Charities to Donate to this Ramadan
Ramadan 2024 is upon us!
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar; historically the holy book (Quran) was revealed during this month. It is a time of fasting, prayer, reflection, community, and increased charity. Muslims will fast from dawn til dusk each day, and during the fast individuals will abstain from food and water (those who are ill, traveling, menstruating/pregnant/breastfeeding are exempt), sexual relations, as well as fasting from sinful behaviors and bad habits. Instead, there is a focus on increased spirituality with reconnection with prayers and reading the Quran. During the month, we learn better discipline, self-control, and we become more mindful of God.
As a child, we’re taught that Ramadan is for fasting so that we can understand how those less fortunate than us feel. It’s a very simplistic view of the month, but the concept of learning empathy is important. While we break our fast every night and are able to enjoy our evenings, there are countless others who are not able to do so. As we count our blessings this month, we are constantly reminded of those who do not have access to adequate food, water, and shelter. Many Muslims will increase their charitable donations during the holy month.
Charity is a core principles of Islam - one of the five main pillars is an obligatory donation of a portion of your wealth. I was raised in an environment where you give whatever blessings you can (time, food, resources, wealth, etc) to those who do not have it. I’ve never had that much extra money - I have been in school for much of my life accruing debt, and now am a resident physician (with a resident salary…) - but I have donated whatever small amount I could to various causes over the years.
One of my Ramadan goals this month is to donate a small amount to a different charity of choice every day, and I wanted to share the list (in no way comprehensive) with you! There are also opportunities to automate your donations this month - check out LaunchGood or MyTenNights.
1. Local mosque
The best place to start is always your local masjid (mosque)! Whether or not you’re closely tied to the masjid, it’s a pillar of the community that you should support. These places of worship need community support to be sustained. When able, I love to go to a local mosque any time I’m in a new place to get a sense of the community there and to feel at home. The mosques that have a special place in my heart are ICN and IFGSTL.
2. Palestine
Every Muslim’s Ramadan this year feels a little different with the current affairs of the world, especially the ongoing situation in Palestine. There are so many charities that are working to get food, medical supplies, and other necessities to the people there. Here are just a few:
Operation Olive Branch - This last one deserves a special mention - it’s a GoogleDoc compilation with information regarding 800+ families in Gaza and what they urgently need help with, along with links to donate.
3. General
There are many other charities that are also sending support to Palestine. Many of these are more globally focused with opportunities to donate locally and to other countries in need.
4. EDUCATION
There are a variety of educational programs that rely on your support through donations. This can be anything from schools that you’ve attended to your favorite podcast series. I always listen to the Ramadan series put out by Qalam Education Fund and Yaqeen Institute - I like to donate to show support!
5. Other
If you are in the financial position to give your wealth away to others, I encourage you to find causes that you are passionate about! Here are a few more charities whose work is so incredibly important:
There are so many more that could be included in this post! Everything listed above are places that I have donated to previously and will be donating to during this month. Let me know your favorite causes/ charities to support!
