'British Muslims give the most to charity'

British Muslims donated money at a rate of £38 per second during Ramazan, or £371 per individual over the year

The Charity Commission in Britain has revealed that British Muslims donated vast amounts of money to charity during the month of Ramazan.

"The sheer scale of the work is immediately apparent. One Muslim-led charity – not one of the largest – estimates that its work last Ramazan had helped over one million people," the charity commission said.



"Charity may begin at home, but it certainly doesn't end there. Dozens of countries were named as areas of benefit, from Europe to North America, and right around the world."

The commission reported that British Muslims as a whole have donated money at a rate of £38 per second during Ramazan, or £371 per individual over the year.

Praising their generous contributions, Nick Donaldson, outreach manager at the commission told The Independent that the money was used for good causes in the UK, Syria, Somali-land and elsewhere. Other donations this year went to flood-affected areas in Carlisle and honey-bee farms in Palestine and Pakistan, while also funding hygiene kits and food in Haiti and "micro-dams" in Mali, which catch water from flash floods.

Muslim leaders welcomed the recognition of their communities' efforts. Muhammad Abdulbari, former secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, speaking to The Independent said, "On this month, because we are hungry, we can empathise with people who are hungry around the world.



"Muslims are not supposed to be just helping themselves. The idea of neighbourhood and reaching out to other communities is important in Islam."

The Quran also says the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) answered the question "who is my neighbour?" with "forty houses to your right and forty houses to your left." The implied lesson was that neighbourliness has no limit, said Dr Abdulbari.

Previously the charity commission has been criticised for labelling "Islamist abuse" one of three key threats to the charity sector.



Zakat is a compulsory duty within Islam to contribute 2.5 per cent of their yearly income to those in need. In the month of Ramazan this duty is paid particular attention.

Critics said last year that William Shawcross, chairman of the Commission, had focussed "disproportionately" on the "threats" posed by Islamic charities in a speech Mr Shawcross gave on the sector.

This article originally appeared on Independent.