A Widow’s Dua in the Night
In the quiet outskirts of Muzaffarabad, a mother kneels on a woven prayer mat as the lantern flickers beside her. Her name is Nasreen, a widow raising three young children in a one-room home made of stone and tin. She whispers, “Ya Allah, grant us ease this Ramadan.”
Her cupboards are empty, her children’s clothes worn thin, but her faith remains unshaken. For Nasreen, survival often depends on the unseen mercy of others — the mercy that arrives when a stranger gives Zakat.
Last year, a small Zakat donation from a family in Birmingham reached her village through the Kashmir Welfare Foundation. It arrived as a food pack, a cash grant, and the promise that she and her children wouldn’t go hungry during the blessed month.
“This was Allah’s answer to my dua,” she says, smiling faintly. “We had food for Suhoor and Iftar again. My children broke their fasts with full stomachs and hope in their hearts.”
Nasreen’s story is not unique. It echoes across valleys, from Kotli to Neelum, where faith sustains millions living on the edge of poverty. In a region where 82% of people live in rural areas and there is only one doctor for every 3,886 residents, the struggle for daily survival is real.
And that’s where your Zakat makes all the difference.
What Is Zakat?
Zakat, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is more than charity — it is purification. The Arabic word Zakat means growth and purity, signifying that by giving, you cleanse your wealth and nurture your soul.
It is a divine command:
“Establish prayer and give Zakat, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves – you will find it with Allah.”
(Quran 2:110)
Zakat redistributes wealth to restore balance and compassion within society. It uplifts the poor, supports the weak, and reminds us that everything we own is ultimately from Allah.
Why Zakat Matters More Than Ever
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, over 4.46 million people live amid rugged terrain where opportunities are scarce and natural disasters frequent. Many families depend entirely on seasonal labour, small-scale farming, or relief aid.
The AJK Bureau of Statistics 2024 reveals that rural communities suffer from low income, limited healthcare, and restricted access to clean water. Thousands of widows, orphans, and elderly people depend on Zakat for survival — not as charity, but as their right.
When you pay Zakat through Kashmir Welfare Foundation, your contribution directly:
- Feeds fasting families.
- Provides clean water in remote villages.
- Funds medical care for children and the elderly.
- Supports widows with livelihood training and income generation.
- Keeps orphans in school instead of at work.
Every 2.5% you give changes a life.
Who Must Pay Zakat
Zakat is obligatory for every adult Muslim who possesses wealth above the Nisab threshold for a full lunar year. You must:
- Be Muslim and sane.
- Own wealth above the Nisab level.
- Have held that wealth for one lunar year.
- Have no debts reducing your wealth below the threshold.
💷 Gift Aid adds 25% extra at no cost to you.
Understanding the Nisab
The Nisab is calculated based on the value of 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver.
For example:
- If gold is £50 per gram → Nisab = £4,374.
- If silver is £0.60 per gram → Nisab = £368.
Scholars recommend using the silver Nisab to benefit more people.
How to Calculate Your Zakat
Zakat is due on 2.5% of qualifying wealth. It applies to:
- Cash savings (bank or home).
- Gold and silver beyond personal use.
- Business stock, trade profits, and investments.
- Shares held for resale.
- Rental or investment property (not your own home).
- Pensions and loans you expect to be repaid.
🧮 Use our online Zakat Calculator to work out your exact amount easily and accurately.
💷 Gift Aid adds 25% extra at no cost to you.
Your Zakat Can Change a Family’s Ramadan
Tonight, somewhere in Neelum Valley, a mother will look at an empty table and whisper a prayer just like Nasreen did.
Your Zakat could be that prayer’s answer.
Who Receives Zakat
The Quran identifies eight categories of eligible recipients (Surah At-Tawbah 9:60):
- The poor (al-fuqara) – those who struggle to meet basic needs.
- The needy (al-masakin) – those in even deeper hardship.
- Zakat administrators – those who distribute Zakat fairly.
- New Muslims – to strengthen faith and community.
- Those in debt – unable to repay what they owe.
- Those in bondage – historically, to secure freedom.
- Those striving in Allah’s cause – including scholars and humanitarian workers.
