Your Ramadan Donations in Action
IMPACT REPORT | 2025
Through Your Support
Another Ramadan has come and gone, but this one was heavy on the heart. Yet, for our community here at home and for communities around the world, you showed up when it mattered most and gave without hesitation.
And every time we had to pivot to adjust to the changing world around us, you moved with us, trusting us every step of the way
To say thank you doesn’t feel enough — almost impossible to put into words. Nonetheless, thank you for everything you did for our Ummah this Ramadan. Thank you for not forgetting those who have felt forgotten, and for reminding us all of the strength and power of community.
Your commitment and support were the reason 3.5 million people felt relief this Ramadan.
May Allah give you like you give to others. May He reward you beyond what you think you deserve, and may He shower you with the same relief you have given to those in need.
May Allah accept your efforts and continue to use you in His service.
Your sister,
Aysha Syed Director of Fundraising, Islamic Relief Canada
Your Impact This Ramadan
Food Packs distributed across 33 Countries
200,300 1,091,371
Rights-holders reached through Food Support
65,327 26,099
Right-holders reached through Domestic Initiatives
Rights-holders reached through Eid Gifts
Ramadan Food Distributions
Feed the Needy · Zakat al-Fitr · Fidya and Kaffara
With your support, we distributed 200,300 food packs, food vouchers, and food cash assistance in impoverished communities to provide relief during the blessed month of Ramadan. Through this effort we also distributed your Zakat al-Fitr, Fidya, and Kaffara payments in the form of food supplies to those most in need.
What’s Inside a Food Pack?
Food items vary according to regional cuisines and are purchased through local markets to support local livelihoods and the local economy and ensure high quality of products.
Each food pack usually contains:
Oil Wheat Canned meat and fish
= FAMILY OF 5-7 FOR ONE MONTH
Dates
Lentils
Rice Sugar
Your Donations in Action this Ramadan
1,091,371* People Were Sustained This Ramadan Because of You
A Ramadan with Dignity
Nur from Bangladesh, 43 years old
Nur is the sole breadwinner of his family and lives with his family in the Bhasanchar Rohingya camp. Food is a constant struggle, and with limited opportunities to earn a living, he sometimes goes fishing in the canal hoping to catch some fish.
“During tough times, food shortages greatly affect my family. We often have to cut back on meal portions or even skip meals, which weakens us and affects our health, especially the children.”
In these difficult moments, they rely entirely on humanitarian assistance and hope for better days ahead
During Ramadan, Islamic Relief’s food packages make a real difference. They include essentials and iftar items that help families like Nur’s prepare proper meals after a day of fasting.
“For many families, including mine, these distributions truly bring relief. Receiving this support meant we could observe Ramadan with dignity and focus on our prayers and fasting without constant anxiety about food shortages. It brought us relief and strengthened our faith, knowing that we were not alone in our struggles.”
A Story of Change
Kamal from Gaza, 64 years old
“ The impact of Islamic Relief’s food distribution in our community during Ramadan has been a source of relief and hope for us.
It allowed us to have proper meals for Iftar, something that we could not have done on our own due to the scarcity of food and resources. The distribution provided not just food, but also a sense of solidarity and support from the outside world, which is crucial during these hard times. It alleviated some of the pressure we feel every day, knowing that we don’t have to worry about feeding our family for a few days. It allowed us to observe the fast with less stress and provided some comfort during a time that is already so difficult.
We are thankful for their support, and it gives us hope that we are not forgotten in our struggles.”
Your Zakat in Trusted hands
Your Zakat is an Amanah, and we take that trust very seriously. At Islamic Relief Canada, we follow a scholar-verified Zakat Policy to ensure your Zakat reaches as many poor and needy people as possible to transform their lives.
To read more about our scholar-verified Zakat policy, visit us at islamicrelief.ca/zakat-policy.
