Zakat, Sadaqah and Food Security

Islam and Food Security

Food insecurity is highest in the most fragile countries and regions affected by war, conflict and natural disasters; ‘6 out of 10 people facing acute food insecurity are in countries affected by conflict or insecurity’. Not just this, in fact ‘45% of deaths among children under 5 have malnutrition as an underlying cause’.

Islam places a high priority on agriculture and prioritizes food security in numerous chapters and verses. All living things primarily obtain their food through agriculture, according to Allah the Almighty. Islam loved working in the food industry to produce food and engage in agricultural activities. In various stories, the Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] places a strong emphasis on agriculture. Most importantly, Islam practiced zakat on agricultural goods to allow people who could not farm to benefit from Allah's bounty.

Divine Advice on the Distribution of Resources

Based on the vicegerency belief, man is a Khalifah of Allah on this earth and all things belong to Allah, the Creator. To make life easier for people, Allah, the Almighty, surrounded the planet with a richness of resources. Humans therefore hold the wealth and resources in trust. Allah, in his unending generosity, outlined rules for how to distribute resources and prosperity. Divine advice on how to use the treasures is intended to strike a balance between those who have and those who do not. Anyone who follows the rules established by the Almighty Allah will receive falah (i.e., tremendous reward in this life and the next), while those who don't do so are harshly warned of the dire repercussions. 

A Hadith on Providing for Others

"Whoever feeds a fasting person will gain the same reward as him without decreasing in any manner the reward of the fasting person," the Prophet Muhammad is alleged to have said. Muslims are urged by this hadith to feed the hungry, especially during Ramadan. Muslims ought to carry out this Sunnah by providing food or financial support to their neighbourhood Muslim charitable organizations.

Feeding Rewards In the Qur'an  

One of the most significant acts that a Muslim must perform to get a large reward is feeding people. The Qur'an frequently mentions the benefit of providing food for Muslims. Given what the Almighty said: "Or giving food in a day of hunger,  To an orphan near of kin,  Or to a Miskîn (poor) out of suffering or poverty." he is regarded as one of the believers who convey the good news of Paradise. Then he joined the group of people known as "those on the Right Hand" who are the dwellers of Paradise.

The Prophet's Saying for Aiding the Underprivileged and Poor

Whoever gives food to the hungry will have his sins forgiven, and whoever facilitates someone's travel will have his sins forgiven, according to the Prophet Muhammad. Helping those in need, providing food for the hungry, and performing other good deeds can all get us into Paradise.

Obtain the Jannah of Ar-Rahman

If you worship Ar-Rahman, provide for others, and promote peace, Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "You shall enter Paradise with security (salam)." Another time, he specifically addressed the food of Jannah as a recompense for helping the needy, saying: "Whichever believer feeds a starving believer, Allah feeds him from the fruits of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection." 

Self-Protection From the Fire

Giving food brings about Jannah, and it shields us from the Fire. In fact, the Messenger of Allah  declared that even feeding your family can carry this weight since it will serve as a barrier for him from the Fire on the Day of the Resurrection. On the other hand, the Fire can result from purposefully denying someone food and keeping them from accessing it. The hadith also states that it is a serious sin even to keep an animal hungry.

Zakat and Sadaqah Jariyah

In developing countries, rising food prices form a major threat to food security, particularly because people spend 50-80% of their income on food. And hence the need to address food security rises. The truth is that sharing food is always a Sadaqah if done for Allah's sake. We often associate Sadaqah and Zakat with charitable donations made to the underprivileged. In fact, the Prophet claimed that providing for our own needs counts as charitable giving. Therefore, it is crucial for us to always have the intention to prepare, consume, and share food for the benefit of Allah, to make sure that this deed is morally and spiritually significant.

Why Donate Your Zakat Through HasanaH?

Donating to the right cause is important and we encourage you to donate through HasanaH, a non-profit organization that is 100% committed to financial integrity, transparency, and stewardship. HasanaH means “good deed”. It connects donors with charitable projects around the globe that address urgent needs while being respectful of Islamic traditions and principles. 

HasanaH does not make individual judgments over which projects qualify for Zakat. Instead, it enables donors to make informed decisions based on reliable data and to direct contributions to credible projects that are aligned with your priorities and values.

Are you interested in making a meaningful impact? Discover charitable projects for food security here.