- Stranded travellers – people displaced or without means.
At Kashmir Welfare Foundation, we focus on categories one, two, and seven — helping widows, orphans, and families struggling in poverty or crisis.
How Kashmir Welfare Foundation Uses Your Zakat
We believe Zakat is a trust, not just a transfer of money. Every donation is managed with care, transparency, and accountability.
Your Zakat funds projects like:
- Orphan Sponsorships: Providing education, clothing, and healthcare to over 600 children.
- Widow Relief: Financial aid and skill training for single mothers.
- Medical Camps: Free treatment for more than 4,000 patients in remote regions.
- Water Wells: Supplying clean water to villages previously reliant on unsafe streams.
- Food Packs: Delivering essential food for 10,000 families each Ramadan.
Impact Box
🌙 Zakat Impact 2024
- 600 orphans sponsored
- 10,000 food packs distributed
- 75 water wells built
- 4,000 patients treated
- 120 widows trained in livelihood skills
Your Zakat isn’t charity — it’s transformation.
The Spiritual Rewards of Giving Zakat in Ramadan
Ramadan magnifies every act of worship. Giving Zakat in this blessed month multiplies your reward and draws you closer to Allah.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“The best charity is that given in Ramadan.” (Tirmidhi)
When you give through Kashmir Welfare Foundation, you are not only feeding bodies — you are nurturing souls, spreading mercy, and strengthening the ummah’s bond across continents.
Zakat and the UK Muslim Community
For British Muslims, Zakat represents both faith and responsibility. Many UK donors come from Kashmiri heritage, carrying deep emotional ties to their ancestral land.
Your donations from cities like Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow travel across oceans to reach families in valleys where no other aid arrives. It’s more than giving — it’s giving back home.
“When I give Zakat through the Foundation,” says Faisal, a UK donor, “I know it’s not just money leaving my hands. It’s dignity entering someone else’s life.”
How Your Zakat Purifies and Empowers
Zakat purifies wealth by removing selfishness and greed. It empowers recipients to rise above dependency. It builds bridges of compassion that strengthen our community from within.
Spiritually, it:
- Purifies your heart from attachment to wealth.
- Invites Allah’s mercy and barakah.
- Ensures your wealth continues to grow in goodness.
Socially, it:
- Reduces poverty and inequality.
- Restores dignity to those forgotten.
- Strengthens unity among Muslims.
UK Gift Aid Reminder
If you are a UK taxpayer, you can increase your Zakat by 25% at no extra cost by ticking the Gift Aid box.
That means a £100 Zakat becomes £125 — extra food, extra medicine, extra mercy.
A small tick can feed an orphan. Please Gift Aid your Zakat today.
How to Pay Zakat
- Calculate your wealth using our Zakat Calculator.
- Confirm you meet the Nisab threshold.
- Give 2.5% of your total qualifying assets.
- Donate securely via our online platform.
- Tick Gift Aid if you pay UK tax.
Simple steps. Eternal reward.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When should I pay my Zakat?
Once a full lunar year has passed since your wealth reached the Nisab threshold. Many Muslims choose Ramadan for maximum reward.
2. How much is the Zakat rate?
Zakat is fixed at 2.5% of qualifying wealth, including savings, investments, and gold or silver.
3. Can I give Zakat to family members?
You may give Zakat to relatives who are poor and not directly under your financial responsibility (e.g., siblings, cousins).
4. Does Gift Aid apply to Zakat?
Yes, as long as you are a UK taxpayer and your donation qualifies. Gift Aid adds 25% at no cost to you.
5. How do I know my Zakat is used correctly?
Kashmir Welfare Foundation ensures all funds are distributed according to Islamic principles through audited, transparent local programmes.
💷 Gift Aid adds 25% extra at no cost to you.
Purify Your Wealth, Empower Kashmir
Ramadan is fleeting. With each sunset, another chance to earn mercy passes by.
Tonight, a widow will whisper the same dua Nasreen once did. You can be her answer.
Fulfil your Zakat. Feed the hungry. Educate the orphan. Heal the sick.
Together, let’s turn faith into action and mercy into motion.
