Can zakat help victims of human trafficking?
Yes, zakat can help Muslim victims of human trafficking. Survivors usually fit several zakat categories at once: they are often poor, many are trapped by fake "debts," and many are far from home with no money. Many contemporary scholars also see freeing people from forced labor as a modern form of the category "freeing captives" in Quran 9:60.
Islam's view of selling people
Trafficking is a grave sin in Islam. In a hadith qudsi, Allah says He will be the opponent on the Day of Judgment of a man who sells a free person and eats the price, and of one who hires a worker, takes his full labor, and doesn't pay him (Sahih al-Bukhari 2227). Forced labor, sexual exploitation and debt bondage combine these wrongs. The Quran also calls believers to stand up for the oppressed:
Which zakat categories apply?
- Freeing captives (fi ar-riqab). Classically this meant freeing slaves and ransoming prisoners. Many scholars today apply it to people held in modern slavery, for example paying to release someone from debt bondage.
- The poor and needy. Survivors often leave with nothing: no savings, no documents, no home.
- Those in debt (al-gharimin). Traffickers often impose made-up debts. Even when such a "debt" isn't valid, real debts left behind, like loans the family took to pay recruiters, can be covered.
- The stranded traveler (ibn as-sabil). A survivor far from their country who needs a ticket home fits this category well.
What about survivors who aren't Muslim?
Most scholars limit zakat to Muslims, apart from the category of those whose hearts are to be reconciled. So for non-Muslim survivors, use sadaqah and regular donations, which are open to everyone and very rewarding. See Can I give zakat to non-Muslims? Supporting reputable anti-trafficking charities, even non-Muslim ones, can also be done with sadaqah. See Can I still donate to non-Muslim charities as a Muslim?
Giving wisely
This is a field where good intentions can go wrong. Don't hand cash to someone claiming to "buy back" a victim, as that can feed the trade. Give through organizations that work with police, lawyers and shelters, and ask whether they hold a separate zakat fund for Muslim survivors. See How do I choose a trustworthy charity for my zakat?
- Selling people and withholding wages are serious sins (Sahih al-Bukhari 2227).
- Muslim survivors can receive zakat as poor, indebted or stranded people.
- Many scholars apply "freeing captives" to modern slavery.
- Use sadaqah for non-Muslim survivors and general anti-trafficking work.
People also ask
Do I pay zakat on my mahr?
Yes, a mahr you've received is the wife's own wealth and counts for zakat with her savings. Deferred mahr not yet paid is treated differently.
Read the full answer →What if my savings drop below nisab during the year?
If savings drop below nisab mid-year, most scholars say the zakat year restarts; the Hanafi school looks only at the start and end of the year.
Read the full answer →Do I pay zakat on diamond jewelry?
No, you don't pay zakat on diamond jewelry you wear, per all four schools. Diamonds held for resale or investment, and gold settings, are different.
Read the full answer →Is there zakat on animals like sheep and cows?
Yes, there is zakat on sheep, goats, cows and camels once you own a minimum number for a year. Pets, riding horses and working animals are exempt.
Read the full answer →Can zakat be used to pay someone's rent?
Yes, zakat can pay the rent of a poor or struggling Muslim, either as cash or paid to the landlord with their permission. Conditions and school views.
Read the full answer →