Frequently Asked Questions — Al-Ihsan Foundation Australia

Q: Does Al-Ihsan Foundation work with partners on the ground?

Yes. We work with experienced and trusted partners who: Understand local needs Have access to affected communities Operate within humanitarian and ethical standards This allows aid to be delivered efficiently and respectfully.

Q: Where does my donation go?

Your donation is used to support humanitarian aid and community programs based on need. Depending on the appeal, donations may support: Food and nutrition Clean water access Emergency relief Healthcare and education Support for widows, orphans, displaced and vulnerable families If no specific preference is selected, funds are directed where the need is greatest.

Q: How does Al-Ihsan Foundation deliver aid?

Al-Ihsan Foundation delivers aid through trusted local partners in the communities we serve. This approach allows us to: Respond quickly to urgent needs Source aid locally where possible Ensure culturally appropriate assistance Reach families with dignity and care We prioritise accountability, safety, and impact in all aid delivery.

Question 1

How do you ensure my donation reaches the right people?

Accepted Answer

We have a rigorous process that includes needs assessments conducted by our teams and trusted partners on the ground. We identify the most vulnerable individuals and communities to ensure your aid is distributed fairly and effectively to those who truly need it.

Question 2

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Al Ihsan Foundation is a registered charity in Australia. All donations of $2 and over are tax-deductible. You will receive a receipt immediately after your online donation for your tax purposes.

Question 3

Will I receive a receipt for my donation?

Accepted Answer

Yes.

Receipts are issued automatically for online donations
For bank transfers, receipts are issued once payment is confirmed

If you do not receive a receipt, please contact us and we will assist you.

Question 4

How can I stay updated on the impact of my donation?

Accepted Answer

We share regular updates on our website, via email, and on social media.

Question 5

What if I have a concern or feedback?

Accepted Answer

We welcome questions, concerns, and feedback.

You can contact us via:

Email: info@alihsan.org.au
Phone: 1300 998 444
Our online contact form

Your feedback helps us improve and uphold our responsibility to the community.

Question 6

What happens if aid delivery is delayed?

Accepted Answer

In some contexts, aid delivery may be delayed due to:

Access restrictions
Security concerns
Supply or transport disruptions

When this happens:

Funds remain allocated to the intended purpose
Aid is delivered as soon as it becomes possible

We prioritise safety and sustainability

Question 7

Does Al-Ihsan Foundation work with partners on the ground?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We work with experienced and trusted partners who:

Understand local needs
Have access to affected communities
Operate within humanitarian and ethical standards

This allows aid to be delivered efficiently and respectfully.

Question 8

Can I choose how my donation is used?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many of our campaigns allow you to:

Select a specific project
Support a particular country or cause

If you choose not to specify, your donation will be used where it can have the most immediate impact.

Question 9

Where does my donation go?

Accepted Answer

Your donation is used to support humanitarian aid and community programs based on need.

Depending on the appeal, donations may support:

Food and nutrition
Clean water access
Emergency relief
Healthcare and education
Support for widows, orphans, displaced and vulnerable families

If no specific preference is selected, funds are directed where the need is greatest.

Question 10

How does Al-Ihsan Foundation deliver aid?

Accepted Answer

Al-Ihsan Foundation delivers aid through trusted local partners in the communities we serve.

This approach allows us to:

Respond quickly to urgent needs
Source aid locally where possible
Ensure culturally appropriate assistance
Reach families with dignity and care

We prioritise accountability, safety, and impact in all aid delivery.

