British Muslims are highlighting the powerful connection between their faith and charitable giving a relationship that’s deeply rooted in Islamic values and widely recognized across the UK.
David Holdsworth, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, emphasized this connection at the recent Muslim Charities Convention held at the ILEC Conference Centre in London. He stated that over £200 million is donated by British Muslims every year to various charitable causes. “Faith and charity are deeply connected it’s a foundation of the Islamic faith,” he said. “It’s also a core principle of British charity law, which has always supported religious purposes.”
Of the 9,000 charity registration requests received last year, 178 were based on Islamic values, with 5,000 successfully registered. Holdsworth pointed out that faith-based charity is not just a tradition it’s active and growing, supported by the fact that two-thirds of the UK population identify with a religion, according to the latest census.
The Muslim Charities Convention, held every two years, brings together charity leaders, scholars, and activists to discuss the achievements and challenges faced by Muslim charities in the UK and globally.
This year’s convention included voices from across sectors:
- Moazzam Malik, CEO of Save the Children and former UK ambassador
- Hassan Damluji, co-founder of Global Nation think tank
- Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, Islamic scholar and founder of Cambridge Muslim College
- Dr Shabna Begum, research director at the Runnymede Trust
Damluji stressed the importance of dignity in charity work, saying, “Development without dignity is nothing.” He highlighted the need for respectful, empowering support, especially for marginalized communities.
Workshops covered a wide range of topics including:
- Charity Starts at Home
- Sustainable Investment
- Women Leading Change
- Innovation for Good
- Power of Philanthropy
Sammey Ahmed, a support worker at Deaf World West Midlands, spoke out about the often-overlooked needs of deaf Muslims. On the “Charity Starts at Home” panel, leaders like Shakil Sidat (National Zakat Foundation) and Ayub Seedat (Here for Youth) emphasized the importance of local community support, urging British Muslims not to focus solely on international causes.
In the “Women Leading Change” session, Dr Sofia Buncy shared her journey as a Muslim woman in leadership, calling for recognition both within and outside the community. A key moment of the event was the launch of the Muslim Charities Forum Women’s Network, designed to support and mentor Muslim women in leadership roles. The group aims to uplift Muslim women through tailored guidance and mentoring.
Dr Begum spoke about the importance of unity and referred to inspiring global figures like Zohran Mamdani, while Kamran Rashid, a social entrepreneur, highlighted new opportunities in social enterprise for Muslims in the UK.
Fadi Itani, CEO of the Muslim Charities Forum, challenged attendees to focus less on numbers and more on impact. He encouraged smarter, strategic programs that drive real change including advocacy for better policies and humanitarian justice.
In a letter, King Charles expressed his appreciation for British Muslim charities, acknowledging their “remarkable contributions” to society and apologizing for not being able to attend.
The event concluded with a powerful speech titled “Doing Good, the Right Way” by Dr Abdal Hakim Murad. He praised the Muslim charity sector as a shining example of modern British Islam, noting that while many mosque administrators still struggle to engage the younger generation, the charity sector is leading the way in progress and innovation.
He concluded by saying that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would be proud of how strongly Muslims today have embraced charity as a core value of their faith.
