Zakat Since 1984
Islamic Relief spends your zakat donations in the most effective way possible to relieve the suffering of the world’s most vulnerable people.
We have been trusted to deliver zakat donations since 1984, making us one of the longest-serving Muslim charities in the UK, Alhamdulillah!
We are on the front lines in over 30 countries, just like we have been with many major disasters since 1984, delivering food, water and emergency relief to those in desperate need.
In 2022, we helped to change the lives of over 13,283,400 people in 34 countries around the world, all thanks to your generous donations and support.
Islamic Relief spends your zakat donations in the most effective way possible to relieve the suffering of the world’s most vulnerable people.
We have been trusted to deliver zakat donations since 1984, making us one of the longest-serving Muslim charities in the UK, Alhamdulillah!
We are on the front lines in over 30 countries, just like we have been with many major disasters since 1984, delivering food, water and emergency relief to those in desperate need.
In 2022, we helped to change the lives of over 13,283,400 people in 34 countries around the world, all thanks to your generous donations and support.
We hope you will continue supporting our life-saving work with your zakat. Please donate as much or as little as you can to support more people this Ramadan.
We hope you will continue supporting our life-saving work with your zakat. Please donate as much or as little as you can to support more people this Ramadan.
When you entrust us to distribute it carefully and correctly, we are accountable to you, to those who receive your zakat from us, and most importantly, we are accountable to Allah.
We take the responsibility of delivering your donations very seriously. When you give your zakat through Islamic Relief, you can feel safe in the knowledge that we are guided by Allah’s words in the Qur’an.
Indeed, Allah commands you to return trusts to their rightful owners. and when you judge between people, judge with fairness.
Surah Al-Nisa, Quran 4:58
In Arabic, amanah means trust, honesty and loyalty. Having an amanah means having a trust or responsibility to something or someone. In Islam, amanah refers to having integrity, and using our free will to carry out our duties and responsibilities towards Allah and His creation in the correct way.
At Islamic Relief, an amanah is an obligation to deliver every donation with integrity.
Zakat is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. This means that zakat is mandatory for Muslims, along with the other sacred pillars. For every sane, adult Muslim who owns wealth over a certain amount – known as the Nisab – he or she must pay 2.5% of that wealth as zakat. The zakat of every Muslim is then distributed to those who meet the criteria to receive it.
At Islamic Relief, your zakat is distributed with the utmost care to ensure that the most vulnerable, including children, those affected by war, disease and climate disasters, have access to the help that they need.
I feel the responsibility to make sure that each and every donation reaches those who need it. We work hard to deliver to people in areas that many other organisations simply can’t reach. For me, this is an amanah (trust) that supporters like you have placed in my hands.
Mohammed Hamza, Islamic Relief Syria
Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.
Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.
Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.
Nadeem Azhar
Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.
He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.
Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.
Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.
Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.
Adnan Hafiz
Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.
Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.
Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.
Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.
Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.
Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.
Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.
With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.