The International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) was created in 1981 and is located in Jeddah, KSA. It is a subsidiary of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is the largest organization representing the Muslim world with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Academy’s mission is to provide religious guidance on modern legal, social, cultural and economic issues. It is an international body composed of over 65 Muslim scholars from all over the world and is as such considered one of the leading religious references for Muslims worldwide.
After studying the various governance parameters of the Refugee Zakat Fund, including:
- Distribution: UNHCR’s 100% Zakat distribution policy implying zero deduction of overhead costs from Zakat funds
- Compliance: the Refugee Zakat Fund complies with essential Zakat rules and regulations
- Beneficiaries: targets most vulnerable eligible refugees and internally displaced families, including families of widows, orphans and the elderly
- Financial: a dedicated bank account is in place to receive Zakat funds only,
IIFA concluded in July 2020 that UNHCR is allowed to collect and distribute Zakat funds through its Refugee Zakat Fund, as long as it commits to the above-mentioned parameters.
Originally published by UNHCR on 4 September 2020.
