextCharity № 1105056
Describes faith-inspired work addressing poverty through emergency help and longer-term programmes with local partners and country offices.
View accounts, evidence & contextCharity № 1153719
Focuses on Zakat support for Muslims in hardship in the UK, including hardship, housing and empowerment funds.
View accounts, evidence & contextBegin with the difference you want your donation to make. A useful shortlist brings together your priorities, the charity’s actual programme and evidence you can check.
Check the registered name, charity number and official contact details on the profile and regulator link. Confirm that the appeal and payment destination belong to that organisation. Similar names, local branches and international affiliates can represent different legal entities.
Look for a defined goal, the people or places reached, the reporting period and what changed. Ask whether the figures count unique people, repeated contacts or activities. Read limitations and follow-up, and distinguish a charity’s own report from an independent evaluation.
Check the accounts year, income, expenditure, reserves where disclosed and current registration context. Research grants, direct services and campaigning have different cost structures. Missing data does not mean zero spending, and a low overhead ratio does not prove stronger results.
Establish whether a donation supports general work or a named appeal. Check restrictions, what happens if plans change and any ongoing commitment before giving. Follow a trusted official link and keep the confirmation so you can refer back to the stated terms.
Organisation descriptions below support the attributed examples and provider information. The comparison questions are CharityCompare’s editorial guidance. Financial data comes from the dated filings identified on each profile. Read our editorial responsibilities and interests and request a sourced correction.
Financial evidence
3 currently rated matches. Ordered by financial and disclosure score, with equal scores listed alphabetically. This is not a ranking of impact. Payment never changes scores. This table covers our selected organisations only.
| Charity | Score | Cause spend | Income | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE | 93 | 91% | £276m | UK-wide |
| NATIONAL ZAKAT FOUNDATION (NZF) | 91 | 92% | £10m | UK-wide |
| MUSLIM HANDS | 70 | 89% | £33m | UK-wide |
Choose the intended programme and read its current Zakat policy before donating. Compare recipient eligibility, oversight, distribution timing, administration and reporting. CharityCompare helps compare evidence and finances but does not issue a religious ruling or certify a fund as Zakat-compliant. Seek qualified guidance for your circumstances if needed.
They are different giving categories and charities may account for them through different funds. Do not assume a general donation will be treated as Zakat: select the intended fund and check its terms. Follow the charity’s published policy and qualified religious guidance when deciding which category applies to your gift.
National Zakat Foundation describes UK hardship support through its funds and local arrangements. Other organisations may run both UK and overseas programmes. Check the named service’s coverage, eligibility and application process rather than assuming a UK registered office means local help is available.
No. Read what the policy covers, which donations or programmes it applies to and how fundraising, staff, payments and administration are financed. Separate funding may cover those costs. Compare the full accounts and definitions; a headline percentage does not establish effectiveness or the terms of every appeal.
No. This is a selected comparison based on organisations’ own descriptions and matching registered identities. It is not a census of Muslim organisations or a list of approved religious bodies. We do not infer an organisation’s faith from an individual’s name or from incidental mentions of a community in its activities.
CharityCompare Clarity Scores summarise financial and disclosure measures from the dated filings shown on each profile. They do not establish programme effectiveness, clinical quality or the suitability of a service for an individual. Read the accounts period, missing-data notes and regulatory context before using a score.
The selected organisations are matched by registration number to their own published descriptions. This avoids guessing faith identity from a name, a trustee or incidental references to a community. The selection is not exhaustive and payment does not affect inclusion or ratings.