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A simple guide to Muslim charity with my list of the 10 best and biggest UK Islamic charities to donate zakat to. What and when Ramadan is, the importance of charity giving in Islam, particularly zakat, who and where I'm not a Muslim, but I always donate during Ramadan. Join me. our UK Muslim community are.
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“He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while the neighbour to his side goes hungry.” al-Sunan al-Kubrá 19049
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and is the most sacred month of the year. The dates change every year. In 2023, it begins on 10 March and will end on 9 April.
Muslims observe the month of Ramadan, to mark that Allah, gave the first chapters of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH, meaning Peace Be Upon Him) in 610.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast, abstain from pleasures and pray to become closer to God. It is also a time for families to gather and celebrate.
Eid (Eid al-Fitr) is the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan.
The latest figures I can find are a bit dated, but show just how much Muslims donate to charity during Ramadan.
I can't find any figures, but it seems probable that donations peak in the last 10 days, particularly on Laylat al Qadr - see below.
Muslims believe that the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) in the last 10 days of the holy month of Ramadan. From what I've read there doesn't appear to be anything Sunnah (tradition - the way of the Prophet) to indicate that Islamic giving to charity in the last ten days is better. However, the scholars stated that righteous deeds are better when done at times of virtue, and the last 10 nights of Ramadaan are better than any other, which is why many Muslims give to charity (Sadaqah or Zakat) at this time.
Lailat al Qadr (the Night Of Power) takes place during Ramadan. The date of 27 Ramadan for this day is a traditional date, as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not mention when this would be, although it was suggested it was in the last 10 days of the month. In 2024, it will fall on 6 April. The Qur’an says in surah Al-Qadr that ‘the Night of Power is better than a thousand months’. Everything done in the name of Allah on this night has its rewards multiplied. Source: Islamic Q&A.
Zakat, meaning to purify, is the third pillar of Islam. It denotes the amount of wealth that a Muslim is obligated to donate to underprivileged and disadvantaged people. Any Muslim, whose personal wealth exceeds the nisab (threshold of wealth) must pay Zakat, usually 2.5%, with exceptions for those who are unable to do so. Here's a video from the National Zakat Foundation that explains a bit more about it.
One aspect of zakat that I particularly admire is that it's not just about donating money, you must do so with humility. Muslims focus on doing good, not telling people about it.
When zakat was introduced is (I think) disputed, but the first statutory collection was by Abu Bakr circa 600AD. To put that in context, the first British charity act was the Charitable Uses Act 1601.
There are also many other forms of charity support:
"On the other hand, Allah directs man to the spiritual purity through the act of giving that is represented by charity
that the pious pays as "Zakat" and "Sadakat" almsgiving, and other financial obligations."
Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah
There are 2.7m Muslims in the UK, of which 47% are UK born, 68% are ethnically Asian and 33% are aged 15 and under.
The towns with large numbers of Muslims are Bradford, Blackburn, Luton, Birmingham, London and Dewsbury. There are also high numbers in High Wycombe, Slough, Leicester, Derby, Manchester and towns in Northern England.
The largest ethnic group are of Pakistani origin, followed by those from Bangladesh, but there are also groups of Indian, Somali, Turkish, white European, Mahgrebi and Nigerian Muslims.
I've listed my top 10 best UK Islamic organisations below, but there are a huge number of Muslim charities, many very small and local.
Muslims are less well off than others, yet give at a higher value. Giving per head annually is £371, but many British Muslims donate single gifts of up to £30,000. They are more likely to donate during Ramadan, online and are family orientated – areas of interest include children with disabilities, disadvantaged families, homelessness, education and refugee families.
"Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and spend (in charity) out of the (substance) whereof He has made you heirs.
For, those of you who believe and spend (in charity), for them is a great Reward."
Qur’an 57:7
The UK Pakistani diaspora alone donates £1.25 billion each year to good causes in the UK and Pakistan.
The work of Muslim charities within the international arena is well known, but perhaps less so their work in the UK and that many Islamic non profit organisations support people of all faiths. They also work incredibly hard to ensure that the maximum amount of money goes to those in need. Many of the smaller charities operate on a purely voluntary basis and the larger ones work hard to keep their administrative costs to an absolute minimum.
I know that we all say that and I'm well aware of the fantastic work done by those in non-Muslim charities, but it is true. For example, I advised a charity start-up where the founder insisted that he personally pay all running costs, so that every penny went to those in need, and another running substantial international programmes, without a single paid member of staff.
The Bridge of Hope Report (July 2022) by the Muslim Charities Forum demonstrates the important role UK Muslim charities play in our society, their diversity in terms of the different people they serve and the different work they specialise in and the geographical coverage. Although now a bit dated, for detail on UK Muslim philanthropy, read this March 2020 CASS report.
Here's my list of the top 10 best and biggest UK Muslim charities and Islamic organisations to donate to. However, the UK Muslim charity sector now comprises over 450 organisations, both domestically and internationally, with a combined annual income of over £700 million. You can find more on the Muslim Charities Forum website.
There are also a huge number of very small Muslim charities. They do incredible work supporting those living in poverty in their local communities and, often, those living in much greater poverty overseas. If you don't know who they are, your local mosque almost certainly will.
Alternatively, this Charity Excellence Resource of 100+ fundraising platforms, includes 4 Muslim ones in a section towards the end.
My thanks to Islam Uddin for his help in making this section much better than my original.
A registered charity ourselves, we provide 8 online health checks, the huge information hub, Quality Mark and 3 online directories.
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