JVN Blog

Sadaqa Day, which will be marked for the second time on Sunday 20th March 2016, was a new initiative started last year by the Muslim community. Modelled on the success of the Jewish community’s Mitzvah Day, it is an opportunity for people of all faiths to come together and engage in social action. Sadaqa (in Arabic), or Tzedakah (in Hebrew), translates as Charity. Here, Sadaqa Day Founder and Director Julie Siddiqi tells us her hopes and aspirations for this year and how we can all participate to generate positive change through giving both our money and our time.

Julie Siddiqi, Founder and Director of Sadaqa Day

Sadaqa Day was a long time in the planning in many ways. I’ve been involved in grassroots community work for twenty years, mainly in the Muslim community but with interfaith work too. Over that time I have seen an emerging and growing Muslim charity sector that has become a big part of community life in Britain.  Indeed Muslims are said to be among the most generous when it comes to donating to charity.

Through those charities, much of what I see in volunteering is enabling mainly young people to help at events, do activities and sometimes organise things themselves.  But most of that work, brilliant as it is, is about raising money and much of that goes to good causes abroad.  To building wells, to supporting orphans, to getting food to people who otherwise would have nothing. It is noble work, no doubt about that.

Sadaqa Day is one way that I see to help shift this focus, to broaden things out, to remind us all that ‘Sadaqa’ means much more than giving money.  That charity needs to be about giving our time as well.  And in theory, of course, Muslims know this very well!  Muhammad, peace be on him, is oft quoted as talking about how ‘even a smile is charity’ or how ‘one cannot be a true believer if they go to bed full and their neighbour is hungry’.   The lessons and teachings are all there, it is the infrastructure and mindset that needs some more development.

Over the past three or fours years I have learned and been amazed and impressed at the way the Jewish community in Britain is so well established when it comes to community organising. It is brilliant motivation for me and much of that is so well connected and showcased via the brilliant work the JVN team do in linking it all together.

Sadaqa Day was inspired and modelled on the success of Mitzvah Day.

Sadaqa Day takes place this year on Sunday 20th March

As is often said, charity work is for life and not just for one day! My thinking though, certainly for Muslims, is that a mindset and actually a cultural shift is needed and to focus on one day or one activity encourages people to get involved and then they are hooked!  Hooked on the feeling one gets when volunteering and helping others.  Hooked on the positive stories and feel-good-factor towards the Muslim community that we often don’t see enough of.  Hooked on meeting good, positive people from all backgrounds, all with one thing in common – to give time in the service of others.

Last year, Sadaqa Day started in a rush! We got some funding and it had to be used super quickly.  But we did it. People got it. The idea worked. People loved the buzz that it created.   2016 sees different people involved, more varied events, good coverage in local papers and online.

Click here for some photos from Sadaqa Day 2015.

Click here for some video highlights.

And of course, as well as being so beneficial to the volunteers and the recipients, it is also a fantastic way of bringing together people from different backgrounds to work together and do some good for others.  That feeling is great! There are collaborations between lots of different people. Muslim and Jewish women getting together to pack food in North London for homeless and vulnerable people.  Muslim staff from BT Openreach working with others on a number of projects across the UK.  Student Unions and Societies at the University of Westminster coming together to work side by side for Sadaqa Day.

My aim is that the word ‘Sadaqa’ becomes more familiar when we talk about good volunteering, giving of our time, on our doorstep and not just giving money to causes abroad. If the interest last year and this year is anything to go by, I think we are in for some exciting times ahead.

If you have been inspired by Julie’s story and Sadaqa Day and would like to volunteer more regularly, check out the JVN website for opportunities to volunteer all year round. Click here for more information about Sadaqa Day.