Gaza: Is It Time to Move Beyond Charity? With insider Kashif Shabir

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Every year, the list of beleaguered Muslim countries and people increases, and with it, the demand for charity. We are used to giving in sadaqa - and our kindness as a community is rarely matched. The Muslim community in the UK alone gives upwards of £1bn in charity - much of which goes abroad.
The situation in Gaza has once again led to a determined effort by many to contribute to charitable causes. As Ramadan comes, inevitably, our minds and hearts will turn to those in our umma who live this month with nothing but the clothes on their back; such is the parlous state of Muslims.
But does charity work? What is charity? Is building a water well, however satisfying, the way to reconstruct our Muslim world? Are there better ways by which we can use our money without compromising on our commitment to our people? To help us understand this subject, we have invited a charity insider, probably someone who is most qualified to help us untangle this topic, onto The Thinking Muslim.
Kashif Shabir has over 15 years’ experience in the social impact and charity sector. He was until recently the CEO of Muslim Aid, one of the oldest faith-based NGOs in the UK. He has worked for, and help found several Muslim charities, including The National Zakat Foundation & Charity Right and held leadership positions at some of the largest mainstream charities including as Head of Knowledge and Learning at Oxfam and the British Red Cross, as part of their strategic change management team.
Kashif sits on several advisory boards, including BOND, the largest network of organisations working in international development and Muslim Aid USA. He currently leads the Social Impact Advisory at Qadr Financial and is the founder of Ethical Consulting Group where he works with Charities, Family Offices and Government agencies to improve their effectiveness and maximise their social impact.
Kashif is available for executive coaching and consulting opportunities through the Ethical Consulting website www.ethicalltd.com
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#thethinkingmuslimpodcast episode 144
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
3:00 Can Charity Solve Gaza?
6:41 Unwra defunded - how does aid get through
8:59 Muslim Charities in Gaza
12:06 Sticking plaster solutions
14:09 Longer-term development
18:29 Compare non-Muslim charities
21:30 International development
23:27 Muslim charities bad?
32:01 Muslim unity issues
34:26 1 billion spent on charity in UK
37:07 Islam and charity
40:50 Awqaf
44:16 Charity more than emergency
5144 Humanitarian not enough
54:09 Advocacy work
57:46 Muslim vote
1:02:42 UK Vs US Muslims
1:04:44 100% donation policy
1:11:30 Outcomes are important

[@TheHnaz]

This brother hit the nail on the head with regards to lobbying

[@aligadelaide9186]

This is fundamental issue and problem. It perpetuates problem.

[@handsanitiser9832]

I'm so happy this was brought up. In Los Angeles, bill boards of Muslim charities. Donating doesn't solve the problem! Muslims are capable people: we should build, create our own communities, and rely on ourselves! They need money and direction to build factories and institutions, not just for food!

[@Marjane-jk3qo3yj7m]

Very enlightening. Thank you very much❤

[@majidsiddiqui2906]

Great topic to cover, some interesting points discussed, answered many of the questions I myself have regarding Islamic charities.

[@phoenixknight8837]

Great episode!

[@Shab787]

I personally know this brother. He is very honest and very loyal. ما شاء الله. Allah bless him. ❤

[@SA-sf2cq]

Islamic Relief, HCI, Penny Appeal, IDRF, Helping Hand, etc. too many… and I’m reading about their increased overhead, bloated salaries, and most importantly how much aid actually reaches those in need.

[@polunga7989]

Guys even far right groups and account in Spain are posting clips out of contest from different videos of this podcast, this means that you are doing a great job!!

[@sparklemotion8377]

Do you have an example

[@polunga7989]

@@sparklemotion8377 one example is a video where a guest to this Channel was speaking about the khilafa, how the last one was the Ottoman, and now the muslim ummah needs a new one. They took the clip and cut it to make It appear as if he was talking about founding a khilafa in Europe... As if muslims want to conquer Europe... Stupid things like that to make It appear as if muslims are evil...

[@irenez3410]

Why is it that we muslims are so charitable but we muslims are are the most suffering in the world? It has to do with world political situation and their oppression on the muslim people. However, the issue is that we're not united but divided. What about merging so many different charities in some major ones? Also perhaps we should focus on having charity activities all through years and not only during emergencies. The emergency actions should be set up as a different entity which should have more PR.

