National Zakat Foundation
British Muslim charity distributing Zakat in the UK
| National Zakat Foundation | |
|---|---|
| Type | Registered charity |
| Logo | |
| Founded | |
| Founder(s) | |
| Dissolved | |
| Registration ID | 1153719 |
| Status | |
| Headquarters | |
| Location | London, England |
| Area served | |
| Services | |
| Registration | |
| Key people | Dr Sohail Hanif (Chief Executive), Sultan Choudhury OBE (Chair) |
| Website | https://nzf.org.uk/ |
| Remarks | |
National Zakat Foundation (NZF) is a British Muslim charity founded in 2011 that collects and distributes Zakat (obligatory Islamic alms) and Sadaqah within the United Kingdom, focusing on poverty relief, housing, employment support, education, and community development.[1] The organisation operates three main funds: Hardship Relief, Housing & Work, and Education, and has distributed millions of pounds to thousands of beneficiaries annually. For the year ending 31 December 2024, NZF reported income of £10.17 million.[1]
NZF was established by Iqbal Nasim and Azim Kidwai to address the need for professional, transparent, and locally focused Zakat distribution in Britain. It promotes the principle of giving Zakat "locally first" and provides tools for calculation and guidance on Shariah-compliant distribution.[2]
Controversies and alleged links to counter-extremism and the Zionist lobby
In May 2019, the Muslim news outlet 5Pillars published an investigation claiming that NZF had used Zakat funds to support individuals linked to counter-extremism programmes and pro-Israel activism.[3] The article specifically alleged that NZF granted £29,442 to Julie Siddiqi (through her Ansar Volunteering Network and Sadaqa Day projects) and £38,565 to Luqman Ali (Khayaal Theatre Company). It highlighted Siddiqi’s co-founding of Nisa-Nashim (a Jewish-Muslim women’s network) alongside Laura Marks (a prominent Zionist activist) and her past involvement in Prevent-related initiatives.
The allegations sparked significant debate within British Muslim communities. A blog post by "Coolness of Hind" accused NZF of funding "deformists", Prevent-linked figures, and individuals connected to pro-Israel networks, claiming the charity was shifting Zakat away from traditional poverty relief toward secular and political agendas.[4]
NZF issued a strong rebuttal, denying any use of Zakat for Prevent, counter-extremism, or Israel lobby activities, and criticising the article as containing "defamation, false assumptions, tenuous links and slander". The charity emphasised confidentiality of individual recipients and reaffirmed its commitment to Shariah-compliant distribution.[5]
An Impress adjudication later examined and dismissed a related complaint by Khayaal Theatre Company against 5Pillars, but the core questions about potential indirect links to counter-extremism networks and individuals with ties to pro-Israel groups (such as Julie Siddiqi) remain subjects of ongoing discussion and criticism within anti-Zionist and traditional Muslim circles.
Trustees
| Name | Role | Appointed | Resigned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sultan Choudhury OBE | Chair of Trustees | 20 May 2013 | — | Long-standing chair |
| Anisa Hanif | Trustee | 19 November 2021 | — | Community advocate |
| Shiraz Hussain | Trustee | 1 January 2024 | — | Operations specialist |
| Dr Shorful Islam | Trustee | 1 January 2024 | — | Shariah advisor |
| Azim Kidwai | Founding Trustee / Former Chair | 2011 | Post-2021 | Co-founder |
| Iqbal Nasim MBE | Founding Trustee / Former CEO | 2011 | 26 November 2021 | Co-founder |
| Sabah Gilani OBE | Former Trustee | Pre-2021 | 7 June 2021 | Community leader |
| Muhammed Yesilhark | Former Trustee | Pre-2021 | Post-2021 | Business background |
Contribution to laundering and normalising Zionism
While NZF’s core work is domestic Zakat distribution, the 2019 controversy raised serious questions about whether its Leadership Investment Programme indirectly supported individuals and projects with ties to counter-extremism frameworks and pro-Israel networks. Critics argue that funding figures such as Julie Siddiqi — who has collaborated with prominent Zionist-linked individuals and organisations — risks normalising the Zionist entity by legitimising voices that promote "coexistence" and interfaith dialogue under conditions that obscure the settler colony’s occupation and apartheid policies in Palestine.
See also
Islamic Society of Britain National Zakat Foundation Worldwide Zakat
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Charity Commission, NATIONAL ZAKAT FOUNDATION (NZF) - 1153719 Charity Commission, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ National Zakat Foundation, About NZF National Zakat Foundation, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ 5Pillars, NZF funded individuals linked to Israel and counter extremism 5Pillars, May 29, 2019.
- ↑ Coolness of Hind, NZF: “Give Zakat Locally” to Counter-Extremists, Deformists and Purveyors of Pro-Israel Activism? Coolness of Hind, May 25, 2019.
- ↑ National Zakat Foundation, NZF Response to 5Pillars Article National Zakat Foundation, May 29, 2019.