Question 11

Bank Transfer for Specific Appeals

Accepted Answer

Water Wells

If you are donating towards a Water Well by bank transfer:

Use the bank details above.
In the Reference field, write your name.
In the Description field, write “Water Well”.
Email info@alihsan.org.au with:
a screenshot of your payment
the name you would like displayed on the dedication plaque
your name and WhatsApp contact number

Next steps:

A team member will confirm the plaque name(s) with you closer to the completion stage.
Once the well is completed, you will receive via WhatsApp:
a full report
photos of the well
a completion video

Aqeeqah & Sadaqah Sacrifice

If you are donating for Aqeeqah or Sadaqah Sacrifice by bank transfer:

Use the bank details above.
In the Reference field, write your name.
In the Description field, write “Aqeeqah” or “Sadaqah Sacrifice”.
Email info@alihsan.org.au with:
a screenshot of your payment
your name
the child’s name(s) (for Aqeeqah)
the person’s name (optional) and any duʿāʾ requests (optional) for Sadaqah Sacrifice
a brief description of your donation (e.g. 2 sheep or 1 goat and rice)
your WhatsApp contact number

This allows us to confirm your payment, process your request correctly, and keep you informed.

Next steps:

Once your payment and details are received, your donation will be processed.
When the sacrifice is completed, a video will be sent to your WhatsApp, in shā’ Allah.
A donation receipt will be emailed to you.

Question 12

Can I make a bank transfer donation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can donate to Al-Ihsan Foundation via bank transfer.

Bank Details

Bank:St George Bank
BSB: 112 879
Account Number: 425 989 660
Account Name: Al-Ihsan Foundation

Make your bank transfer using the details above.
In the Reference field, write your full name.
In the Description field, write the appeal you are donating to (e.g. Gift of Sight or Emergency Appeal).
If left blank, your donation will be allocated to where need most.
After completing your transfer, please email info@alihsan.org.au with:
a screenshot of your payment
your name and contact number

This helps us confirm your payment, allocate your donation correctly, and contact you if needed. Once confirmed, a donation receipt will be emailed to you.

May Allah accept your intention and reward your generosity. Ameen.

Question 13

What ways can I donate or pay?

Accepted Answer

We offer several secure ways to donate:

Credit or debit card:Call our office
Bank transfer
Online donation via our website

All payments are processed securely.

Question 14

How can I contact Al-Ihsan Foundation?

Accepted Answer

You can contact us by:

Question 15

What are your office hours?

Accepted Answer

Our office hours are:

Monday to Friday

9:00am to 5:00pm

We are closed on:

Weekends
Public holidays

Question 16

Who is Al-Ihsan Foundation?

Accepted Answer

Al-Ihsan Foundation is a humanitarian charity committed to serving communities facing hardship, poverty, displacement, and crisis.

Our work is grounded in:

Islamic values
Dignity-centred aid
Transparency and accountability

For over ten years we have supported people locally and globally through food relief, clean water access, orphan support, emergency aid, and long-term support programs.

Question 17

Can I pay Fidya or Kaffarah online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can fulfill both through Al-Ihsan Foundation, funds are used to distribute hot meals to needy families.

Question 18

I’m unsure if Kaffarah applies to me. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

If you’re unsure:

Do not assume Kaffarah is required
Seek guidance from a qualified scholar
Or contact a trusted Islamic support service

Question 19

Do I still need to repent if I perform Kaffarah?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Kaffarah does not replace repentance.

A person should:

Feel sincere regret
Seek Allah’s forgiveness
Resolve not to repeat the action

Kaffarah fulfils the obligation. Repentance heals the heart.

Question 20

What if I cannot fulfil the Kaffarah for an oath?

Accepted Answer

If none of the above options are possible, then:

Fasting 3 days is required

These fasts do not need to be consecutive.

Question 21

What is Kaffarah for breaking an oath or vow?

Accepted Answer

Kaffarah for breaking an oath or vow is different from fasting Kaffarah.

If a sworn oath or vow is broken, one must do one of the following:

Feed 10 poor people (two meals each), or
Clothe 10 poor people

Question 22

Does Kaffarah apply to accidental or forgetful actions?

Accepted Answer

No.

If you forgot you were fasting, your fast remains valid
If you accidentally broke your fast, only Qada is required
Kaffarah applies only to deliberate actions during Ramadan

Question 23

What if I cannot fast 60 days for Kaffarah?

