Sponsor Eye Surgery as Sadaqah —
Help Fund Sight-Saving Care
Voluntary giving can contribute towards assessment, clinically recommended cataract care and follow-up. Suggested amounts do not guarantee an operation or result. Religious eligibility should be discussed with a qualified adviser.
Quick answer
Many donors sponsor a cataract operation with World Aid Network as Sadaqah or Sadaqah Jariyah, to support access to appropriate eye care. A £200 gift contributes towards cataract care — in Pakistan, Indonesia or Malaysia. World Aid Network is a secular UK charity and does not issue Shariah rulings; please consult a qualified scholar about Zakat.
What is the difference between Sadaqah and Zakat?
Two forms of giving in Islam, often mentioned together. Here is the honest, simple distinction — and where eye surgery fits.
Sadaqah (voluntary giving)
Sadaqah is any voluntary act of charity — given at any time, in any amount, to any good cause. Sadaqah Jariyah is ongoing charity whose benefit continues after it is given: the classic examples are a well, a school, or knowledge that keeps helping people.
A sight-restoring operation fits naturally: the benefit of restored sight continues for years afterwards — in work, study and independence. Many donors choose to give their Sadaqah as a £200 cataract sponsorship for exactly this reason.
Zakat (obligatory giving)
Zakat is the obligatory annual almsgiving — one of the five pillars of Islam — due on qualifying wealth above the nisab threshold. It has specific rules about calculation, timing and who is eligible to receive it.
Whether a particular sponsored operation qualifies as a valid Zakat payment depends on scholarly interpretation — including how ownership of the funds transfers to eligible recipients. That is a question for a qualified scholar, not for a charity's marketing page.
What is our honest position on Zakat?
Some UK charities market cataract surgery as Zakat-eligible, backed by their own Shariah advisors. World Aid Network takes a different approach: we are a secular UK charitable organisation applying for CIO registration, we warmly welcome Muslim donors, and we serve poor patients — but we do not claim a verified Zakat product and we do not issue Shariah rulings.
If you wish to allocate obligatory Zakat, please consult a qualified Islamic scholar or your local imam first. If you are giving voluntary Sadaqah, you can contribute towards clinically recommended cataract care — with funds paid directly to partner hospitals, never as cash to individuals.
Why donors choose eye surgery for Sadaqah
Lasting, measurable change
Cataract surgery can improve vision, but the individual result depends on the eye and other conditions. Follow-up and supporting records are needed to establish outcomes.
A contribution towards clinically recommended care
Your gift contributes to the eye care programme. Around £200 is a planning estimate supplied by Mr Mohamed Mohyudin, not a fixed price or guaranteed operation.
Dignity through local clinicians
Surgery is performed by ophthalmologists registered with the national medical council — PMDC in Pakistan, KKI in Indonesia, MMC in Malaysia. Locally hired doctors receive visiting specialist support for training and review.
What a Sadaqah contribution can support
A care plan may include assessment, the procedure, lens, medicines and follow-up. The clinical plan and agreed budget establish what is funded and whether other costs need support. A suggested gift is not a complete treatment package or a promise of no further costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Sadaqah and Zakat?
Zakat is the obligatory annual almsgiving — one of the five pillars of Islam — due on qualifying wealth above the nisab threshold, with rules about who may receive it. Sadaqah is any voluntary act of charity, given at any time, in any amount. Sadaqah Jariyah describes ongoing charity whose benefit continues after it is given, such as funding something that keeps helping people.
Can I sponsor cataract surgery as Sadaqah?
Many donors treat a sponsored cataract operation as Sadaqah or Sadaqah Jariyah because the restored sight continues to benefit the patient — helping them work, study and live independently. World Aid Network is not a faith-branded charity and does not issue a formal Shariah board ruling. Donors should confirm religious status with a qualified scholar or local imam. A £200 gift contributes towards cataract care.
Is sponsoring a cataract operation Zakat-eligible?
Some UK charities market cataract surgery as Zakat-eligible with their own Shariah advisors. World Aid Network welcomes Muslim donors and serves poor patients, but does not claim a verified Zakat product. Eligibility depends on scholarly interpretation. Please consult a qualified Islamic scholar before allocating obligatory Zakat. Voluntary Sadaqah can still fund a £200 sponsorship.
Who performs the surgery, and where?
All surgery is performed by ophthalmologists registered with the national medical council of the operating country — PMDC in Pakistan, KKI in Indonesia, or MMC in Malaysia — at registered partner hospitals. WAN hires local doctors and arranges a visiting specialist to support training and review of clinical practice. Local teams remain responsible for care and follow-up.
When can I give, and how is my money handled?
Card donations are open now at worldaidnetwork.org/donate (application reference 5290505). Gift Aid is not yet claimable. World Aid Network operates a strict no-cash policy: funds are paid directly to partner hospitals against trustee-approved named patient lists, with delivery and outcomes requiring separate supporting records.
How can you give Sadaqah that restores sight?
A gift contributes towards the wider eye-care programme. Check current funding terms and published evidence; a suggested amount does not establish that treatment has been delivered.
Give £200 towards eye careCard donations are open. Gift Aid is not currently available; future claims require HMRC recognition and eligibility checks.
How can I help someone access eye care?
Understand the care available, explore its costs and see how a donation reaches a treatment partner.
- Give to eye care
About £200 is our planning estimate for one cataract operation. Any amount contributes to the Gift of Sight Appeal.
- Sponsor cataract surgery
Learn how to help fund an operation.
- Plan an eye-care gift
Calculate your giving total without assuming a number of operations.
- Where your donation goes
Read how funds are allocated and accounted for.
- Sight-restoring eye surgery
Explore the eye care programme and treatment pathway.
- Getting help for vision changes
Find guidance on professional eye care and support enquiries.
- Clinicians and hospital enquiries
Review standards, participation and professional introductions.
- Screening locations and availability
Check published schedules and what to ask before attending.