Muslim NGOs

As one might expect, given the absolute centrality of charity to the Muslim way of life,  the last two decades have seen a rapid expansion in the number of Muslim NGOs --  a modern-day articulation of the age-old phenomenon of giving in Islam.

These NGOs have been formed in all parts of the world, both Muslim and non-Muslim, and they owe their existence partly to the general rise of the international NGO worldwide. But, more specifically, it was the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in the late 1970s and early 1980s and the subsequent refugee crisis that led to a realization among Muslims – particularly in the West – of the need to develop mechanisms and organizations that could extend help across continents.

The refugee issue remains very much alive today. It is a sad fact that three-quarter’s of the world’s refugees are Muslims.

This awareness – and, for many, direct experience – of suffering among the Muslim community means that Muslim NGOs often enjoy a great deal of ready support in their work. Indeed, a distinguishing characteristic of many such NGOs is that – unlike their secular counterparts -- the bulk of their funding will be made up of individual donations from the general public, as opposed to institutional funding received from large governmental or multilateral donor organizations.

The help extended by these Muslim organizations is not limited to other Muslims: Islam has always insisted upon helping whoever is in need – without qualification. But as religious organizations operating in today’s very secular world, they sometimes find themselves judged in a ‘no-win’ manner resulting from a general distrust of their motives.

If, for example, a Muslim NGO is known to be helping a Muslim community overseas, they may get accused of only ‘helping their own’. But if the same NGO is seen to be helping non-Muslims in some poor corner of the world, they may be accused of trying to convert people.

Muslim charity workers would, inevitably, like to see people joining the faith, but the receipt of help can never be conditional upon someone agreeing to become a Muslim. The Quran says: ‘There is no compulsion in religion.’ Our understanding is that people become Muslim – ultimately – only through God’s divine guidance and choice.

How Muslim NGOs are different

Where Muslims NGOs do diverge from the mainstream secular organizations is that we firmly consider the introduction of Islamic values into society as vital for its healthy development. NGOs often concentrate exclusively on improving the material well-being of their target communities (often quite unsuccessfully!), with the model being aspired to – subconsciously or otherwise – that of the Western way of life.

Muslim NGOs, on the other hand, while not denying the benefits that can accrue from an easier material life, feel that social and spiritual values are vital to social development. Jesus said that ‘man doesn’t live by bread alone’. We understand this as implying that bread must first be present – and we try and provide for this through our numerous relief and development projects. However, we also try and address the other side of the equation by realizing our inherent nature as articulated through the worship of one God -- of which compassion, courtesy, benevolence and charity are an essential and beautiful part.

Affan Cheema is a Projects Officer at Islamic Relief. He can be contacted via email at Cheema@islamic-relief.org.uk

'Allah says: O son of Adam, I fell ill and you visited Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I visit You when You are the Lord of the Worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so had fallen ill and you visited him not? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him?
 
'O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you fed Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I feed You when You are the Lord of the Worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so asked you for food and you fed him not? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that (the reward for doing so) with Me?

'O son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink and you gave Me not to drink. He will say: O Lord, how should I give You to drink when You are the Lord of the Worlds? He will say: My servant So-and-so asked you to give him to drink and you gave him not to drink. Had you given him to drink you would have surely found that with Me.' (Hadith Qudsi)

Islamic Relief
 
Established in Birmingham in the UK in 1984, Islamic Relief is the oldest Muslim NGO established and with its headquarters in the UK. Over the years it has developed from an inexperienced NGO into one that implements relief and development projects in many countries around the world. It is one of only a handful of agencies presently working in war-torn Chechnya. It works alongside UN agencies and other larger and smaller NGOs as well as working very closely with its beneficiary community.

But what drives its projects and how does it differ from other types of NGOs? How are Islamic beliefs reflected in its workings?

Broadly speaking, the Muslim approach to relief and development is that all things are allowed unless specifically forbidden within Islam. An obvious example is that Islamic Relief would not set up anything to do with alcohol, as consumption of alcohol is specifically forbidden in the Quran.

The example below shows how this approach can impact on project design.

Community Action Programme
In Bangladesh Islamic Relief wanted to develop a microcredit system to help people initiate income-generating activities. Different models such as that of Grameen and BRAC (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee) were looked at, but it was felt that these models were inappropriate as they dealt with interest, something that is prohibited in Islam.

 'Those who devour usury (Riba) will not stand except as stands one whom the Evil One by his touch has driven to madness. That is because they say: "Trade is like usury" (Riba) but Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury. … Allah will deprive usury (Riba) of all blessing but will give increase for deeds of charity: for He loveth not creatures ungrateful and wicked.' (Q2:275--6)

An alternative was therefore needed, and Islamic Relief found one in the Murabaha system, which is widely used by the Islamic banking world and acceptable within Islam. With Murabaha-based transactions, a person identifies an item that he/she wants to buy. This item is then bought by the lending institution and sold to the person; the price includes a small service charge. This total amount is then repaid over an agreed period. The debtor is fully aware of the amount and duration of the repayments.

The Community Action Programme in Rangpur, Bangladesh, is a cross-community programme in that the whole community benefits, not only Muslims. The Murabaha model is one that is acceptable to all sectors of the community. A similar principle is being utilized in the Gaza Strip.

The Islamic identity also acts as a valuable self-monitoring process as it provides a realization that the organization is accountable not only to its donors but also to Allah. Hence all resources must be used efficiently and to the best of the organization's ability in terms of having an impact.

For more information about Islamic Relief, contact Affan Cheema.
Tel + 44 121 605 5555
Fax +44 121 622 5003
Email Cheema@islamic-relief.org.uk
Website www.islamic-relief.org.uk