Zakat: Ramadan to fuel rapid growth in philanthropy among British Muslims

Zakat: Ramadan to fuel rapid growth in philanthropy among British Muslims

With Ramadan now under way with its emphasis on charitable giving, it's apt to reflect that there has never been a more exciting time for philanthropy based on Islamic principles.

As a UK-based philanthropic adviser to global family offices and donors, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Islamic philanthropists and foundations in the Middle East and the UK. I have been inspired to learn about the principles of zakat and sadaqah, and have seen them influence the behaviour of many Muslim philanthropists.

Some estimates suggest that family businesses in the GCC have given up to $10 billion to philanthropy-supporting causes domestically