[@laproff8290]

The guy basically answered it. We only like to give charity in emergencies. Tell some to give £10 to feed a family he will, tell someone to give £10 to help Muslims lobby the government he will likely not give

[@laproff8290]

Further more, we have thousands of mosques in the uk, why aren’t we collecting money to invest in business that are owned by united uk Islamic in-situation, that returns investment. We’re just as bad as those Muslim leaders we like to slag off

[@fmia2287]

Need to identify Muslim charities that adopt a 'Systems Change' approach to addressing issues and donate to them

[@shadowboyii]

I think the main problem is we lack a leadership that we can whole heartedly put out faith and trust in to represent us and lead us

[@Martin.Lings.]

@@MacDernifobviously didn’t listen to the podcast 🥱

[@aneseabdallah9345]

Excellent episode ❤

[@user-ck1of4ex4d]

Indeed and agreed, it's time to take accountability.

[@Connectingdots100]

Thank you for this, looking for what to do and this gives some guidance.

[@Kwame-yw9kz]

Great interview!

[@candicecole19]

Purify your intentions this Ramadan❕ Say, “Indeed my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for Allah (swt) Lord of all worlds.” (Quran 6:162) 🤍

[@CineRanter]

Another excellent episode - Giving to the poor is great, but there will ALWAYS be someone to feed. Muslims need to start getting strategic with their charity, donating to organisations that can lobby for their causes.

[@fmia2287]

The approach that needs to be taken is called 'Systems Change'

[@noorsaadeh]

Israelis use lobbying to great advantage. We must learn from that but execute according to Islamic values and through means that are halal in order to be effective and receive Allah's assistance and backing. The need to be vigilant, to be transparent, not using lies and duplicity.

[@halimamohamed8623]

Thank you for this. My thoughts exactly!

[@sumayyahpetrus]

This is such an important issue, I learned a lot

[@aligadelaide9186]

Well versed guest

[@suekainahsuliman1813]

this was really informative and amazing. Yes we do need lobbying we do need institutional change. we need to play the game

[@aligadelaide9186]

Good exposure to broader issues

[@sawsanalh2802]

Some very important points were raised here

[@aligadelaide9186]

Re-educate ourselves phrase is critical

[@bishi125]

Fantastic

[@GERMANFORCE]

Salam brother Jalal please invite Realität Islam to your podcast so muslim/israel affairs in germany can be internationally highlighted🙏

[@shadimughal3390]

A very insight talk.

[@ummahmed80]

Great discussion, we definitely need to keep reassessing the needs of the ummah, in Leicester we've just launched a Zakat foundation to help the Muslims in the locality in many different aspects, cos so many people struggling in England atm

[@quartzproperties8165]

There’s National Zakat Foundation (NZF) working at a national level

[@MPM_News]

I wish Muslim charities would do more about housing given the preponderance of landlords in this sector. We have the lowest living standards in the UK.

[@IM-wc5eh]

😟😂

[@tariq3587]

Awesome conversation- messaging to our muslim communities across the globe must include the hidden reality of powerful & resourceful dark forces/ agents that undermine the Muslim charity organizations’ efforts.

[@mohamedyusuf5569]

Fantastic interview MashAllah 👏

[@MendeMaria-ej8bf]

Aid organisations need to get permission from the Israeli government, but the Israeli government claims that they don't occupy Gaza. What contradiction!

[@sandytatham3592]

It's due to security issues that Israel's permission has to be granted. Egypt also controls what goes in through the Sinai-Gaza border because they don't want Islamic terror cells in Sinai. Stop terrorism and "controls" wouldn't be necessary.

[@MendeMaria-ej8bf]

@@sandytatham3592 But you could also say" Stop occupation and apartheid and there won't be resistance in the guise of "terrorism".

[@Jessewb786]

@@sandytatham3592Nonsense. Stop the occupation, remove illegal settlements and recognize Palestine as a sovereign state and the resistance ends. It’s as simple as that!

[@sandytatham3592]

@@MendeMaria-ej8bf: Israel is a legitimate sovereign state. There is no apartheid in Israel. Israel has two million Arab citizens who have equal rights. Israel has had to implement security controls over areas of the Palestinian Territories due to jihadist terror waves, beginning with the Intifada in December 1987. The majority of Palestinians do not want a Palestinian state alongside Israel. They want no Jewish state of Israel at all. Are you forgetting that?