Accepted Answer

If fasting is genuinely not possible, Kaffarah may be fulfilled by feeding the poor.

This applies only when there is reasonable certainty, such as:

Clear physical inability
Past medical experience
Advice from a trusted Muslim doctor

In this case, one must:

Feed 60 poor people two full meals each

Feeding applies only when fasting is truly not possible.

Question 24

What is the Kaffarah for breaking a Ramadan fast?

Accepted Answer

The primary Kaffarah is:

Fasting 60 consecutive days

The fasts must be continuous
Eid days and the days after Eid al-Aḍḥa cannot be included

Question 25

What is Qada and how is it different from Kaffarah?

Accepted Answer

Qada means making up the missed day of fasting.

One day is fasted later
It replaces the broken fast

Kaffarah is an additional expiation required only when a fast is deliberately broken during Ramadan.

If a fast is deliberately broken:

Qada replaces the missed fast
Kaffarah serves as an expiation for intentionally breaking the fast.

Genuine repentance, seeking forgiveness, and making an effort to avoid repeating mistakes are essential parts of fulfilling Kaffarah.

Question 26

What actions require Kaffarah for breaking a Ramadan fast?

Accepted Answer

If done knowingly and by choice while fasting in Ramadan, the following require both Qada and Kaffarah:

Eating or drinking something normally consumed
Intimacy during fasting hours

These rulings apply only to deliberate actions.

Question 27

When is Kaffarah required?

Accepted Answer

1. Deliberately breaking a fast during Ramadan

This applies when a person:

Knows they are fasting
Deliberately breaks the fast
Has no valid excuse
Does so during Ramadan

2. Breaking a sworn oath or vow

This applies when a person:

Swears by Allah
Or makes a binding vow
Then knowingly breaks it

3. Certain violations during Ḥajj or ʿUmrah

Some deliberate violations of ihram rules require Kaffarah, such as:

Shaving the head without excuse
Wearing stitched clothing
Applying perfume deliberately

The form of Kaffarah depends on the violation and may involve:

Fasting
Feeding the poor

Or offering an animal sacrifice

Question 28

What is Kaffarah?

Accepted Answer

Kaffarah is an Islamic expiation required when a serious religious obligation is knowingly and deliberately broken.

It is a way to:

Seek Allah’s forgiveness
Make amends for what was broken
Fulfil a missed obligation properly

Kaffarah applies only in specific situations, not to every mistake.

Question 29

What if missed fasts have accumulated over many years?

Accepted Answer

If a woman has missed many fasts over several years due to repeated pregnancy and breastfeeding, and she is currently unable to make up the fasts due to health or capacity

Then:

She may feed one poor person for each missed day
Qada is not required, unless she later becomes able to fast

To get a correct ruling:

First, consult a trusted, qualified Islamic scholar, or shaykh, for guidance specific to your circumstances

Islam does not burden a person beyond their ability.

Question 30

What is required if the fast is broken?

Accepted Answer

1. If she fears harm to her own health

She may break the fast, and the obligation is:

Qada – making up the missed days after Ramadan

2. If she fears harm to her child

She may also break the fast.

All scholars agree that Qada (making up the days) after Ramadan is required
Some scholars additionally held that feeding one poor person per missed day is also required.

Many scholars advise:

Making up the missed fasts after Ramadan only

Question 31

When is it permitted to break the fast?

Accepted Answer

A pregnant or breastfeeding woman may break her fast if she reasonably fears harm, either:

To her own health, or
To her child’s health or wellbeing

This fear may be based on:

Personal experience
Medical advice
Clear physical signs

Question 32

Does Fidyah apply to pregnant or breastfeeding women?

Accepted Answer

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are required to fast in Ramadan.

However, Islam recognises situations where fasting may cause harm and provides concessions with mercy.

