Is education zakat-eligible?

Scholarly opinion varies. Education that enables the poor to earn a living (skill training, trades, basic literacy) is more broadly accepted as zakat-appropriate than general-enrollment academic scholarships. Good Measure Giving flags the charity's own zakat policy; the fiqh call is your scholar's.

How do we measure educational impact?

Enrollment and graduation are outputs, not outcomes. We look for evidence of employment, income, or continued education among graduates — and flag when this data isn't available.

What's the difference between this and K-12 Religious?

K-12 Religious covers US-based Islamic schools. This category covers education programs outside the US, often in Muslim-majority countries.

Are madrasas in this category?

International madrasas can be — the category is structural (geography) not curricular. Look at individual charity evaluations to understand what each program covers.

JULY 2026 · 1448 AH|169 CHARITIES|METHODOLOGY v5.2.0 · UPDATED JUL 18CHANGELOG

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Cause

Best Muslim International Education Charities

Educational programs in Muslim-majority regions — from scholarship programs to school construction to teacher training. This category spans from tightly-run skill-building nonprofits to sprawling international-school networks. Long-horizon work with measurable but delayed outcomes.

Evaluated charities

The Citizens Foundation USA87/100 Developments in Literacy78/100 Givelight Foundation69/100 Iqra Fund65/100 Humanity for Relief and Development63/100 The Noor Project54/100

Frequently asked questions

Is education zakat-eligible?: Scholarly opinion varies. Education that enables the poor to earn a living (skill training, trades, basic literacy) is more broadly accepted as zakat-appropriate than general-enrollment academic scholarships. Good Measure Giving flags the charity's own zakat policy; the fiqh call is your scholar's.
How do we measure educational impact?: Enrollment and graduation are outputs, not outcomes. We look for evidence of employment, income, or continued education among graduates — and flag when this data isn't available.
What's the difference between this and K-12 Religious?: K-12 Religious covers US-based Islamic schools. This category covers education programs outside the US, often in Muslim-majority countries.
Are madrasas in this category?: International madrasas can be — the category is structural (geography) not curricular. Look at individual charity evaluations to understand what each program covers.

Cause

Best Muslim International Education Charities

Evaluated charities

The Citizens Foundation USA87/100 Developments in Literacy78/100 Givelight Foundation69/100 Iqra Fund65/100 Humanity for Relief and Development63/100 The Noor Project54/100

Frequently asked questions

Is education zakat-eligible?: Scholarly opinion varies. Education that enables the poor to earn a living (skill training, trades, basic literacy) is more broadly accepted as zakat-appropriate than general-enrollment academic scholarships. Good Measure Giving flags the charity's own zakat policy; the fiqh call is your scholar's.
How do we measure educational impact?: Enrollment and graduation are outputs, not outcomes. We look for evidence of employment, income, or continued education among graduates — and flag when this data isn't available.
What's the difference between this and K-12 Religious?: K-12 Religious covers US-based Islamic schools. This category covers education programs outside the US, often in Muslim-majority countries.
Are madrasas in this category?: International madrasas can be — the category is structural (geography) not curricular. Look at individual charity evaluations to understand what each program covers.