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Akhuwat works to alleviate poverty through our Qarz-e-Hasna scheme – micro-lending without interest. We believe that people living in poverty want the chance to uplift themselves. Because no one deserves to be dependent on handouts. And because handouts aren’t sustainable.
At Akhuwat, we’ve set a new precedent among Muslim charities by enabling donors to give Zakat and Sadaqah towards Qarz-e-Hasna which can be reused upon repayment, over and over again. The funds we provide are without interest, as per the Islamic standard which firmly forbids Riba – usuary.
At Akhuwat, Islamic micro-lending is our core programme. But to tackle poverty on all fronts, we also run other development programmes. These include:
Akhuwat works to alleviate poverty through interest-free microfinance. We believe that people living in poverty want the chance to uplift themselves. Because no one deserves to be dependent on handouts. And because handouts aren’t sustainable.
At Akhuwat, we’ve set a new precedent among Muslim charities by enabling donors to fund loans, which can be reused upon repayment, over and over again. We’ve also set a precedent in the world of microfinance, because our loans are interest-free, as per the Islamic standard which firmly forbids Riba -usuary.
At Akhuwat, Islamic microfinance is our core programme. But to tackle poverty on all fronts, we also run other development programmes. These include:
Akhuwat was founded on the principle of Mawakhat – solidarity. In the history of Islam, Mawakhat was first established by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who urged the people of Medina to share what they had with the Meccans fleeing persecution. Today, if one affluent family were to embrace a less fortunate one, we could develop a social system based on mutual support, respect and dignity. This is what we believe and strive for.
At Akhuwat, we’ve seen in action the power of Qarz-e-Hasna – funds leant without benefit to the lender. The Sadaqah and Zakat our donors give, in this effort, transform lives and uplift communities. It preserves dignity and its benefits to people are ongoing.
Akhuwat was founded by Dr Amjad Saqib in 2001. Prior to establishing Akhuwat, he served in the Civil Services of Pakistan in the District Management Group (DMG). While serving as the General Manager of the Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP) he had witnessed the devastating impact of poverty and was committed to dedicate the rest of his life to alleviate the suffering of the poor. He once took his friends to visit a village, Jia Bagga, to study the impact of intervention by PRSP. Dr Kamran Shams and he had a conversation with a local woman, asking her what the impact was of the PKR 10,000 she borrowed from the PRSP.
She said, “My children used to only eat once a day, but with funds I borrowed, I am able to feed them two meals”.
This answer cemented Dr Saqib and his friend’s long-term desire to create an institution that lent funds without interest. He concluded that in order to empower the poor, the way forward was not to engage with them as if for a business venture, but rather, with support and empathy.
Dr Saqib’s friends pledged their support and on account of his previous experience in the microfinance industry, he designed, organised and implemented the programme. Named Akhuwat, it would be the first of its kind in the country. This group of philanthropists, later to be joined by other friends, became Akhuwat’s first Board of Directors, with Dr Amjad Saqib serving as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Akhuwat was launched in March 2001. From then on, our organisation adopted Qarz-e-Hasna as its core strategy for micro-lending. Our desire is to reignite the pledge of Mawakhat – a bond of solidarity – that was created as a result of the Prophet’s migration from Makkah to Medina. It is based on the principle that if one has a loaf of bread, half of it rightfully belongs to a person who has none. This philosophy of solidarity is the driving force behind our work.
The concept of Mawakhat dates to 622 CE, when our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) urged the residents of Medina (Ansars) to share half of their belongings with Meccan immigrants (Muhajirs) who were forced to flee persecution from the Quraish.
Drawing inspiration from the generosity displayed by the Ansars, Akhuwat believes that if the same approach – where one affluent family embraces a less fortunate one – is adopted today, inequality could be eradicated from the world.
While the inspiration for our philosophy of Mawakhat comes from Islam, we do not exclude people of other faiths from our development projects. We strongly believe in and practice religious freedom, tolerance, and inclusion and our message of solidarity is for all.
All of Akhuwat’s practices which are inspired by this philosophy involve compassion towards others, and sharing what you have with those who do not. In our work, we ensure that the dignity of beneficiaries is always maintained. In all our dealings with them, they are treated as family, with utmost respect and compassion.
Founder (Chairman Akhuwat UK)
Muhammad Amjad Saqib is a Pakistani social entrepreneur, development practitioner, former civil servant, and author. He is Chairman of Akhuwat, the world’s largest Islamic microfinance organisation providing interest-free loans to the most deserving sectors of society.
Amjad Saqib has been personally recognised and awarded for his work in social mobilisation, poverty alleviation, microfinance, and education management.
