FALLS CHURCH, Va., April 3, 2023 — Azzad Asset Management announced today that its Muslim clients are expected to donate roughly $10 million during the month of Ramadan.
In a statement, the firm said:
Charity is essential to the proper practice of Islamic investing, and we hold ourselves to the highest standard when it comes to calculating accurate zakah amounts for our clients. We are proud to help our clients fulfill their religious obligations and are gratified to facilitate this sizeable donation to those in need.
Zakah–sometimes spelled zakat–is an obligation that practicing Muslims pay on assets held for a full lunar year, including investments. Azzad calculates and reports to clients each Ramadan the amounts that should be given in charity. Although there is no prescribed time to give zakah, many Muslims, including Azzad clients, choose to pay zakah during the holy month of Ramadan, which began this year on March 23.
The third pillar of Islam, zakah is assessed on accumulated wealth in order to help those in need. Zakah is not a tax on income; it is instead applied to wealth and savings to encourage the free flow of capital and avoid a concentration of resources among the very few.
Azzad follows best practices and guidelines on zakah calculation issued by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI). AAOIFI is a nonprofit consortium of Muslim scholars who convene to issue guidelines on halal investing and other financial matters. AAOIFI Standard Number 35, which outlines specific guidance on zakah, is considered the authority for Islamic financial services firms.
About Azzad Asset Management
Azzad Asset Management provides investment management and financial planning services designed to help clients align their financial lives with their Islamic values. The firm is based in Falls Church, Virginia.
