Zakat in Al-Hodeidah: A Fruit of Awareness and a Pillar of Social Solidarity

Saba Yemen

04-07-2025

Al-Hodeidah – SABA | Report by: Jamil Al-Qashm
In a scene overflowing with compassion, sincerity, and tangible impact, the Zakat Authority Office in Al-Hodeidah continues to implement distinguished projects that reflect the state's commitment to supporting the vulnerable. These initiatives confirm that the obligation of zakat has become a practical tool contributing to the building of a cohesive society.
The latest of these efforts is the In-Kind Zakat Distribution Project for the year 1446 AH, targeting 17,000 impoverished families, the majority of whom are cancer or kidney failure patients. This project is a significant step in the growing map of zakat-based development programs, which elevate the status of the poor and uphold social justice through structured, institutionalized action.
Zakat in Yemen—especially in Al-Hodeidah—has transformed into an integrated developmental system, guided by a clear vision in which solidarity is fused with disciplined institutional performance. Its impact is directly visible in the lives of the poor and needy.
Under the theme 'Food and Sufficiency,' the project aims to revive the spirit of zakat and achieve its ultimate goal: empowering the poor, meeting their needs, and preserving their dignity amid ongoing humanitarian and economic crises.
This vision materialized through the distribution of:
15,000 cups of grains
4,500 liters of sesame oil
2,000 kilograms of local honey
All of these are purely Yemeni products—symbolizing that giving can carry a national identity and that those in need deserve food that reflects local pride and quality.
The prioritization of the most deprived areas highlights the authority's practical approach to project management. Real need is placed above formalities, and impoverished households are assessed using transparent standards, reflecting a maturing philosophy and growing professionalism in zakat administration.
This project illustrates the state's commitment to making zakat a tool for social stability, transitioning from charity to a sustainable solidarity system. By distributing zakat through its rightful channels, the initiative fosters public trust and redefines the relationship between the poor and the Zakat Authority on principles of justice and transparency.
On the community level, zakat emerges as a means of resilience—as no society can remain stable without internal mechanisms that care for its vulnerable members. Zakat is playing this role with precision and effectiveness.
The clarity of distribution criteria and transparency of mechanisms reflect the authority's institutional advancement. The project relied on field data and practical studies in coordination with local councils—signaling a shift from seasonal charity work to long-term professional efforts.
This in-kind zakat initiative is part of a broader system that aims to meet the basic needs of poor families. It aligns resources in a way that balances emergency humanitarian response with the broader goal of establishing justice in wealth distribution.
Zakat here represents a micro-national project with intertwined economic and social dimensions. It stimulates the local market, supports farmers and producers, and feeds needy families—creating a cycle that strengthens the economy and reinforces national self-reliance.
Socially, the long-term impact of these initiatives lies in dismantling pockets of poverty and shielding the social fabric from class-based resentment—by reminding the poor that they remain a priority for the state and society.
Spiritually, the project embodies a deep understanding of zakat's meaning—disbursed with both religious and national consciousness, in alignment with divine guidance and Islamic principles for building a just and unified nation.
The growing zakat revenue, as affirmed by the Zakat Authority's finance department, reflects increasing public trust, driven by effective awareness campaigns that have cemented zakat as a humanitarian, religious, and communal obligation.
Institutionally, the General Authority of Zakat is firmly establishing integrity standards and enhancing operational tools—making it a model for responsible and impactful public resource management.
Today, the poor anticipate zakat season as a moment of dignity, a sign of the state's care for its most vulnerable members—deepening the bond between citizens and institutions within a framework that values humanity and rights.
In this context, Mohammed Haza'a, Director of the Zakat Authority Office in Al-Hodeidah, affirmed that the project is an extension of a strategic vision that uplifts the status of the poor and fulfills the authority's commitment to ensuring sufficiency and dignity through organized and lawful zakat channels.
He emphasized that distributing zakat in-kind to 17,000 poor families—mostly cancer and kidney failure patients—reflects a deep humanitarian mission, delivering help with dignity and care, using local products that embody the spirit of the homeland.
Haza'a noted that the successes of the Zakat Office reflect a state of institutional maturity, with resources managed based on accurate data, well-planned strategies, and effective partnerships with local authorities—making every zakat initiative a result of coordinated collective effort.
He concluded that the growing public confidence in zakat programs in Al-Hodeidah is a direct result of the authority's commitment to fair and transparent distribution. Zakat has become a constructive force with a clear impact on people's lives, turning each season into an opportunity for the state to reaffirm its role as a caring, just, and responsible institution, working to build a more unified and equitable society.
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