Applying for Zakat - Islamic Society of Central Virginia
Below is the Zakat policy for the ISCV. Please read over the process before filling out your application. Use the link below to download a copy of the application. For further assistance, please email us at [email protected]
| iscv_zakah_application__2020_.pdf |
Zakah Fund
The Zakah Fund is an officially recognized and designated permanent fund, established according to the Islamic Society of Central Virginia (ISCV) bylaws and constitution. As such, it is an approved recipient for designated giving and does not provide loans. It has no budget for either income or expense. Its receipts consist entirely of designated giving, and its expenses consist of funds disbursed for its stated intended purposes at the direction of the Zakah Fund Committee (ZFC). Monies are to be disbursed to eligible Zakah recipients as soon as possible. As such, there is no guarantee the Zakah Fund will have a balance on a continuous basis.
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to set forth the responsibilities of the ZFC and the guidelines for discharging those responsibilities. The purpose of the Zakah fund is to collect and distribute Zakah, one of the five pillars of Islam and an obligation on every Muslim who fulfills the criteria for Zakah, in accordance with the Qu’ran and Sunnah on behalf of individuals who choose to give their Zakah through the ISCV. The fund seeks to deliver all contributions to members of the Muslim community who fall under the categories described in Qu’ran (9:60). The document also provides guidelines for non-interest bearing loans issued as financial assistance to members of the local Muslim community.
Zakah Fund Committee
The ZFC acts on behalf of those who have entrusted the ISCV with their Zakah offerings. Its primary responsibility is to collect and disburse Zakah to eligible persons in accordance with Islamic guidelines. The ZFC is accountable first and foremost before Allah for fulfilling their responsibility. The Committee is also accountable to the ISCV board for due diligence. The ZFC serves at the appointment of the board of the ISCV for a one-year term with the possibility of renewal for an unspecified number of terms. The committee consists of 3 – 5 members who must be approved by all members of the board of the ISCV. One of those members will be the treasurer of the ISCV. Committee members must be known in the community for their excellent character and trustworthiness. Preferably, these individuals should have resided in Charlottesville for over one year. Committee members will decide amongst themselves the chair of the ZFC.
ZFC members may not apply for themselves or their relatives while serving on the ZFC. Since ZFC members are exposed to confidential information such as social security numbers etc. they are to required to sign a confidentiality agreement before assuming their role.
Income
The Zakah Fund’s regular source of income is donations of the ISCV congregation. Special offerings to the Fund to help individuals or groups of people involved in natural disasters or devastating circumstances need to be approved by the ZFC and the board of the ISCV.
Zakah Recipients
According to the Qu’ran (9:60), eligible recipients of Zakah are as follows: the poor and needy, those who administer Zakah, those whose hearts need winning over, slaves for the purpose of freeing them, those in debt, the cause of Allah, and wayfarers. However, it is not necessary that Zakah be disbursed to all of these categories of individuals by the ISCV and its ZFC as the other categories are either non-existent in the local community or not an immediate priority. Members of the ZFC waive their claim to be recipients of any portion of the funds from the Zakah Fund. Zakah monies are not be used for any other purpose such as running the operations of the mosque.
Priority in the distribution of Zakah funds will be to Muslims living in Charlottesville and the neighboring counties where the ISCV is the closest Islamic organization. Furthermore, priority will be given to Muslims who are unable to cover the costs of their food, housing, clothing, basic utilities, medial treatment, transportation to and from employment. The amount disbursed to these individuals is to be determined by the ZFC based on the need of the Zakah applicant that is demonstrated through credible documents and the balance available in the ISCV’s Zakah Fund account. Besides accepting applications from potential Zakah recipients, the ZFC should actively look for those who are in need and do not ask for financial assistance due to their dignity. The ZFC should also encourage members of the ISCV community to recommend such individuals and families to them. The Zakah Fund balance is to be disbursed during the year on eligible Zakah recipients. In the event that the ZFC is not able find eligible recipients, it is to notify the ISCV board so that arrangements can be made for disbursement through other Islamic organizations in Virginia that have eligible Zakah recipients.
Any Zakah application that is approved and funds disbursed to recipients is not to be repaid in part or in full in money or labor by the recipient of the Zakah or his or her family.
Zakah Application
Verification of Supporting Zakah Application Documentation
The ZFC is required and entrusted with reviewing all supporting documentation submitted by applicants in support of the veracity of the individual’s claim of need for financial assistance. Any application that does not have all the supporting documents is to be excluded from consideration for funds.
Zakah Application Approval and Disbursement
The Zakah Fund is an officially recognized and designated permanent fund, established according to the Islamic Society of Central Virginia (ISCV) bylaws and constitution. As such, it is an approved recipient for designated giving and does not provide loans. It has no budget for either income or expense. Its receipts consist entirely of designated giving, and its expenses consist of funds disbursed for its stated intended purposes at the direction of the Zakah Fund Committee (ZFC). Monies are to be disbursed to eligible Zakah recipients as soon as possible. As such, there is no guarantee the Zakah Fund will have a balance on a continuous basis.
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to set forth the responsibilities of the ZFC and the guidelines for discharging those responsibilities. The purpose of the Zakah fund is to collect and distribute Zakah, one of the five pillars of Islam and an obligation on every Muslim who fulfills the criteria for Zakah, in accordance with the Qu’ran and Sunnah on behalf of individuals who choose to give their Zakah through the ISCV. The fund seeks to deliver all contributions to members of the Muslim community who fall under the categories described in Qu’ran (9:60). The document also provides guidelines for non-interest bearing loans issued as financial assistance to members of the local Muslim community.