Question 33

Can someone else pay Fidyah on my behalf?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Fidyah may be paid by:

A family member
A caregiver
Or another person, with the intention on your behalf

Question 34

When should Fidyah be paid?

Accepted Answer

Fidyah should be given within Ramadan so that those in need can benefit during the holy month. If someone knows they cannot fast, they should pay as soon as possible. This allows us to prepare for Ramadan.

Al-Ihsan Foundation distributes freshly prepared meals on behalf of donors and that it reaches the poor and needy.

Question 35

Can I pay Fidyah in advance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If a person knows they will be unable to fast for the entire month, Fidyah may be:

Paid daily, or
Paid in advance for the full month

Question 36

How much Fidyah do I need to pay?

Accepted Answer

Fidyah is paid per missed fast.

The amount is equivalent to:

Feeding one poor person for one day
(two simple meals or the cost of them)

Fidyah should be used specifically for food. With Al-Ihsan Foundation it is $15 per person per day.

Question 37

Who does NOT need to pay Fidyah?

Accepted Answer

Fidyah does not apply to people who miss fasts due to temporary reasons, such as:

Temporarily Illness expected to improve
Travel
Menstruation or post-natal bleeding

In these cases, the obligation is Qada (making up the fast), not Fidyah.

Question 38

Who needs to pay Fidyah?

Accepted Answer

Fidyah applies to people who cannot fast due to a long-term or permanent condition and are not expected to recover.

This includes:

Elderly individuals who cannot physically fast
People with chronic or permanent illness
Those whose health would be seriously harmed by fasting, with no expectation of improvement

Question 39

What is Fidyah?

Accepted Answer

Fidyah is a charitable payment made when a person is unable to fast and has no realistic ability to make up the fast later.

It is a mercy. Fidyah allows someone to fulfil their responsibility through feeding others, when fasting itself is no longer possible.

“…there is a ransom: the feeding of one needy person.” - Qur’an 2:184).

Question 40

How does Al-Ihsan distribute it?

Accepted Answer

We use Zakat al-Fiṭr funds to provide staple food for widows, orphans, and families in crisis before Eid, so they too can celebrate.

Question 41

What if I forget to pay Zakat al-Fitr before Eid?

Accepted Answer

If missed:

Pay it as soon as possible
It counts as charity, not Zakat al-Fitr

You should still give it and be mindful in future Ramadans.

Question 42

When should Zakat al-Fitr be paid?

Accepted Answer

Zakat al-Fitr must be paid:

Before the Eid prayer

It is best to give it:

In the last days of Ramadan
Early enough so it reaches those in need before Eid

If paid after Eid:

It is still charity
But it no longer fulfils the obligation of Zakat al-Fiṭr

Question 43

How much is Zakat al-Fitr?

Accepted Answer

Zakat al-Fitr is based on a set quantity of staple food, traditionally:

One ṣāʿ (approximately 2.5–3 kg) of staple food
(such as rice, wheat, dates, or similar)

Many scholars allow this to be paid as a monetary equivalent, based on local food costs.

Al-Ihsan Foundation Zakat al Fitr is $15 per person

Question 44

Who does NOT have to give Zakat al-Fitr?

Accepted Answer

Zakat al-Fitr is not required from:

Someone who does not have surplus food beyond their basic needs
Someone who cannot afford it

Islam does not burden anyone beyond their means.

Question 45

Who must give Zakat al-Fitr?

Accepted Answer

Zakat al-Fitr is required from:

Every Muslim who has enough food for themselves and their dependents on the day of Eid

The head of the household typically pays:

For themselves
For their spouse
For their children
For anyone financially dependent on them

Question 46

What is Zakat al‑Fitr?

Accepted Answer

Zakat al-Fiṭr (also called Fiṭrah) is a mandatory charity given at the end of Ramadan.

