A message from the Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Chief Executive Officer

Assalamu alaykum, Peace be with you.

In 2025, Islamic Relief Worldwide reached more than 13 million people across 41 countries. Behind these numbers are families, children and communities whose lives have been changed, by God's grace, then through your support. We are grateful to our supporters and partners around the world for making this possible.

In Sudan, we reached more people than ever as a brutal war left millions homeless and at risk of famine. In Gaza, we significantly expanded orphan sponsorship for children who have lost everything. In Mali, our innovative Qurbani Plus project more than doubled the number of people eating an adequate diet, turning seasonal giving into lasting livelihoods.

From Afghanistan, where we responded to a devastating earthquake, to Myanmar, Pakistan and Lebanon, this report shows what donors, partners and dedicated colleagues can achieve together.

It is precisely in moments like these that the Islamic Relief family proves its worth.

This has been a year of profound global uncertainty, and the horizon has yet to clear. The rules-based international order is being challenged by some of its former strongest advocates, and humanitarian aid is paying the price. Misinformation targeting humanitarians such as Islamic Relief further hampers our efforts to help those in need. It is precisely in moments like these that the Islamic Relief family proves its worth. More than a dozen Islamic Relief Member countries channel the generosity of their communities to those who need it most, giving us the scale, relationships and reach to deliver where humanitarian presence is most stretched.

Decades of sustained international investment have reduced child mortality, expanded access to education, and lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty. That progress must not be reversed. Yet the integral role of faith in achieving it is rarely acknowledged. When disasters strike, local faith networks are often the first to respond and the last to leave. At this critical moment, the role of faith-based organisations is more important than ever.

Aid alone, however, cannot resolve the challenges our world faces. We are witnessing unprecedented threats to international law, with warring parties obstructing lifesaving assistance, attacking civilians with impunity, and deliberately targeting essential services. Islamic Relief is committed not only to delivering aid, but also to addressing the root causes of poverty and suffering including through advocacy in defence of the humanitarian principles that protect the most vulnerable.

This year, we expanded our global partnerships, including a landmark agreement with Qatar Charity and deeper collaboration with UN agencies. We were honoured that His Majesty King Charles III recognised Islamic Relief's contribution to the British charity sector at the Buckingham Palace Humanitarian Reception, reflecting the trust our supporters have placed in us over four decades.

We thank Waseem Ahmad, who completed his term as Chief Executive in late 2025, for his years of dedicated service, and we look forward to his continued support for Islamic Relief's mission.

We welcome Iftikhar Shaheen who started as our new Chief Executive late 2025. Iftikhar brings more than 20 years of humanitarian experience including leading humanitarian interventions in some of the most difficult locations.

We pay tribute to our inspirational colleagues around the world. In places like Gaza and Sudan, our staff and local partners are tirelessly delivering aid while themselves displaced from their homes, grieving loved ones, or struggling to feed their own families. They are the embodiment of Islamic Relief's values and the spirit of humanity. They make us exceptionally proud, and they are the reason this work endures.

Wa salamu alaykum (In Peace)