Where Zakat Restores Diginity for Special Needs Families!

Where Zakat Restores Diginity for Special Needs Families!

Dar-us-Sakina provides inclusive opportunities and support to individuals with disabilities in the Muslim community of Houston.

Dar Us SakinaEducation Houston, TX Verified 501(c)(3)

What you’re funding

Dar-us-Sakina provides inclusive opportunities and support to individuals with disabilities in the Muslim community of Houston.

Today, we support 581 families across the Greater Houston area, families who rely on Dar-us-Sakina for access to Islamic education, life-skills development, inclusive opportunities, and crisis support.

A large proportion of our programming is Zakat-eligible, allowing your donation to directly uplift individuals and families facing ongoing financial hardship due to disability.

How Are We Making an Impact? Dar-us-Sakina provides comprehensive support to families with special needs through its three service pillars: education, support, and community awareness.

Dar-us-Sakina’s Education Services are dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities through regular faith based programs conducted throughout the Greater Houston area.

Dar-us-Sakina’s Support Services equip caregivers with tools to provide their special needs child with the best possible outcomes through regular trainings, counseling, and need specific case work.

Dar-us-Sakina’s Community Awareness   initiatives educate the general public on disability and provide ample volunteer opportunities, supporting widespread inclusion of individuals with disabilities.

When you donate to Dar-us-Sakina where is your Zakat Applied?

Adult Day Program (very FIRST of its kind)  Dar-us-Sakina’s Adult Day Program (ADP) offers a comprehensive, engaging, and supportive daytime environment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities whose families rely on receiving a Scholarship provided by Dar-us-Sakina to attend. Rooted in Islamic values, the program promotes personal growth and skill development across a variety of domains. Participants engage in meaningful activities that support daily living skills, socialization, and independence, with personalized learning tracks designed to meet each individual’s strengths and needs. ADP helps prepare participants for greater community involvement and future opportunities.

For more information on Zakat eligibility for our Adult Day Program, you can access a fatwa by Shaykh Joe Bradford.

Support Services

In addition to ADP, Dar-us-Sakina utilizes Zakat to provide essential support services to families experiencing financial hardship. Our team works closely with special needs families in crisis to connect them with critical resources, including emergency respite care, counseling, necessary evaluations, advocacy, and durable medical equipment, helping families regain stability with dignity. These services are fully zakat-eligible, as they directly support qualifying individuals and families by removing barriers to care, access, and long-term stability.

Ramadan Call to Action!

This Ramadan, your Zakat and Sadaqah sustain vital, Zakat-eligible programs serving 581 families.

Give with confidence. Give with intention. Give where dignity, faith, and impact meet.

May Allah bless you abundantly for your support.

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "The believers are like bricks of a building, each part strengthening the other." - Sahih Al-Bukhari

Got a question — or an idea — for the team?

Send a note and we’ll pass it along to Dar Us Sakina.

Overview

About Dar Us Sakina

Dar Us Sakina gives Houston Muslim families something that can be hard to find elsewhere: support that fits both disability needs and faith life. It offers adapted Islamic education, caregiver support, and adult services for children, teens, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For donors, the draw is simple, this is practical care that shows up in classrooms, support groups, and everyday family life.

What sets Dar Us Sakina apart is how specifically it serves Houston’s Muslim special needs community. Its programming meets people where they are, from Sunday school and teen life-skills sessions to adult day services, caregiver training, and community awareness.

The story

About this work

In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.

Mission

Dar-us-Sakina provides inclusive opportunities and resources to individuals with disabilities and their caregivers in the Muslim community of Houston.

Who they serve

Individuals with disabilities, especially children, teens, young adults, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, along with their caregivers and families in the Muslim community of Houston.

Their impact

  • 581 special needs families registered
  • 439 caregivers enrolled in support groups
  • 108 special needs students enrolled in Islamic education
  • 40,160 hours of volunteer service performed
  • 2,482 community members trained in disability awareness
  • Average of 30 families per family workshop session
  • 25 students served in the weekly 2-hour Teen & Adult pilot program

How your donation helps

  • Emergency respite care
  • Counseling
  • Necessary evaluations
  • Advocacy support
  • Durable medical equipment
  • Supplies for education and social programs
  • Furniture and supplies for the Adult Day Program
  • Event space, photography, catering, and security for events
  • Trained staff and therapeutic activities
  • Life-skills training and sensory equipment
  • Renovations and furnishings for the Adult Day Program
What they do

Programs

Program 01

Sakina Sunday School

Adapted Islamic education for children ages 5 to 14, with self-contained and inclusion tracks covering Islamic studies, Quran, Arabic, wudu, and salah at multiple Houston-area locations.

