When you hear the word Zakat, what comes to mind? For many, it’s a religious duty fulfilled once a year—a ritual obligation. But for the recipients, Zakat can be so much more than that. It can be a lifeline—a chance to escape poverty, build skills, and regain dignity. At As-Sunnah Foundation, Zakat is treated not as charity, but as a powerful tool for empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, and community development.
Founded with the mission to uplift the underprivileged, As-Sunnah Foundation strategically deploys Zakat funds to programs that create lasting impact. Among its key initiatives, two stand out for their transformative effects:
The Self-Reliance Project provides men and women from marginalized communities with the resources they need to start independent livelihoods. Beneficiaries receive essential tools—sewing machines, vans, shop items, and agricultural equipment—along with financial assistance. But support doesn’t stop there. The program also focuses on spiritual and moral guidance, teaching prayer, halal and haram principles, family etiquette, and the broader values of an Islamic life. Through this holistic approach, beneficiaries are empowered not only financially, but morally and socially as well.
Scholarships at the Skill Development Institute ensure that talented but underprivileged students gain technical and IT skills. These scholarships make high-quality training accessible, helping students secure employment and develop sustainable, dignified livelihoods. By linking education with opportunity, the foundation ensures that Zakat funds create long-term impact, not short-term relief.
Beyond Zakat-specific programs, the foundation implements a wide range of initiatives that touch lives across Bangladesh. Its Skill Development Institute offers courses in Small Business Management, Sales & Marketing, Smart Tailoring & Fashion Design, Art of Creation, Language & Leadership, Entrepreneurship in Footwear, Driving, and Chef & Kitchen Management, with scholarships to ensure inclusion for underprivileged learners.
During disasters, As-Sunnah Foundation provides immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation for victims of floods, cyclones, fires, and cold waves. The foundation also fosters skill-based entrepreneurship, supporting technically skilled individuals to start businesses that create employment for others. University students benefit from the Meritorious Program, which provides accommodation, meals, and skill-building opportunities. Other initiatives include Dawah activities, tree plantation campaigns, Qurbani distribution, Iftar provision during Ramadan, winter clothing drives, and installation of tube wells and water purification plants—ensuring access to essential resources in remote and underserved communities.
The impact of these programs is tangible. In Char Saghata, Gaibandha, a remote riverine area with no roads or electricity, Zakat has been transformative. Horse carts were provided for transport and income generation, irrigation pumps improved farming efficiency, engine-powered boats enhanced agriculture and mobility, and livestock like goats were given to families. These goats multiplied, enabling some families to buy cows and expand their assets. Through these interventions, entire communities have experienced improved agriculture, transport, and livelihoods, showing the multiplicative power of Zakat when carefully managed.
Among the many beneficiaries, Rezaul Karim stands out as a shining example. Rezaul lost his home to river erosion at a young age and moved to Dhaka, spending nearly 20 years as a rickshaw puller while his family remained in poverty. Through the Self-Reliance Project, he received 24,500 taka in startup capital. With this support, he started a small business. Today, he earns over 20,000 taka per month, has purchased land in his village, provides for his family, and ensures his children receive an education. Most importantly, Rezaul now lives debt-free, independent, and with dignity—a testament to how Zakat can transform struggle into stability.
These stories highlight a crucial truth: Zakat, when managed effectively, is far more than a religious obligation. It is a tool for social transformation. By combining financial assistance with training, moral guidance, and community programs, As-Sunnah Foundation ensures that beneficiaries become self-reliant, morally upright, and empowered to contribute positively to society.
Whether it’s an individual like Rezaul Karim or an entire community in Char Saghata, Zakat has the power to change lives, build futures, and uplift society. At its core, giving Zakat isn’t just about charity—it’s about creating opportunities, nurturing dignity, and fostering hope.
👉 If you’d like the visual version, here’s the presentation link.
Check this to learn more about that.
#Islamic_Social_Finance #Zakat #Zakat_Case #Social_Impact