[@sandytatham3592]

@@Jessewb786: Israel is a legitimate sovereign state. Israel has had to implement security controls over areas of the Palestinian Territories due to jihadist terror waves, beginning with the Intifada in December 1987. The majority of Palestinians do not want a Palestinian state alongside Israel. They want no Jewish state of Israel at all. Are you forgetting that? Which country's land is Israel "occupying". It's *disputed* territory, and the settlements are mostly in Area C which is not designated Arab territory under the Oslo Agreements. A sovereign state must first show it can govern and provide rights for its people. What has the PA or Hamas done so far for the so-called Palestinian Arabs?

[@hanaaelouajibi5966]

Jazak allah khayr brother halal Jazak allah khayr for this interesting broadcast , I learned a lot 😊 al hamdulillah

[@nahumhabte6210]

we need political work, bottom up. Its time

[@aligadelaide9186]

End part is important

[@sadeekahsaban162]

Problem with 100% donation not properly addressed. The campaigns, ads and branding and lots of wasted expenses etc reduces the donation that is meant for the recipient

[@Cameo19]

10:18 10:20 I would like the guest to give names of trustworthy charities. Trust is important and there are a lot of unscrupulous people around.

[@90chestnut]

I think it is good that he doesn't. He is there as an expert who knows things from an inside perspective. Naming any charities that he specifically considers trustworthy would paint him as partial.

[@Zizoosworld]

I think we need to make organizations such as Muslim council of Britain increase their lobbying efforts rather than reinventing the wheel

[@sparklemotion8377]

They're lobbying for themselves

[@blackrockproposal460]

❤You guys should invited Sami hamdi to talk about the UN passed ceasefire resolution. Why is it US not use veto what's behind this change posture etc

[@shamim1587]

Without zakat and it’s true implementation we cannot get rid of poverty

[@ahmedgunner15]

uk muslims give 1 billion pounds a year to charity abroad that money should be used to fund islamic organizations and institutions in the uk

[@Asad-2166]

Answer is NO!

[@fmia2287]

Every Muslim charity interested in creating significant change needs to invest in understanding, how to apply a 'System Change' approach. Donors interested in long term and outsized impact should fund organisations that adopt a 'System Change' approach.

[@SueDalot-nh8vg]

White helmets are really wildly popular

[@nawazishkhan2080]

Muslim Ummah is impotent today nicely enjoying iftari sehri with shwarma qabza drinking coke pepsi n shedding guilt tears for gaza ! Wahan(hibbul dunya WA karahatul maut /love for this world and hatred for death )has inflicted this ummah n that's why such catastrophe

[@SueDalot-nh8vg]

In Syria u,n, was sent through the assadist regime and Never received at the camps, Rukbin camps just over the hill from u,s, base and was sent empty trucks, they only had sand

[@ireally7548]

💔💔💔

[@azchymoulvi]

You nailed it. JazakAllah khairan beloved brother. It's time to standup for our rights. We need to explore more for the permanent solution. Money 💰 food 🥝 power and strategies are essential. And preparing for the payback is a must. Ameen ya rabbal al Ameen ❤️🍀

[@goaltoinfinity3966]

Any chance of inviting Sahil Adeem on the show?

[@user-sm3gp9wz9y]

No 1 talks about fighting 😅 Maybe that would help

[@iz5327]

We saw clearly who helped with actions well organized the palestiniennes. Is South Africa, they suffered for years. the Muslims haven't done nothing but talking . What a shame, leave the religion inside as personal matters. The main point here is being human. Solidarité as human beings.

[@ibrahimlemonaide8286]

UNICEF ?

[@CanBeCrushed]

20:40 - Do you mean pressure from outside the muslim community? Or is it the muslim community highlighting the problems? If it's the latter, I say that's a good thing, we should have the highest standards for ourselves Edit: Ah nevermind, I see you addressed it at 22:30

[@CraigTheBrute-yf7no]

This is what happens when you abandon jihaad fi sabililaah

[@HappyPhilosopher]

1) If there is a possibility of peace between Jews and Muslims, one has to respect the other. When Kashif Shabir talks about the attack of the 7th of October, he talks about the attack in "Palestine". I am sorry, but the attack took place in Israel. Is that so difficult to say? 2) According to Shabir, "Israel controls charity in Gaza." This is not true because Gaza shares a common border with Egypt and on this side, Israel has no control whatsoever. The only thing Israel controls is what is going on on THEIR border (by the way: this is the case with EACH country in the world).

[@CanBeCrushed]

28:30 - Could this perception not be alleviated with existing charities being more transparent in terms of their finances?

