Ummah Foundation Kenya

Welfare of Our Ummah

In the early years of Islam, Zakat, Sadaqa  and Awqaf ( religious endowments) played a large role in society not only in poverty alleviation, but in the building of infrastructure and provision of social services. In the early years of Islam in this country, some towns like Mombasa, Lamu and others were almost entirely based on religious endowments - the real estate donated, with the rent going towards charitable or social ends: educational and health facilities. The endowments are credited as one of the reasons for the “Golden Age” of Islamic civilization from the eighth to the 13th centuries.

But due to colonization, the stagnation of Muslim institutions, mismanagement of `awqaf’ and the inability of their laws to adapt to changing times, these charitable traditions lost their central place in the organization of society. The potential is still tremendous but in most countries, it is not being used to the potential or entirely lost its meaning. In the Malaysian state of Johor, for example, the Zakat authority allows funds to be spent on student loans for tertiary education and Universities. 

Feeding the indigents and helping orphans are encouraged repeatedly in the Holy Quran and have thus become preferred forms  of Zakat. Building mosques has been a popular form of Sadaqa, largely due to the Prophet Muhammad’s (S.A.W) saying that he who helps build a mosque will have a castle built for him in heaven. Ummah Foundation with other Muslim Organisations have at times struggled to convince donors to support “intangible” activities like capacity-building or empowerment, over these more tangible causes. The focus is to build the future that strongly appeals to every Muslim to do something about it now. Around ourselves, there is an increased awareness that if  Zakat and Sadaqa distribution and management is made effective, we can bring revolutions in terms of development - not only for the Muslims, but rest of the people around this country. The concept of One Shilling Foundation was born from this basis. As Muslims, we are raised with the good culture that you have to pay Zakat and Sadaqa. The rich just go to the poor people on the streets and give them money and they feel that they’re fulflled. To our philosophy this is not the answer to the prevalent poverty in our midst. Instead of giving money to the poor on the streets or orphans, we should try to support them in more strategic ways, empowerment and mainstream aid activities.

Ummah Foundation appeals and is trying to change the culture of giving among the donors, encouraging them to take more interest in how the money they give is spent and whether it creates any lasting change. The lasting change comes in terms of education- where lives of people are transformed, building health facilities that can cater for our interests, livelihood empowerment programs and long terms plans that will be create solid fall backs.  

The challenges facing Muslims in this country are of all facets and the only way we can counteract them is through the strong force of Unity. Unity that will help us work together for the common good.  We should have one central Zakat or Sadaqa collecting body that is entrusted with the trust and mandate of collecting
our charity funds in one pool. From that universal pool we can be able to fulfl more than what our dreams can perceive.

Contact us:
Ummah Foundation
Village Plaza, Ngara Rd, Suite 2A
P.O Box 58717-00200 Nairobi
Tel: (+254) 20-2680610/13, Mob: 0734845277
Email: info@ummahfoundation.net
Web: www.ummahfoundation.net