Introduction

It is what we give away that is truly ours, not what we withhold. Giving to the needy is thus a central tenet of the Muslim faith. Conscientious Muslims always look for opportunities to share the material blessings they have been granted with those in need.

Ihsan provides opportunities for Muslims who desire to fulfill certain religious obligations by sending help to the needy in West Africa through various projects.

The Zakat Project

Allah has mandated that Muslims who have saved annually beyond a certain amount should take a percentage of those savings and distribute it to the needy: orphans, widows, the destitute, etc. This mandatory charity is also levied on agricultural estates, and any other economic assets defined by the Sharia (Islamic law). While Islam encourages such charity to be distributed to the needy that are closest to us, as relatives or as neighbors, it equally emphasizes that the most needy should be helped, regardless of where they may be.

Thus, since its incorporation in 1997, Ihsan has been dispensing the zakat of American Muslims to the needy in West Africa. The worst victims of the war and the orphans of Sierra Leone have been the major beneficiaries of this project. In recent years Ihsan has also distributed Zakat in Guinea, Ghana, Niger and Cameroon.

The Udhiya Project

To commemorate Prophet Abraham’s sacrifice of an animal in submission to Allah (God), able Muslims sacrifice an animal at the end of the Pilgrimage season. The poor, who sometimes cannot afford to eat meat, get to enjoy the festive day of Eidul-adha by receiving gifts of meat from their neighbors, who keep a portion of the meat for their families and distribute some among friends and relatives. The entire community celebrates! Muslims living in affluent societies, such as those in the North America, often elect to have their Udhiya done on their behalf in needy areas of the world.

The Ihsan Foundation has thus been sponsoring Udhiya on behalf of North American Muslims in West Africa, notably in Sierra Leone and Guinea. This project will be expanded to Niger, Cameroon and Ghana in the 2007 Udhiya season, in sha Allah (God willing).

Iftar Program

Some Muslims also send money for food (Iftar) to facilitate the observance of Ramadan by the poor. The West African countries of Niger, Guinea, Cameroon, Ghana and Sierra Leone are currently benefiting from this program.

Back to projects