Program 02

Teen and Adult Program (TAP)

A weekly life-skills program for special needs individuals age 15 and up, with monthly themes such as cooking, physical fitness, art, social skills, kitchen skills, home management, and money management.

Program 03

Adult Day Program

A structured weekday program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities focused on independence, socialization, daily living skills, vocational training, Islamic studies, self-care, and community participation.

Program 04

Power Moms, Power Dads, and Power Sibs support groups

Peer support groups for caregivers and siblings of individuals with special needs to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.

Program 05

Caregiver training and respite care

Monthly training opportunities for caregivers, including mental health workshops, parent advocacy seminars, and respite care during events.

Program 06

Family events

Accessible, sensory-friendly community events for special needs families with accommodations, volunteer support, and opportunities for connection.

Program 07

Zakat services

Crisis support for special needs Muslim families that can include emergency respite care, counseling, necessary evaluations, advocacy, and durable medical equipment.

Program 08

Sakina Internship

A one-year internship for youth ages 18 and up who work one-on-one with students while receiving monthly training in fields such as speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, special education, ABA, and pediatrics.

Program 09

Volunteer Enrichment Program

A two-year monthly commitment for students ages 13 to 17 who attend monthly events as peer buddies for special needs children and adults.

Program 10

Youth inclusion training and community awareness

Training and workshops for Islamic schools, masajid, Scouts, and the wider community on disability awareness, inclusive etiquette, and early childhood intervention.

Impact in person

Stories

Leena and Umara Raza

After moving to Houston in 2020, Umara Raza sought a nurturing environment where her daughter Leena could explore faith and spirituality at her own pace. Leena was born profoundly deaf and later diagnosed with autism, and Dar-us-Sakina’s Sunday School and wider support network became an important part of her story.

We finally have the positive attention we deserve, and Leena has a space where she can thrive.

Noor Ibrahim

Noor Ibrahim was diagnosed with Down syndrome shortly after birth, and speech therapy helped her move from very limited speech to a much larger vocabulary. She later attended Sunday School, participated in the Teen and Adult Program, and her mother took on a case coordinator role in the Supports department.

Sunday school, a milestone that Naila describes as "a dream come true."

Ahmed Algaswan

Ahmed’s family navigated his autism diagnosis, early isolation, and the challenge of finding community support after moving to the United States. Dar-us-Sakina became a place for Sunday school, support groups, volunteering, and connection with other families.

Dar-us-Sakina became their safe haven.

Ibrahim Husain

Ibrahim was diagnosed with CHARGE Syndrome soon after birth and later found support through Dar-us-Sakina’s buddy system, Sakina Sunday School, and Power Moms community. His family described the experience as welcoming and emotionally supportive.

We just felt so special right from the beginning.

Sara Alhalabi

Sara lives with cerebral palsy, has undergone surgery, and continues working toward greater independence through education, prayer, exercise, and daily routines. Her family describes Dar-us-Sakina as a place where support and friendship make everyday life easier.

Joining Dar-us-Sakina was life-changing.
For the community

Need help?

Families can register for services through the website registration link or contact the relevant program emails for education, support, volunteering, or adult services. The organization serves individuals with disabilities and their caregivers in the Muslim community of the Greater Houston area.

Calendar

Events

I Have a Dream Gala

annual

An annual gala used to support Dar-us-Sakina’s programs and services.

Family workshops

recurring

Expert-led workshops that combine education, skill-building, and peer support for parents and caregivers.

Monthly community events

monthly

Accessible events for special needs families that include accommodations, volunteers, and opportunities for connection.

Beyond donations

Ways to help

Current needs

  • Sponsorship to finish renovations and furnish the Adult Day Program
  • Volunteers for weekly Adult Day Program support
  • BCBA, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and special education consulting
  • Leaders for Art, Cooking, and Physical Education classes in the Adult Day Program
  • Event space, photography, catering, and security support for events

Volunteer opportunities

  • Sakina Internship for youth ages 18 and up
  • Volunteer Enrichment Program for students ages 13 to 17
  • General Volunteer roles for ages 12 and up at events and field trips
  • One-on-one student support during events
  • Weekly volunteer support for the Adult Day Program
  • Monthly training or consulting support from BCBA, SLP, OT, and special education professionals
Credibility

Recognition & press

Collaborators

Partners & funders

Islamic Society of Greater HoustonIslamic Relief USAMUHSEN

From our newsroom

Other ways to help