For Muslims all over the world, the holy month of Ramadan is a time of reverence, reflection, prayer, fasting, and charity. For Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA), Ramadan is the month that defines the organization the most.
By supporting IRUSA, you can fulfill the charitable obligations that Allah (SWT) has laid before us. Your donation or volunteer hours support vital work that benefits people in need around the world and in the U.S. Here’s a look at how IRUSA—and by extension, its supporters and donors—are helping struggling families this Ramadan.
Feeding the hungry
The largest category of aid delivered by IRUSA is food aid, and Ramadan food box distributions represent a large portion of the organization’s wok in this area. For 2024, IRUSA’s goal is to feed 720,000 people. For $125, supporters can provide families with 30-days’ worth of essential food items like rice, wheat, lentils, sugar, and canned fish and meat—or, alternatively, a voucher so families can purchase what they need most.
Almsgiving
Zakat, or almsgiving, is a core tenet of Islam. Zakat is calculated as a percentage of wealth, but it represents much more than that—it is a promise to help those in need. One of the five pillars of Islam, Zakat helps feed and protect the poorest members of society. In addition, Fidya and Kaffara are two solutions built into Islam to enable Muslims to compensate for breaking religious obligations. When Muslims pay Fidya or Kaffara, as with Zakat, that money must be dispensed to people in need, as defined by Islamic guidelines.
IRUSA helps people pay Zakat, Fidya, and Kaffara, passing on the proceeds from donations to struggling families. When supporters pay their Zakat, Fidya, or Kaffara through IRUSA, it has the power to change the lives of generations, providing the potential to end global poverty. Donations pay for vital emergency food aid, healthcare, shelter, sustainable livelihood support, education, and much more.
IRUSA is committed to collecting and distributing Zakat, Fidya, and Kaffara honestly, ethically, and in accordance with Sharia. To that end, the organization has enlisted the expertise of eminent Muslim scholars and created an independent Zakat Advisory Board to uphold, review, and develop a Zakat policy. In 2023, the board ratified that policy; going forward, it will continue to review, provide feedback, and verify the distribution of Zakat by IRUSA.
Assisting refugees and displaced people
As of 2022, 100 million people had been displaced globally. Of that figure, 27.1 million were classified as refugees. Violence, persecution, and conflict are cited as the main reasons people are forced to flee their homes—and right now, we are witnessing the largest ever number of displaced people in living history, according to the UN Refugee Agency. With children accounting for over 40% of all refugees, the situation is dire. Two thirds of displaced people come from just five countries, namely Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, Venezuela, and Myanmar. In Palestine, the situation is acutely urgent: over 90% of the population of Gaza, almost 2 million people, have been forcibly displaced.
IRUSA and its partners, including Islamic Relief Worldwide, have provided vital aid to all six of these populations and others, supporting refugees both within and outside of their country of origin. Around the world today, IRUSA supports the delivery of life-saving support, including food aid, medical care, emergency shelter, access to sanitation and clean water, education, economic empowerment, and social inclusion. IRUSA is committed to assisting vulnerable communities, helping families to build better lives for themselves and future generations.
Project spotlight: Albania
In Albania, poor governance combined with a lack of infrastructure have left many Albanians struggling to access affordable healthcare. Accidents are the leading cause of death among 15 to 39-year-olds in the country, while 35% of 40 to 69-year-olds die from disease. Maternity care is at an all-time low in Albania as well, putting both pregnant mothers and their infants at risk of complications during and after birth.
Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, however, IRUSA has been able to help more than 7,570 people in the country. Islamic Relief has not only built community health centers across Albania, equipping them with life-saving equipment, but also raised awareness on best hygiene practices to curb the spread of disease.
Helping the needy at home in the U.S.
In the United States today, poverty, racial inequity, homelessness, and the impact of climate change are just a few issues faced by Americans daily. Inflation is compounding existing problems, with hikes in food and gas prices exacerbating already difficult situations for struggling families across the country.
Islam teaches that charity starts at home, and IRUSA is committed to supporting families across the U.S. Assistance delivered to American families by IRUSA include hot meal and food box programs, free health services for vulnerable communities, Day of Dignity events to deliver essential services and resources to low-income and homeless individuals, and deployment of the Disaster Management Team to support survivors in areas hit by devastation. During Ramadan, IRUSA has also hosted special Iftar On The Go meals throughout New York City.
Make an impact this Ramadan
For families in need, honoring Ramadan traditions all too often turns into hardship, making the work of IRUSA all the more important. Thanks to the generous support of its patrons, IRUSA helps to relieve at least some of the burden faced by struggling families across the United States and beyond. To join in and support IRUSA’s work this Ramadan, go to IRUSA.org.