2,363,841+ People Being Reached
Impact of Zakat Donations for 2025
46 Zakat Projects Supported
Our Zakat Distribution Process
Rights-holders
Islamic Relief identifies those well below Nisab, working with the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable. This includes orphan households, single femaleheaded households, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
1 4 2 5 3 6
How Funds are Used Locally
Once Zakat donations are collected, Islamic Relief Canada wires funds to be disbursed to the field offices for immediate distribution and implementation on the ground.
Needs Assessment
Our caseworkers, staff and volunteers in our field offices use a standardized system to collect information, record notes and categorize to determine the support that each individual and family needs.
Collecting Zakat
Throughout the year, especially in Ramadan, Islamic Relief Canada collects your Zakat donations to continuously fund projects that assist the poorest of the poor.
Your Donations in Action
Your Zakat reaches the hands of those who need it most, providing rights-holders with the tools to support themselves and pass it on to the next generation.
Your Impact
Wherever possible, our work often continues even after a rights-holder receives your Zakat donation. Many remain part of our support system, benefiting from ongoing projects and funds in the area to help strengthen their selfsufficiency.
Thank you for readily extending your hand to the world's most vulnerable and making them a part of your community with love and compassion!
Your Zakat helped here!
Emergency Relief for Gaza
This Ramadan, you once again extended your unwavering support to Palestine. Despite the total closure of goods imposed by Israel, we continued to deliver vital, multi-sectoral aid, including ready-to-eat meals, food packs, hygiene supplies, educational classes, and psychosocial support for children and women.
The team utilized remaining local stocks and leveraged trusted supplier networks to carry out food distributions. We want to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of our staff, who continue to work under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions to support affected communities.
In Gaza this Ramadan, your Zakat helped distribute:
Ready-to-eat warm meals to an average of 46,000 people on a near-daily basis
16,326 ready-to-eat family food parcels
Hygiene kits to 9,027 people
Delivered cleaning services and hygiene supplies for 71 shelters
Clean water to approximately 95,000 people on a near-daily basis
106 Psychosocial support sessions delivered to children and caregivers across 6 shelters
Distributed food vouchers, fresh bread, vegetable packs, and more!
600,000 Rights-holders* Reached Through Your Zakat & Donations
* Given the nature of these emergencies, these figures represent the total number of individuals reached over the course of these entire projects.
In Your Community
From Coast to Coast
Grand Iftars
From Surrey to Mississauga to Halifax, you joined us to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Palestine, Sudan, and Yemen, as well as bring comfort to orphaned children in Gaza and around the world.
We hosted 12 Grand Iftars across Canada to make it a Ramadan of relief, learning about the power of love, community, and care from our special guests: Ustadha Ieasha Prime, Shaykh Abdullah Oduro, Dr. Munir El Kassem, Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Mufti Aasim Rashid, Shaykh Abdullah Waheed, and other inspiring changemakers.
Thank you for coming together as one Ummah in the spirit of resilience and hope!
12 Cities
3,800+ Attendees
Iftar & Kits for Incarcerated Muslims
It can be especially challenging for Muslims who are incarcerated in prisons across Canada to practice their faith and observe important and religious days with dignity and respect. As people of faith, it is our collective religious obligation to care for our incarcerated brothers and sisters and ensure they are neither forgotten nor abandoned.
We believe in the power of community and the impact of small acts of kindness. Partnered with Muslim chaplains and institutions, you helped us distribute iftar meals and worship kits to incarcerated Muslims in Ottawa, Montreal, and Winnipeg. These kits included a kufi cap or hijab, cushioned prayer mat, and the Quran.
273 Incarcerated Muslims
Felt the Love of Community
Eid Gifts for Gaza Evacuees
This past Ramadan, we hoped our community could be a home away from home for recent evacuees from Gaza. We wanted them to feel supported and know they weren’t alone. With your generosity, we were able to bring a sense of joy and dignity to families who have been through so much. 310 Eid gifts were distributed to children, and 232 grants were provided to help with urgent needs as they began rebuilding their lives here.
Ramadan Miracles
For Our Sister
Back in December 2023, Nesma Abu Hassira and her family left everything behind in Gaza. When they arrived in Canada with the help of Islamic Relief Canada, they brought one important thing with them, the will to rebuild.
