Engaging in acts of charity is incumbent upon Muslims (and really, all of us) year-round, but especially more so in Ramadan and in the last 10 days of this holy month. We all know that Laylatul Qadr occurs during one of the last ten nights (most likely an odd night), and that any good deed, worship practice or act of charity is rewarded times 83 years. There are so many worthwhile charitable causes that need our support. When we sat down to put together this list, the hardest part was narrowing it down to the ones below. The following charitable campaigns are special to us at Haute Hijab for many reasons. Please consider donating to them or to whatever charity – local, national or global – that speaks to your heart. (Some of the ones listed below are zakat-eligible.) The needs are so great, and every little bit helps.

This year, through the LaunchGood Ramadan challenge, we partnered with "A Continuous Charity" (ACC) – a U.S.-based organization that provides Muslim college students with interest-free loans for higher education. By doing this, they hope to bring about a generation of graduates that will have a strong Muslim identity and be well-versed in their fields, using both for the benefit of mankind. You can learn more about them here.On the authority of Abu Hurairah (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: Sadaqah Jariyah (a continuous charity), or knowledge from which benefit is gained, or a righteous child who prays for him." (Muslim). Opening the doors for Muslim students to attain knowledge gives you an opportunity to reap good deeds from all the good they do with that knowledge, Insha'Allah.

For the Launchgood challenge: In case you missed it, you can sign up through their website, put your payment info in, choose where you want your money to go (there are a plethora of options), how much you want to donate daily, and leave the rest to them! It’s perfect for the last 10 nights of Ramadan, ensuring that you are donating each day and thus a guarantee that you give charity on Laylatul Qadr, whenever that falls!

Caring for and supporting orphans is an important part of our Islamic faith and well documented in Quran and hadith. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) was an orphan himself, with his father passing away before he was born and his mother passing away when he was very young. The Quran says “Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah , the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.” [2:177]

The Prophet (saw) also said,”’The one who cares for an orphan and myself will be together in Paradise like this,’ and he held his two fingers together to illustrate.” [Bukhari] There are so many wonderful organizations that can help you sponsor an orphan. Consider sponsoring an orphan to Zakat Foundation’s Orphan Sponsorship Program, in which you can choose to support one of the foundation’s orphanages or do an individual orphan sponsorship.

The news has been dominating our media feeds the past few weeks, with the second wave of COVID that is wreaking havoc across India. There are more than 20 million confirmed cases and more than a quarter of a million deaths (although many officials and media outlets in India report that the official numbers do not paint an accurate picture). It is a dire situation, with a desperate need for oxygen concentrators (to create oxygen), medicines, vaccines, food and other basic necessities. Indian Muslim Relief and Charities, along with numerous other organizations both international and local to various communities in India, are tirelessly working to fulfill these needs through their COVID campaign. Please consider donating here.

With COVID-19 keeping most of us home for over a year, our masajid are missing out on prime donations that many rely on to stay afloat. As they slowly start opening up again, your help is much needed. Investing in your community helps you build a foundation for your children and the future generation, so donate to your local masajid!

We’ve long been supporting ICNA Relief’s Transitional Housing Program for women through our Tote Bags for a Cause and other campaigns we’ve held with them in the past. ICNA Relief offers a safe haven to women who are displaced due to emotional or physical abuse as well as neglect. These services are more in demand than ever due to COVID-19, especially for elderly, widowed, refugee and low-income families who are unable to access the basic living necessities that we so often take for granted. You can learn more about ICNA's mission and services and how to donate here.

Muslim ARC’s mission is to provide racial justice education and resources to advance racial justice. This is done in three areas: Cultivating solutions to advance racial equity, connecting people to foster a multi-ethnic network and creating spaces for learning and developing racial equity. MuslimARC has been doing this important work since 2017, and you can become a member to support that work, volunteer with them or take advantage of their vast toolkits to educate yourself and those around you.

This is a zakat-eligible community-led effort to bail out Muslims “in pretrial incarceration and ICE custody.” It was founded by the Chicago Community Bond Fund and Sapelo Square in conjunction with Muslim scholars and community members. BBO started by posting bonds in Chicago’s Cook County Jail and now post pre-trial and immigration incarceration bonds across the United States. According to their website, BBO seeks to “create sustainable change in our society by focusing on three major areas of concern: The prison-industrial complex, anti-Muslim racism and anti-Blackness.” You can donate to their LaunchGood campaign here.

The situation in Yemen has been called “world’s worst humanitarian crisis,” with more than 20 million people who are at risk for famine, according to Islamic Relief. Now, with the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), you can imagine how dire the situation is getting. Islamic Relief USA is providing food aid, clean water and sanitation systems, and health related support in place in as many areas as they can in Yemen. Donate to their Yemen campaign here.