Zakah Fund Committee
The ZFC acts on behalf of those who have entrusted the ISCV with their Zakah offerings. Its primary responsibility is to collect and disburse Zakah to eligible persons in accordance with Islamic guidelines. The ZFC is accountable first and foremost before Allah for fulfilling their responsibility. The Committee is also accountable to the ISCV board for due diligence. The ZFC serves at the appointment of the board of the ISCV for a one-year term with the possibility of renewal for an unspecified number of terms. The committee consists of 3 – 5 members who must be approved by all members of the board of the ISCV. One of those members will be the treasurer of the ISCV. Committee members must be known in the community for their excellent character and trustworthiness. Preferably, these individuals should have resided in Charlottesville for over one year. Committee members will decide amongst themselves the chair of the ZFC.
ZFC members may not apply for themselves or their relatives while serving on the ZFC. Since ZFC members are exposed to confidential information such as social security numbers etc. they are to required to sign a confidentiality agreement before assuming their role.
Income
The Zakah Fund’s regular source of income is donations of the ISCV congregation. Special offerings to the Fund to help individuals or groups of people involved in natural disasters or devastating circumstances need to be approved by the ZFC and the board of the ISCV.
Zakah Recipients
According to the Qu’ran (9:60), eligible recipients of Zakah are as follows: the poor and needy, those who administer Zakah, those whose hearts need winning over, slaves for the purpose of freeing them, those in debt, the cause of Allah, and wayfarers. However, it is not necessary that Zakah be disbursed to all of these categories of individuals by the ISCV and its ZFC as the other categories are either non-existent in the local community or not an immediate priority. Members of the ZFC waive their claim to be recipients of any portion of the funds from the Zakah Fund. Zakah monies are not be used for any other purpose such as running the operations of the mosque.
Priority in the distribution of Zakah funds will be to Muslims living in Charlottesville and the neighboring counties where the ISCV is the closest Islamic organization. Furthermore, priority will be given to Muslims who are unable to cover the costs of their food, housing, clothing, basic utilities, medial treatment, transportation to and from employment. The amount disbursed to these individuals is to be determined by the ZFC based on the need of the Zakah applicant that is demonstrated through credible documents and the balance available in the ISCV’s Zakah Fund account. Besides accepting applications from potential Zakah recipients, the ZFC should actively look for those who are in need and do not ask for financial assistance due to their dignity. The ZFC should also encourage members of the ISCV community to recommend such individuals and families to them. The Zakah Fund balance is to be disbursed during the year on eligible Zakah recipients. In the event that the ZFC is not able find eligible recipients, it is to notify the ISCV board so that arrangements can be made for disbursement through other Islamic organizations in Virginia that have eligible Zakah recipients.
Any Zakah application that is approved and funds disbursed to recipients is not to be repaid in part or in full in money or labor by the recipient of the Zakah or his or her family.
Zakah Application
- In order to be considered by the ZFC for funding, potential recipients must successfully fill out and sign the Zakah Application Form (Appendix 1) and provide the necessary documentation required for verification purposes; otherwise, the application will not be reviewed by the ZFC. Zakah Application Forms are to made available on the premises of the ISCV as well as online on the organization’s website. As the Qu’ran clearly identifies specific categories of individuals as eligible recipients of Zakah, the ZFC is entrusted with disbursing monies to the appropriate deserving persons. The ZFC must fulfill its due diligence in this regard. As such, no exceptions are to be made for any individuals who do not fully complete their Zakah Application Form and provide necessary documentation.
- Potential Zakah recipients identified and recommended by members of the community are still required to fully complete their Zakah Application Form and provide necessary documentation. Should the potential recipient not speak English or have difficulty in writing, then they are to be afforded assistance for completion of the application. All potential recipients are to sign the application by themselves.
- ZFC members, ISCV board members, the ISCV manager and the imam of the mosque are authorized to collect completed Zakah Application Forms from applicants. Community members are also authorized to submit forms on behalf of applicants to any of the previously mentioned individuals. All forms not collected by ZFC members are to be handed to the ZFC within a two-day period.
Verification of Supporting Zakah Application Documentation
The ZFC is required and entrusted with reviewing all supporting documentation submitted by applicants in support of the veracity of the individual’s claim of need for financial assistance. Any application that does not have all the supporting documents is to be excluded from consideration for funds.
Zakah Application Approval and Disbursement
- All ZFC members are required to review completed Zakah applications within one week of their receipt by a member of the ZFC. In extraordinary circumstances that one member of the ZFC is unavailable is to be reviewed by the remaining members of the ZFC.
- ZFC is entitled to question the veracity of supporting documentation submitted and to ask for additional documentation in support of the application.
- The ZFC is authorized to approve or reject applications and to decide on the amount to be disbursed upto an amount of $1000. In order for an application to be approved or rejected and the amount disbursed, all ZFC members need to unanimously agree on the decision and the amount. In the event of a 2:1 vote then the application will be raised to the ISCV board for a decision. Once members of the ZFC have made a decision, all members who made the decision must sign the bottom portion of the application.
- Rejected applications require the ZFC to document the reason for rejection.
- All application forms, whether accepted or rejected, are to be filed along with supporting documentation in a locked cabinet by the treasurer at the ISCV for a period of 10 years for future reference.
- For approved requests, the treasurer will issue a check in the Zakah amount approved by the ZFC. Checks must be directly issued in the name of the beneficiary to whom the Zakah applicant owes the debt. For instance, the landlord or hospital to which the debt is owed by the applicant. When such procedure is not possible, as in extenuating circumstances, the check may be issued in the name of the applicant. All checks are to be duly signed by authorized ISCV signatures.
- A carbon copy of the check is to be stapled to the application before being filed by the treasurer at the ISCV
- For Zakah applications in any amount over $1000, the ISCV board is to decide on these applications after receiving the recommendation of the ZFC post their review.