Inspired by his Islamic faith, Dr Hany El Banna, an Egyptian immigrant, founded Islamic Relief (IRW) in the UK in 1984. IR is a faith-based organisation (FBO)and the largest Muslim humanitarian aid organisation in the West1. Faith is a major factor in shaping its identity as well as its values and choices. Islam indicates that each individual has a duty to care for the poor and is accountable for his or her deeds on earth. Therefore, it is important that the organisation abides by Islamic principles and values while contributing to fighting poverty. Faith defines the organisation’s identity; it influences its performance, choices and actions. In practice, IRW’s fundraising on the one hand, and projects on the other hand, demonstrate the spirit of its Islamic humanitarian work.

Sources of support

The organisation receives donations from multilateral and bilateral institutions and individual donors. It has entered into partnerships and cooperation agreements with Christian FBOs, such as CAFOD, as well as secular organisations. Likewise, IR’s individual donors include both Muslims and non-Muslims. Many Muslim donors prefer to pay their donations according to Islamic traditions and rituals. The principles of charitable giving are established in Islamic teaching through the Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (hadith) and as such, they are more than 1400 years old. Muslims are obliged to provide for the poor, marginalised and vulnerable through zakat, or almsgivings. In addition, Muslims are also encouraged to make voluntary contributions, or sadaqah, to help the poor and needy, or to cont ribute to other social welfare purposes such as orphans’ sponsorships. Waqf or charitable endowments constitute another mechanism for the provision of services to the public. IR has developed specific processes and systems to cater for these traditions of giving, which take into account the different types of faith-based donations. For example, during Ramadhan (the month of fasting) IRW undertakes specific feeding programmes (as do many Islamic FBOs). The organisation makes sure that it uses such donations according to Islamic guidance, while at the same time abiding by the standards of the international humanitarian sector in the way it delivers the service to its beneficiaries.