The article linked below details some zakat donations made by Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB). The details of the payments which are disclosed certainly make them seem very benign, even benevolent.
But this article is illustrative of the fact that zakat is integral to Islamic finance and banking operations.
The problem with zakat from a Western perspective is the fact that one of the eight purposes of zakat, as laid out in Shariah, is to support those who are fighting in the way of allah. Dozens of Islamic charities which are supported by zakat have been found to fund Jihadist terrorist groups over the past decade or so.
