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This blog post was published under the 2015 to 2017 Conservative government

https://charitycommission.blog.gov.uk/2016/07/14/ramadan-making-a-real-difference/

Ramadan – making a real difference

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It is estimated by the Muslim Charities Forum that British Muslims gave approximately £100 million to charitable causes during the month of Ramadan this year. To give some context, that equates to approximately £38 a second.

As we often do at periods of increased charitable giving, we issued advice at the beginning of Ramadan on steps donors can take to make sure their donations go to legitimate charities, such as finding out more information about a charity before giving, and checking it is registered with us. However, even if donors are confident that their money will be wisely spent, they won’t – in most cases - get to see the projects that they are supporting; the difference their generosity will make. Fortunately, charities are normally very willing to provide information about how donations will be used. With this in mind, I contacted some of the charities that are registered with us who had run Ramadan appeals to find out how the money they raised during the month will be spent.

Vast and varied work

The sheer scale of the work is immediately apparent. One Muslim-led charity (not one of the largest) estimates that its work last Ramadan had helped over 1 million people. Much of this work is helping people in the most severe hardship, like those living amidst the drought in Somaliland or the conflict in Syria. My contact also spoke keenly of their desire to help people affected by the floods in Carlisle, and to run soup kitchens for the homeless in Britain. Charity may begin at home, but it certainly doesn’t end there; dozens of countries were named as areas of benefit, from Europe to North America, and right around the world.

The charities’ projects were as interesting as they were diverse. One was supporting people to start honey-bee farms in Palestine and Pakistan, another distributing hygiene kits and food in Haiti, another teaching hairdressers and beauticians how to sterilise their equipment to prevent the spread of hepatitis. In Mali, one charity was building ‘micro-dams’, harnessing water from flash floods to be consumed during the dry season. As with so much of the best charitable work, the focus was on sustainability: not just on helping those in need directly but providing them with the knowledge, skills and means to continue to support themselves.

Honey-bee farm funded by Ramadan giving, Pakistan
Honey-bee farm funded by Ramadan giving, Pakistan

Not only delivering aid…

In speaking to the charities, I was reminded that all of this charitable work, this change, is reliant on generosity; that none of this would happen were it not for people choosing to spend money and time on something other than themselves. My contacts spoke of numerous people giving single donations of up to £30,000, as well as smaller – but no less valued - gifts and widespread, creative, community efforts to fundraise.

On one Sunday alone, one charity had 300 volunteers delivering chocolate fudge cakes to be eaten at Iftar, the meal which breaks the fast at the end of the day during Ramadan. The cakes, which had been ordered via a dedicated telephone hotline and website, cost £10 each. All of the proceeds will be used to provide humanitarian relief in Syria. A total of 22,000 cakes were delivered on long, hot Sundays during Ramadan by volunteers who were themselves not eating or drinking. “My own delivery took four and a half hours”, my contact at the charity reflected “I went round with my family, we all really enjoyed it”.

That really is making a difference.

Delivering chocolate fudge cakes in Bradford during Ramadan
Delivering chocolate fudge cakes in Bradford during Ramadan

The Charity Commission has produced safer giving advice on how to give to legitimate charities. You can search for registered charities, and find out more information about them, via the online register.

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13 comments

  1. Comment by Dr Mohammed Iqbal posted on

    My name is Dr Mohammed Iqbal, President of Association of Pakistani Physicians and Surgeons of UK Foundation
    We support projects of APPSUK, and these projects include hearing centres for children, mobile healthcare units, prevention of hepatitis and HIV, seminars, webinars, health awareness and others

    I just wish if UK Government can match the cost up to £500,000 from the aid given to Pakistan

    • Replies to Dr Mohammed Iqbal>

      Comment by siddique posted on

      I found a very nice portal that shows the proactive work being done by Muslim and all Charities. muslimcharitiesgiving.com

      Nice to see bridges being built across the sector, keep up the good work. May all charities make great leaps in helping the poorer community.

  2. Comment by S adams posted on

    Ma Sha Allah! If this sort of generosity continued throughout the year, we could be on the way in trying to alleviate world poverty.

  3. Comment by Muhammad Durrani posted on

    Thanks for verifying charities. What could be more cruel than stealing from the poor?!

  4. Comment by Mohammed-Iqubal Patel posted on

    Very interesting and informative report. A big credit to the Charity Commission for their advice on using legitimate charities. No doubt, there still might be a couple of genuine charity organisations who were still not registered.
    Many thanx should go to these donors who do our country proud by their good deeds.
    Finally, the examplary practise of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and the Islamic teachings prove how wonderful this religion is that inspires the people so much and how blessful the fasting month of Ramadhan is that softens the hearts so much..... . It goes a long long way..... the teachings of Islam.

  5. Comment by imran harif Stamford hill posted on

    Mashah'allah
    Imran harif

  6. Comment by Aziz ahmad posted on

    Although a lot of money has been donated by lots of people, the people benefiting cannot be too many. There are far too many charities fighting for the slice of the same cake, each one with their own expenses and costs. Salaries to pay, overheads to cover, cost of travels to various places on the earth. All trying to do the same things with their own staff. Why can't they get to gather and share the resources and not duplicate everything ? Please consider these points before others want to become charitable and start another charity.

  7. Comment by John posted on

    100 Million Pounds is an incredible amount of generosity. I do not personally know any Muslims and I have tried to understand your faith.
    Living your faith and doing so much good is the best example that you can set for your children.

    • Replies to John>

      Comment by Mariam posted on

      John if you ever want to learn more, let me know if you want to go for a coffee in London.

    • Replies to John>

      Comment by Kati posted on

      John
      Our faith is based on the love of Allah and his prophet, Quran is encouraging Muslims to give and look after the poor and the orphans and the month of ramdan is a spiritual month so the Muslims try their best to be good Muslims, if you want to know more about our faith contact me 🙂

      • Replies to Kati>

        Comment by Imesha posted on

        John you can also read a book call Midnight in the Midnight series by Sister Souljah. I read it this week and got such a different perspective on the religion and people that practice it. I know and have friends who are also muslin and I don't do religion in any sense.

    • Replies to John>

      Comment by Mo posted on

      John,
      You are absolutely right. Islam is very easy and simple. You can start by reading the Quran, then watch videos or lectures by Yusuf Estes on YouTube.

      All the best.