These final days and nights of Ramadan are a time for reflection, devotion, and generosity. As the month progresses, it can be difficult to believe that we are nearing the end but it’s important we make the most of every available opportunity to achieve reward.  

From seeking Laylat al-Qadr, to compassion for others, to connecting the community, or purifying your wealth, increasing in giving of Zakat and Sadaqah can reap multiplied rewards.  

So how can we ensure that our Zakat and Sadaqah is effective?  

Is there a way we can achieve ihsaan (excellence) in our giving?  

How to Give Mindfully:

To create maximum impact and protect your giving, it’s important to give mindfully. Conscious, considered giving rather than uninformed donations can ensure that you are better protected also and support effective charities.  

As you give during these last few nights, take a moment to stop and check:

• Is the charity registered? Check here now with The Charity Commission Search the charity register - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) – it takes just 2 minutes and can tell you all you need to know about how a charity is run.
• Can I verify their impact? Do you know that the charity is in the region or making a tangible difference? Check their website and social media for case studies and look for evidence. Effective charities love to tell their donors about their work.  
• Am I donating securely? Unfortunately, charity fraud does exist and scams can be rife  at this time of year. Be careful when donating online and look for the padlock in the URL. Ensure that you are giving directly to a charity and be very wary of transferring funds to personal bank accounts for fundraising.  

Muslim Charities Forum are running their annual Give Smart Give Safe campaign for the fourth year. Supporting safer giving, they have produced a guide and a short checklist in multiple languages to help educate donors, ensure that funds reach effective charities and create maximum impact and reward.  

Find out more at www.muslimcharitiesforum.org.uk  

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