Muslim Communities UK (MCUK)                     t: 0161 713 1892

Our Aims & Objectives

At present, there are an estimated 2 million Muslims in the UK, with over 55% being British born. However, as with the global community, the British Muslim community is constituted from a vast range of different national and cultural origins. Not only this, but there are also a significant number of convert Muslims of British or European origin.

Muslim communities are present throughout the entirety of the UK, although the greatest concentrations are located in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bradford.

Stop! Before You Pay Your Zakat

The ulama, in accordance to the Sunnah of the beloved messenger, in all the schools of law and through the ages have always insisted on the necessity of spending zakat locally first, for the poor and the needy people of the place, the locality or the society within which it has been collected. It is only when the local needs have been satisfied, or in exceptional situations such as natural catastrophes or wars etc, that the spending of zakat abroad can be done. In fact, when there are no Muslims in need locally, it can go further afield and even then starting with the next town as opposed to going abroad.

According to the blessed Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the practice of his companions, Zakat should be distributed among the deserving people in the region or country where it is collected. Ordinarily transferring Zakat to other places is not correct and generally ill-advised (makruh).

Tackling Poverty

Did you know that of the seven million people deemed 'economically inactive' in the UK, two million would like to work?

Or that last year 22% of women were in jobs earning less than £7 an hour?

Or that many people moving off benefits into work end up no better off?

There are all sorts of reasons why people of working age end up living in poverty.

As part of the European Year to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010 MCUK have joined forces with Church Action in Poverty who are leading on this project to uncover, raise awareness of and begin to tackle some of these issues as they affect people in the North West.