It:

Purifies the fast from shortcomings
Ensures those in need can celebrate Eid with dignity
Is required from almost every Muslim household

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ enjoined Zakat al‑Fitr as purification for the fasting person from idle talk and improper speech and as food for the poor.” - Abu Dawud

Question 47

Where does my zakat go with Al-Ihsan Foundation?

Accepted Answer

Al‑Ihsan Foundation distributes Zakat in accordance with the categories mentioned in the Qur’an - Surah At‑Tawbah 9:60, with a primary focus on supporting the poor and the needy. Your Zakat al‑Maal is directed to those who are eligible and most in need, ensuring it reaches families facing hardship, orphans, widows, and vulnerable communities.

Question 48

Can Zakat be given as Ṣadaqah?

Accepted Answer

No.

Zakat must be given with the intention of Zakat
It cannot be counted as Ṣadaqah once due

However:

Ṣadaqah can be given in addition to Zakāt
Ṣadaqah does not replace Zakat if Zakat is due

Question 49

What is Ṣadaqah?

Accepted Answer

Ṣadaqah is voluntary charity.

It:

Can be given at any time
Has no minimum amount
Has no eligibility threshold
Can be given to anyone in need
Includes both financial giving and non-financial acts of kindness

Ṣadaqah is given out of generosity, compassion, and sincerity.

Question 50

What is Zakat?

Accepted Answer

Zakat is a mandatory obligation for eligible Muslims.

It is:

One of the five pillars of Islam
Required when a person’s wealth reaches a minimum threshold (nisab)
Calculated at a fixed rate (usually 2.5% on qualifying wealth)
Given only to eight specific categories of people defined in the Qur’an

Zakat is not optional. If it is due, it must be paid.

Question 51

What is the difference between Ṣadaqah and Zakat?

Accepted Answer

Both Ṣadaqah and Zakat are forms of charity in Islam, but they are not the same. The key difference lies in obligation, rules, and purpose.

Question 52

Why is Zakat so central in Islam?

Accepted Answer

Zakat:

Purifies your wealth
Protects you from greed
Supports the vulnerable
Creates social balance

Take, (O, Muhammad), from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [Allah ‘s blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. - Surah At-Taubah 9:103 Quran

Question 53

What if I missed Zakat from previous years?

Accepted Answer

Missed Zakat remains owed and must be repaid once remembered or realised. Rights owed to Allah are not waived by time.

Question 54

Are agricultural products zakatable?

Accepted Answer

Yes.

10% if naturally irrigated
5% if irrigation involves cost

Question 55

Does Zakat reduce wealth?

Accepted Answer

No. Zakat brings barakah and protection.

Question 56

What happens if someone refuses to pay Zakat?

Accepted Answer

Deliberately refusing Zakat while believing it is obligatory is a major sin.

Question 57

Can Zakat be delayed once it is due?

Accepted Answer

No. Zakat should be paid promptly once due. Delaying without a valid reason is sinful.

Question 58

Where does my zakat go with Al-Ihsan?

Accepted Answer

Your zakat is distributed to those eligible under Qur’an 9:60, including the poor, the needy, orphans, widows, displaced families, and others in hardship.

Question 59

Who can receive Zakat?

Accepted Answer

Allah has specified eight categories of recipients.

Qur’an: “Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and the needy…” - Qur’an 9:60

Question 60

What if my wealth fluctuates during the year?

Accepted Answer

As long as wealth does not fall below nisab, Zakat remains due at the end of the lunar year.

Question 61

Can debts I owe reduce my Zakat?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Immediate and payable debts may be deducted before calculating Zakat.

Question 62

Is money owed to me zakatable?

Accepted Answer

If repayment is likely → Zakat is due
If repayment is uncertain → Zakat is paid when money is received

Question 63

Is Zakat due on superannuation or retirement funds?

Accepted Answer

Zakat is due only when funds are accessible. If funds cannot be withdrawn, Zakat is not required until access is possible.

Question 64

Is Zakat due on rental property?

Accepted Answer

The property itself is not zakatable, but saved rental income is.

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