Charity and Jihad

– Connecting the dots...

Nov 26, 2023

Article voiceover

1×

0:00

-5:20

In 2010, a Canadian Islamic charity’s status was revoked for providing over $14.6 million in support of Hamas or other terrorist entities. The charity was later listed as a terrorist entity under the criminal code. (i) (ii)

In 2011, a Canada Revenue Agency audit of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) determined that only one dollar in four reached the poor and needy. (iii) In 2018, ISNA was suspended and fined $550,000 over concerns that they may have ‘provided resources’ to armed militants in Kashmir. (iv) Yet four years later the Canadian government gave ISNA $687,000 to build an Islamic Centre in Yellowknife NWT. (v)

Currently, the ongoing investigation of an Islamic Charity by the CRA includes numerous allegations of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and it’s connection to Hamas, along with various breaches of tax law. (vi)

In return, the CRA is accused of Islamophobia.(vii)

It is the consistent reference to Jihad that is of interest here. Why is it that this same issue comes up repeatedly with Islamic charities? (viii)

Canada is not alone in this.

The list of designated terrorist entities in non-Islamic countries invariably shows a preponderance of Islamic ones, all of whom require financing. (ix)

In Germany “associations and non-profit organizations enjoy a certain degree of protection, and investigations by authorities such as the Office for the Protection of the Constitution are limited when it comes to finances”. (x) And in the U.K., a registered charity affiliated with terror links in Pakistan runs over 40 mosques as well as Islamic schools. (xi)

Charity, jihad – what is the connection?

Zakat is an obligatory Islamic tax of 2.5% often referred to as charity. It is one of the five pillars of Islam, and consequently produces an enormous amount of money to be used in accordance with the Koran and Hadith.

Non-Muslims also frequently donate to Islamic charities.(xii)

Koran 9:60 (Khan)
“As-Sadaqat (here it means Zakat) are only for the Fuqara' (poor), and Al-Masakin (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah's Cause (i.e. for Mujahidun – those fighting in the holy wars), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.”

Hadith (Tirmidhi 2863)
… Mohammed said: "And I command you with five that Allah commanded me: Listening and obeying, Jihad, Hijrah, and the Jama'ah….”

Sharia* (ROT h8.17)
“The seventh category is those fighting for Allah, meaning people engaged in Islamic military operations for whom no salary has been allotted in the army roster (0: but who are volunteers for jihad without remuneration).”

Jihad itself, is described as a communal obligation. (ROT o9.1)

It should be noted that Islamic charities that have been authorized to collect zakat can do so under various categories and in Canada, that authorization comes from the Canadian Council of Imams. At least one Canadian charity is specifically authorized to collect zakat under the category of ‘fi Sabillillah’ – the cause of Allah.(xii)

Many such Islamic organizations are registered as ‘charities’, this means that those who donate to them can obtain a receipt to use as a tax deduction thereby providing an additional financial incentive.

Islam is not the only religion to obligate a form of charity, but it is the only one in which financing jihad is not only legitimate, as per Sharia accounting standards, but also sanctified in the foundational doctrine.

Koran 9:103 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.