Investing in long-term community impact
December at National Waqf
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh,
“O you who believe! Be mindful of Allah, and let every soul consider what it has sent forward for tomorrow. And be mindful of Allah, for Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (Qur’an, 59:18)
This verse is a call to both reflection and foresight, to assess our actions and to plan with the future in mind.
At National Waqf, December was shaped by this very ethos, a time of internal reflection, reviewing our journey in 2025, and laying the foundations for 2026. While this process is still ongoing, we’ve made strong progress in identifying key goals, reviewing budgets, and aligning our strategy for the year ahead. This behind-the-scenes work may not be as visible as public events, but it’s essential to building a successful and sustainable Waqf model.
We ask Allah ﷻ to guide our plans, accept our efforts, and allow this work to be a source of lasting benefit.
We hope you find this month’s newsletter valuable, and we welcome your thoughts and feedback as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and trust.
Was-salaamu alaikum,
Mawlana Aadil Patel
CEO, National Waqf
Grant giving update
Alhamdulillah, this grant cycle has enabled National Waqf to support five strategically aligned organisations, each playing a critical role in strengthening the long-term infrastructure of the Muslim community.
The funded organisations are Solace, supporting revert women in difficulty; Ibn Ashur Centre for Qur’anic Studies, advancing Islamic scholarship; Muslim Census, providing robust data to inform policy and representation; Ihsaan Network, providing mentoring for Muslim students; and Here for Youth, investing in youth support and resilience.
Each organisation has received £5,000 to strengthen governance, delivery capacity, and long-term sustainability. Collectively, these grants reflect a deliberate approach to funding institutions that address spiritual, social, intellectual, and generational needs, demonstrating Waqf not as short-term relief, but as a strategic tool for lasting community impact.
Recent activities
December was a quieter but important month for National Waqf, marked by focused outreach, meaningful engagements, and continued work behind the scenes as we prepared for the year ahead and upcoming Ramadan initiatives.
Our research team member, Dr Mawlana Zeeshan, delivered a presentation at the University of Birmingham, engaging students on the concept of Waqf and its role in long-term community sustainability.
We also delivered a Waqf presentation at MCWAS, Sutton, and held another presentation in Southcourt Islamic Centre, Aylesbury, where we were warmly welcomed by the masjid and local community, reflecting the growing interest in Waqf-based solutions.
In London, one of our Shariah Board members delivered a Jumuʿah khutbah at Al-Ansar Islamic Education Centre, Goodmayes, followed by fundraising.
Finally, National Waqf supported and sponsored a Qur’an Revision Day hosted by Quwwatul Islam Masjid, where a community fundraiser was held in support of the Waqf fund. This collaboration highlighted the natural alignment between Qur’an-centred initiatives and long-term charitable legacy.
Fundraising highlights
December marked a significant milestone for National Waqf. During the month, £70,394.02 passed through the Waqf system in total, reflecting a combination of regular giving, one-off donations, and internal Waqf allocations in line with our model.
Of this, £30,334 was received through regular direct debits, and £15,060.02 came in as new one-off donations. In accordance with the National Waqf four-step model (Donate → Invest → Distribute → Grow), funds generated from the Waqf are split evenly between distribution and reinvestment. As a result, £25,000 was distributed as strategic grants to community organisations, while £25,000 was reinvested back into the public Waqf to strengthen and grow the asset base for future years.
Investment update
Alhamdulillah, we are pleased to share that National Waqf has now reached its £300,000 target, enabling us to proceed with a new Waqf investment. This marks an important milestone in strengthening the asset base of the public Waqf and increasing our capacity for long-term, sustainable grant giving. The full details of this investment will be shared in due course. We invite you to keep an eye on our social media channels, where we will be announcing the investment update and outlining how this step will contribute to future impact, Insha'Allah.
