An introduction to

Australia’s only Zakat

Institution
The Big Picture

Our vision is for Islam to flourish

in society as a source of
prosperity and harmony for all.
Our Mission…

…is to distribute Zakat

transformatively within
Australia
 What is Zakat?
In the Arabic language, Zakat means
growth, blessings, purification and
development. It requires Muslims to pay
2.5% of their qualifying wealth on an
annual basis.

“Indeed, Zakat expenditures are only for [1] the

poor and [2] the needy, and [3] to those who work
on [administering] it, and [4] for bringing hearts
together, and [5] to [free] those in bondage, and
[6] for those in debt, and [7] for the cause of God,
and [8] for the stranded traveller. [This is] an
obligation from God. God is All-Knowing, All-
Wise.” (Qur’an, Chapter 9, Verse 60)
Purification, Growth, Institution

The aim of Zakat is not achieved simply when we pay Zakat. The aim
can only be achieved optimally when we distribute Zakat in an effective
way.
How can we distribute Zakat most effectively?

• Pool our Zakat - we co-ordinate where it is given based on an understanding of our individual and
collective challenges and opportunities.
• Focus our Zakat locally - we distribute Zakat in the society where we know the needs and culture
best, and for which we are most accountable to God.
• Balance our Zakat - we use Zakat to support and empower people in poverty and for community
development, meeting needs based on the eight categories in the Qur’an (9:60).
What does NZF do?
We distribute Zakat in Australia. We support and empower
individuals in poverty and support community development.
We do this to enable devotion to God to thrive in society.

1. Poverty Relief and Economic Empowerment

Just over 75% of our Zakat distribution in 2018/19 ($1.34m out of $1.78m in total) will be for
those in poverty.

A snapshot of the problem:

• 21% of Muslim households are in poverty compared to 17% for the population
overall.
• Muslim women face a triple penalty impacting on their employment prospects.
• Young Muslims are excluded, discriminated against, or failed, at every stage
from education to employment.
What does NZF do?
Based on the fourth and seventh categories of Zakat distribution, we
support and fund individuals and organisations for Better Public
Perception, Religious Scholarship and Literacy, Effective
Representation
2. Community Development
Community Development forms an important new component of our overall distribution.
For 2018/19, it is budgeted at 23% ($400k out of $1.78m in total).

A snapshot of the problem:

• 1 in 4 Australians have a negative or a very negative view of Islam and
Muslims.1
• Muslims growing up in an increasingly secular Australian, especially the young,
are drifting away - identifying as Muslims culturally but less committed to the
essence of Islam.
• National organisations representing Muslims and Muslim organisations, as
well as advocacy groups, are underfunded and therefore have less credibility and
influence.
Calculation services
NZF provides Zakat payers with many ways to help ensure they pay
the right amount of Zakat. We held over 20 online, radio and in-
person workshops in 2017/18.

NZF offers:
• Remotely accessed content
• Online Zakat calculator (7,238 people
used it in Ramadan 2018)
• Publications (available online and hard
copy)
– Zakat Guide
– How to make up for missed Zakat
– Paying Zakat on superannuation
– Paying Zakat for a business).
Collection services
NZF provides Zakat payers with many avenues to ensure safe and
secure Zakat collection.

Ensuring trust
NZF is audited by a leading auditor in the not-
for-profit sector and has consistently had full,
clean audits.
In addition, we consult a wide range of expert
advisers - scholars, researchers and
practitioners - who are committed to ensuring
our Zakat distribution in the Australia is
legally sound, purposeful and effective.
History and track record
In 2013, heartbreaking stories of Muslim women facing
the effects of poverty in the Australia came to our attention.

That was the start of National Zakat Foundation

and the beginning of an operation to give Zakat
out locally.

By Sept 2018, NZF had:

• Received almost 6,122 cases
• Given out $5,203,149.61 of Zakat within Australia
 “And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being]
sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer
and to give zakat. And that is the correct religion..” (Qur’an, Chapter
98, Verse 5)
A call to action!
You now have a good understanding of
• the overall purpose and functions of Zakat, and
• about the way National Zakat Foundation operates.

NZF is a unique institution in the Australian Muslim community and

we invite you to pay your Zakat through NZF and join us in pursuing
our vision.
Thank You

JAZAKALLAH KHIERAN