Muslim Hands UK

Muslim Hands UK: Islamic humanitarian aid from Nottingham

Muslim Hands UK is an international aid agency and NGO based in Nottingham (United Kingdom). It was founded in 1993, when a group of volunteers from the local community began collecting money, clothing and medicines for the people of Bosnia. Since then, the organisation has responded to numerous emergencies and developed long-term projects in more than 30 countries, according to its own website.

The organisation describes itself as dedicated to tackling the root causes of poverty, combining immediate response with sustainable programmes. It works alongside local partners and field offices, and states that it collaborates with UN agencies to distribute aid effectively, transparently and accountably.

Zakat, Sadaqah and regular donations

A central part of its work is the management of Islamic donations. The website allows users to calculate and pay Zakat, as well as make donations of Sadaqah, Sadaqah Jariyah, Aqiqah, Fidyah and Kaffarah. It also offers the Friday Giving tool, designed to automate a weekly donation, and an Islamic Heritage Fund.

The organisation states that every donation is treated as a trust (amanah) and that funds are distributed in accordance with Islamic principles, with oversight from an in-house scholar. It also publishes information on how funds are used and maintains monitoring processes so donors can give with confidence.

Water, food and health programmes

Its areas of work include access to clean water, the fight against hunger, health and education. The website mentions the construction of water wells as one of its most visible initiatives, aimed at providing a lasting source of clean drinking water to communities in need. In food, it runs projects such as Blessed Bakeries and food distribution; in health, its own clinics; and in education, orphan sponsorship and educational programmes.

The organisation also promotes livelihoods so that communities can recover and become more self-reliant. According to the figures it publishes, since 1993 it has given 10.6 million people access to clean water, treated 3 million patients in its clinics and fed 8.2 million people through its hunger projects. It also states that it has sponsored over 50,000 orphans and raised more than £200 million.

Emergencies and international response

Muslim Hands UK maintains active emergency campaigns for various contexts. The website lists appeals for Gaza, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Lebanon, Palestine, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and the floods in Pakistan and Nepal. These campaigns include the distribution of food, clean water, medical care and shelter for families displaced or affected by conflict and natural disasters.

The organisation stresses that it does not limit itself to responding to emergencies, but remains on the ground to support recovery. To this end, it works with local partners and UN agencies, with the aim of ensuring aid has a lasting impact.

Participation and transparency

In addition to donations, the organisation offers ways to get involved such as volunteering, organising events and creating crowdfunding campaigns for specific projects. Its volunteer team has received the Queen's Award, according to the website.

On transparency, Muslim Hands UK publishes information on how funds are spent and maintains an FAQ section. The organisation is registered as a charity in England with number 1105056 and as a company with number 05080486.

Location and contact

148 Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 5JE