In February 2025, Human Development Fund (HDF) organized the Understanding Zakah workshop series with Shaykh Joe Bradford and local scholars. The free events were scheduled in Michigan, Maryland and Minnesota to help community members approach the calculation and distribution of Zakah with greater clarity.
The series has ended, but the questions behind it remain relevant. Zakah is one of the five pillars of Islam, and fulfilling it can involve practical questions that deserve careful guidance rather than guesswork.
Why the Understanding Zakah workshop mattered
The workshop was designed for individuals and organizations seeking a clearer framework for Zakah. Its focus joined the spiritual purpose of the obligation with the practical decisions involved in calculating and distributing it.
Shaykh Joe Bradford works in Islamic finance, ethical finance and Zakah consultancy. Local scholars were also scheduled to contribute their understanding of the questions arising in their communities.
The aim was not simply to provide a formula. It was to help participants understand the principles behind their decisions and recognize common areas of confusion.
Three community stops in February 2025
The Understanding Zakah series was scheduled for:
- Michigan: Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 5:15 p.m. EST at the Islamic Association of Greater Detroit (IAGD)
- Maryland: Friday, February 21, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. EST at the Islamic Center of Owings Mills (ICOM)
- Minnesota: Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. CST at the Northwest Islamic Community Center (NWICC)
All three event dates have passed, and registration is closed.
What the series set out to cover
The workshops were planned around four areas:
- The spiritual and economic significance of Zakah
- How to calculate and distribute Zakah
- Common misconceptions and mistakes
- Practical applications for individuals and organizations
These topics gave participants a starting point for approaching Zakah carefully. A community workshop can provide a helpful framework, while individual circumstances may still require guidance from a qualified scholar.
Continue learning about Zakah
HDF now provides two current resources for people reviewing their Zakah:
- The HDF Zakat Policy explains the organization’s published approach to collecting, managing and distributing Zakat funds.
- The HDF Zakat Calculator guides users through the calculation process using their financial information.
HDF uses the spelling “Zakat” in the names of these current resources. Both address the same obligation described as “Zakah” in the workshop series.
Use the HDF Zakat Calculator →
May Allah grant us sound understanding, accept the Zakah of those who fulfill it and allow it to reach those entitled to receive it. Ameen.