Nesma opened Al Aqsa Market in Milton, Ontario, a small shop filled with Palestinian goods. Some days, they barely had a sale and others they made nothing at all.
But then, you showed up. When we called on our community to do their Ramadan shopping at Al Aqsa Market, you answered. In just one day, the store made more than it had in two months combined. When we all come together, there’s no telling what we can accomplish.
For Our Community
Our work starts first and foremost at home. We made it a goal to step up and provide persons living without permanent accommodation with hot meals and drinks every weekend this past Ramadan. Because of you, 1,200 people received meals in Ottawa and 500 in Hamilton during this blessed month. Thank you for making it a Ramadan without hunger for our neighbours across Canada.
1,700
Canadians
Were Provided with Meals this Ramadan
PART 6 | ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP
Orphan Sponsorship
Your kindness transforms lives
With your support, our Orphan Sponsorship Program has helped transform countless lives, families, and communities around the world.
Through your monthly cash transfer donations, your sponsorships protect the well-being, safety, health, education and social environments of orphans. Our field officers conduct yearly assessments, in addition to periodic check-ins to ensure the children are safe and looked after.
This allows them to be individually supported, improves family stability and helps sustainable development for the entire community. It’s your generosity that helps fill the gap in their lives!
Orphans in Gaza
Despite the ongoing devastation, our team has managed to resume our Orphan Sponsorship Program in Gaza. We have registered hundreds of children and continue to do so each month, ensuring care for those who are newly orphaned.
This is where you stepped in! This Ramadan, your kindness sponsored 1,381 orphans in Gaza so far, with many more sponsorships waiting to begin — bringing them the promise of hope and a brighter future.
Stories of Your Impact
“We can now afford healthy meals for both Iftar and Suhoor, which helps us stay strong and energized while fasting. It also allows me to work more effectively and support my family without feeling weak or tired.”
– Mother of Fathima and Mohammed, 2 sponsored orphans in Sri Lanka
“This support has allowed me to fast at ease like the others. It has allowed me to sleep soundly with the hope to have food with satisfaction. It has allowed me to increase my faith and to believe in God deeply. It has allowed me to know the value of the month of Ramadan.”
– Aminata, mother of a sponsored orphan in Mali
“We decorated our house with Ramadan decorations and bought lanterns and new clothes, which made us feel joyful like the rest of the children. Our dining table now contains all the food that we previously wished to have.”
– Mother of Mohammed, a sponsored orphan in Yemen
“It gives me confidence and happiness, knowing that someone cares for us. This support has improved our financial situation and changed our lives.”
– Sabahia, mother of a sponsored orphan in Pakistan
Eid Gift Distribution
Sharing the Joy of Eid with Children in Need
Your kindness gifted smiles to orphans and vulnerable children on Eid day through new clothes, shoes, school bags and educational materials, toys, and sweets. These gifts full of joy were distributed across 20 countries including Palestine, Sudan, and Yemen!
Thank you for helping spread the joy of Eid globally to 65,327 rights-holders, letting orphans and vulnerable children know that someone is thinking of them.
65,327 * Individuals Felt the Joy of Eid!
*This is a reflection of all Islamic Relief offices around the world and includes the 11,055 individuals specifically reached by Islamic Relief Canada’s efforts in Palestine, Sudan, and Yemen.
Thank you
Jazakum Allahu Khairan for the continued support and solidarity you showed our Ummah’s most vulnerable this Ramadan. We are extremely grateful to donors like yourself for contributing to our work around the world, speaking out when we needed your voice, and showing up when we needed your support.
Your continued kindness will never be forgotten. Their lives will be forever changed, because of you
We could not do it without you, thank you.
“Whoever relieves the hardship of a believer in this world, Allah will relieve their hardship on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever helps ease one in difficulty, Allah will make it easy for them in this world and in the Hereafter..."
- Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
3501 Mainway
Burlington, ON L7M 1A9 www.islamicrelief.ca 1-855-377-4673 (HOPE)
Registered Charity No. 821896875RR0001