Growing up in a Muslim community, I have been a witness to Muslims actively striving to make the world a better place for everyone. I have observed firsthand the transformational power of Muslim philanthropy initiatives rooted in my personal experiences and Islamic teachings. In order to achieve social welfare and bring about positive changes in… Read more »
My biggest take away after graduating with a master’s degree from an arts institution was embracing the idea of “being” versus “doing” (Mitra, Rahul. “Doing Ethnography, Being an Ethnographer: The Autoethnographic Research Process and I.” Journal of Research Practice 6, no.1 2010). The mode of being, in various praxes, can offer an interconnected approach to the… Read more »
Stories are vital in the philanthropic sector. Being able to tell your story of resilience, struggle, and strength is not easy, but it is especially difficult for marginalized individuals, including those in Muslim American communities. As non-dominate communities, not having diverse Muslim American stories believed can threaten our success physically and financially, particularly as we… Read more »
Philanthropy is deeply ingrained in the foundational values of Islam. Sadaqah, or voluntary charity; zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam which mandates annual giving; and waqf, or endowment, are some of the key categories of Islamic charitable practices. Uthman ibn Affan, the third Caliph who ruled the Muslim empire and a close companion… Read more »
The American Muslim community continues to grow, as do the number of American Muslim nonprofits. Knowing and understanding American Muslim philanthropy is important to developing and better serving American Muslim civil society and the larger American civil society. This is why the research from the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative (MPI) and other institutions is important. MPI has done… Read more »
As a nonprofit professional, I discovered that the world of fundraising and philanthropy is filled with stories of everyday people making positive changes in their community and establishing a legacy that transcends their own lives. The Muslim Philanthropy Initiative published a study on Motivations of Giving, which dives into reasons why American Muslims are philanthropically… Read more »
In Islam, the act of giving back is highly emphasized, especially during Ramadan. The holy month emphasizes the importance of zakat (required almsgiving) and sadaqah (voluntary charity), highlighting the deep generosity within the Muslim faith (MPI,2023). Zakat, a fundamental aspect of Islam, demonstrates the religion’s organized method of giving to those in need, with the… Read more »
I’ve been studying philanthropy for the past few years, learning about its history in the United States, understanding its beginnings, and navigating the landscape. Every history book on philanthropy I was required to read either failed to mention anything about Muslim philanthropy or Islam’s influence on Western philanthropy or had one paragraph dedicated to it… Read more »
At the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative (MPI), we believe that philanthropy is a powerful expression of our shared values, traditions, and commitment to bettering the world. This blog serves as a platform to amplify the voices of everyone connected to our mission—students, scholars, and practitioners—each contributing their unique perspective on the evolving field of Muslim philanthropy…. Read more »
By Molly Grimm Meet Dr. Shariq Siddiqui, one of the newest faculty members at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Dr. Siddiqui serves as the director of the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative and assistant professor of philanthropic studies. He also currently sits on the boards at the Center on Muslim Philanthropy, the YMCA of Greater… Read more »