( CNN ) -- Akil Vohra quit a lucrative job in international trade litigation to take up something he strongly believes in -- as a legal expert , a Muslim and , most importantly , he says , as an American . He wanted to make sure that Muslims could fulfill zakat , one of the five pillars of Islam that mandates the giving of alms . Zakat is especially important during the holy month of Ramadan , which ends on Saturday . But after the terrorist attacks of September 11 , 2001 , a dark cloud hung over Muslim charities as the federal government heightened scrutiny over terrorism concerns . Zakat suddenly became a risky religious obligation . Agencies all over America from women 's shelters and health clinics to inner-city community centers saw donation checks dry up . `` The fear of giving was very real , said Vohra , 33 , who now works for San Francisco-based Muslim Advocates , an agency that was created to address two needs in post-September 11 America : racial profiling of Muslims and charitable giving . Muslim Advocates partners with the Better Business Bureau to attain accreditation for Muslim nonprofits so that agencies can attain greater transparency and overcome perceptions of wrongdoing . Plus , people can feel more at ease about their donations . The Muslim Charities Accreditation Program , which began in August 2008 , examines nonprofits and trains agency leaders to comply with the federal government 's legal and financial regulations , said Vohra , the program 's legal counsel . Just before the start of Ramadan a month ago , three nonprofit organizations had met all 20 standards required for accreditation . Vohra said several others are going through the process . In turn , Vohra hopes that Muslim charities will start seeing more dollars come their way . `` We do n't make comments on which group to give to , '' Vohra said . `` What we 're concerned about is giving the right way -- best practices for zakat . `` To be able to give freely is a right of all Americans . '' he said . Vohra takes phone calls from people around the nation seeking guidance . `` We 're planning to send money , '' people tell him . `` Is this group OK ? What 's the best way to send our donation ? '' Because of the widespread concerns , Muslim Advocates decided to upload a guidance video on YouTube . It asks people to consider donating to U.S.-registered tax exempt charitable organizations . It tells them to make the intent of their donation clear , keep records and perhaps ask for proof that the funds were used for their intended purpose . The guidance became essential after the federal government cracked down on Muslim groups in 2001 , Vohra said . According to the American Civil Liberties Union , the Bush administration froze the assets of three U.S. charities -- the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development , Global Relief Foundation and Benevolence International Foundation -- during Ramadan in 2001 . Six others have been shuttered to date , the ACLU said . Only one , the Holy Land Foundation , was tied to terrorism after five of its leaders were convicted of providing money to the Palestinian militant group Hamas . `` The government 's actions against these three charities were the start of a pattern of conduct that violated the fundamental rights of American Muslims ' charitable giving in accordance with their faith , '' the ACLU wrote in a report published in June . It said the result was that many in the American Muslim community restricted or stopped their donations altogether out of fear that they would be investigated for terrorism . Vohra , however , is hopeful the tide is turning . President Obama signaled change in his historic speech to the Muslim world delivered in Cairo , Egypt , earlier this year . Obama said he was committed to working with American Muslims to ensure they can fulfill zakat . Vohra said the accreditation program , along with new government perspective , can return confidence and comfort to a religious obligation for Muslims . `` It 's been tough for American Muslims post 9/11 , '' he said . `` This has to do with civic engagement , to be treated as full Americans . ''
The government started cracking down on Muslim charities after 9/11 attacks . Security checks to shelters , community centers started to dry up . Charities hope accreditation will overcome evidence of wrongdoing .