Lillah is any form of charity given purely with the intent to please Allah SWT. However, this charitable giving is given on an entirely voluntary basis and not like Zakat which is an obligatory charity due from every eligible Muslim on a yearly basis.
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O you who believe, spend of the wealth We have bestowed upon you (in Allah’s way), before the Day comes when there shall be no buying and no selling; when neither friendship nor intercession will be of any avail.
Qur’an 2: 254
What is the difference between Zakat and Lillah?
Zakat is an obligatory charity due from every Muslim on a yearly basis. However, Lillah is an entirely voluntary charity given at any time of year purely with the intent to please Allah SWT, any amount can be given.
Unlike Zakat, which has a number of stipulations regarding the type of assistance it can provide, Lillah can be used for any project or programme which is of benefit to people and/or Islamic institutions.
What is the difference between Sadaqah and Lillah?
There are several different types of Sadaqah such as Aqiqah, Fidya and Kaffarah.
Lillah is also a type of Sadaqah donation. However, instead of being made to an individual or persons in need, it can be made to an institution.
Similarly to Sadaqah, it is not compulsory, and there is no minimum amount and no restriction on who can receive funds. Therefore, this is unlike Zakat, which has a number of stipulations on how it can be spent.