[@easyy1912]

Thank you for your hard work💪🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@SueDalot-nh8vg]

None of the camps had fuel for heat or cooking, u,s, is sitting on the oil fields

[@ridwanmiahsalafibengali5628]

لئن عشْتُ إِنْ شاء اللهُ لأُخْرِجَنَّ اليهودَ والنصارى من جزيرَةِ العربِ الراوي : عمر بن الخطاب | المحدث : الألباني | المصدر : صحيح الجامع | الصفحة أو الرقم : 5053 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : صحيح | التخريج : أخرجه الترمذي (1606) واللفظ له، وأخرجه مسلم The prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said If I live Allah willing, I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula. Narrator: Omar bin Al-Khattab | Updated: Al-Albani | Source: Sahih Al-Jami’ | Page or number: 5053 | Summary of the hadith ’s ruling: Sahih Graduation: Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi (1606) and the pronunciation is his, and narrated by Muslim (1767) at length, with a slight difference.

[@Hhh93556]

If you're thinking how you can be a muslim? Believing Muhamad splited moon half??

[@kylebrown6798]

How would people help other than giving to charity

[@sandytatham3592]

"Every year, the list of beleaguered Muslim countries and people increases..." What is the main reason for most Muslim-majority countries failing? Unless the Muslim country is rich in gas or oil, of course. Do Muslims ever question why the need for charity is increasing?

[@justlooking4202]

We know why. Corrupt leaders and Western interference.

[@sweetsour4823]

Greater Izrael!

[@garfieM.-uu3kw]

@@justlooking4202 this is the problem with people like sandy they are the verbal apologists. They come on next to a black person to pretend they are all inclusive and pretend to be a yogo and sdone some sun salutations have about 10 cats and 6 dogs and think they are the greatest person alive. She probably has no kids either. What a POS these types of people are.

[@sandytatham3592]

@@sweetsour4823: I get it. Blame Israel and Jews for the problems that Muslims have. That's what I notice when I'm in countries like Egypt, Yemen and Sudan. Muslims see themselves as victims of some bad circumstances, as if it's what Allah destined for them, and they look to external help. Whereas Christians rarely see life in that way.

[@sandytatham3592]

Someone has answered with his comment: "Why is it that we muslims are so charitable but we muslims are the most suffering in the world? It has to do with world political situation and their oppression on the muslim people." Muslims all too often see their community as *victims* yet at one time the Islamic Caliphate was the most powerful entity in the known world.

[@aligadelaide9186]

Very neglected field in modern context

[@mohammed_888]

If there was no 25% gift aid from the government alot of these charities would close, people are making a mint on the gift aid scheme

[@user-ym5ro4fg7t]

There are too many Muslim charities. It’s become a joke

[@fmia2287]

Too easy to tug at Muslim heartstrings. Muslims need to give both with their hearts and their heads. Sadly, there isn't sufficient information to let Muslim donors to give with their heads. The onus is on larger Muslim charities and Muslim scholars/leaders and Muslim media to educate Muslim donors in how to give for bigger impact.

[@user-ym5ro4fg7t]

@@fmia2287 Why can’t Islamic relief and Muslim aid unite ?

[@faisalfaruque2849]

Easy way to make money and alot of these charity workers aren't practicing either

[@zeynepazman9785]

The need for charity is because the Trouble makers destroyed all Muslims land , countries. Elhamdülillah Türkiye is fine with our President inşallah Palestine Gaza families will be free and rebuild your homeland freedom security Salaam Gaza ❤ we have to keep giving for food to GAZA Lebanon Yemen families Muslim's around the world so they can be strong and healthy and good Islam education. I watched video of a Mosque built in USA $17 million USD, it is so much luxury like unnecessary gold trimming on walls , too many light's and huge chandelier in center of Mosque. Many of the extras are not necessary truely. They could have built Mosque maybe for 9 million and spent remaining on other important project or to help poor Muslim countries. Wasted money. Mosques can be built Strong construction, with good quality materials and with not too much extra's . Nice and Simple. So l believe money is wasted when Poor Muslim countries families don't have much to eat no water in homes. Because wars have destroyed their land s

[@zedraz870]

The solutions become easier when a CEO is happy to take a step down. The same issue persists in our masjid committees. Everyone is a chief and nobody knows how to simply follow a good lead. It's equally complicated to be a sound critical advisor and confidante follower as it is to be the loud, outspoken leader. The seerah of our beloved sahaba points to this time and again. Hazrat Omar RA was not always Amir Al Momineen. First he was taking orders from Rasool Allah SAW, then Hazrat Abu Bakar RA. Follow the rightly guided ones.

[@i_hate-sarah]

Free Palestine 🇵🇸