In 2021, he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award (the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize) for the “first-of-its-kind,” interest- and collateral-free microfinance programme. In 2018, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Schwab Foundation named him Social Entrepreneur of the Year. He was presented with the Commonwealth’s 31st Point of Light Award by Queen Elizabeth II. The Crown Prince of Dubai, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, and Thomson Reuters presented him with the Islamic Economy Award at the Global Islamic Summit in recognition of Akhuwat’s contribution to Islamic Economics. The President of Pakistan honoured him with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the third highest award for Pakistani citizens, military personnel and foreign nationals.
President (Akhuwat UK)
Arif Anis is the author of three bestsellers: “I’MPOSSIBLE”, “Made In Crises” and “Follow Your Dreams,”. He is a globally celebrated thought leader in the personal growth and success industry for more than 20 years.
As a consultant, coach and corporate leader, Anis’s clients include top corporate leaders, heads of states, movie stars, senior managers, Fortune500 and FTSE100 company CEOs, as well as governments and multilateral organisations. He was voted Brain of the Year by Tony Buzan’s Brain Trust in November 2020 and was named the Global Man of the Year in 2019 by Global Man Magazine.
In his philanthropic work, Anis supports H.R.H. Prince of Wales’ The British Asian Trust. He founded the One Million Meals campaign in response to the first Corona virus lockdown. Anis’s initiatives have been featured on BBC, ITV, Sky, CNBC, The Telegraph, Yahoo, and many other global platforms.
Member Board of Trustees (Akhuwat UK)
Dr Afzal Javed is a British-Pakistani Psychiatrist, professor and author. He is a Consultant Psychiatrist and an Honorary Clinical Associate Teacher at Warwick Medical School (University of Warwick, UK). In October 2020, he was named President of the World Psychiatric Association.
Dr Javed is a renowned Consultant Psychiatrist specialising in Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Schizophrenia. During his career, Dr Javed has served on the boards of several world-recognised organisations including the Royal College of Psychiatrists UK, World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR), and the World Psychiatric Association (WPA).
Member Board of Trustees (Akhuwat UK)
Omar Chaudhry is a Management Consultant, based in Europe, specialising in Private Equity Due Diligences. He was one of the founding trustees of Akhuwat UK when it was launched in 2010. Omar is closely involved in the day-to-day operations of the charity and with The Akhuwat Foundation since its inception in 2001.
Omar completed his early education at the University of Oxford, and later completed an MBA from INSEAD.
Member Board of Trustees (Akhuwat UK)
Dr. Izhar ul Haq Hashmi graduated from King Edward Medical College and went on to do his post-graduate studies in Oncology. He has completed numerous trainings and courses in cancer management and human resources. His career has focused on marketing and sales in the high-tech pharma industry.
Dr. Haq is a founding member of Akhuwat and was appointed as the Project Director of Akhuwat Health Services. He is also Director of Programmes at the Punjab Welfare Trust for the Disabled.
Founder (Chairman Akhuwat UK)
Muhammad Amjad Saqib is a Pakistani social entrepreneur, development practitioner, former civil servant, and author. He is Chairman of Akhuwat, the world’s largest Islamic micro-lending organisation lending funds without interest to the most deserving sectors of society.
Amjad Saqib has been personally recognised and awarded for his work in social mobilisation, poverty alleviation, micro-lending, and education management.
In 2021, he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award (the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize) for the “first-of-its-kind,” interest- and collateral-free micro-lending programme. In 2018, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Schwab Foundation named him Social Entrepreneur of the Year. He was presented with the Commonwealth’s 31st Point of Light Award by Queen Elizabeth II. The Crown Prince of Dubai, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, and Thomson Reuters presented him with the Islamic Economy Award at the Global Islamic Summit in recognition of Akhuwat’s contribution to Islamic Economics. The President of Pakistan honoured him with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the third-highest award for Pakistani citizens, military personnel and foreign nationals.
President (Akhuwat UK)
Arif Anis is the author of three bestsellers: “I’MPOSSIBLE”, “Made In Crises” and “Follow Your Dreams,”. He is a globally celebrated thought leader in the personal growth and success industry for more than 20 years.
As a consultant, coach and corporate leader, Anis’s clients include top corporate leaders, heads of states, movie stars, senior managers, Fortune500 and FTSE100 company CEOs, as well as governments and multilateral organisations. He was voted Brain of the Year by Tony Buzan’s Brain Trust in November 2020 and was named the Global Man of the Year in 2019 by Global Man Magazine.
In his philanthropic work, Anis supports H.R.H. Prince of Wales’ The British Asian Trust. He founded the One Million Meals campaign in response to the first Corona virus lockdown. Anis’s initiatives have been featured on BBC, ITV, Sky, CNBC, The Telegraph, Yahoo, and many other global platforms.
Member Board of Trustees (Akhuwat UK)
Dr Afzal Javed is a British-Pakistani Psychiatrist, professor and author. He is a Consultant Psychiatrist and an Honorary Clinical Associate Teacher at Warwick Medical School (University of Warwick, UK). In October 2020, he was named President of the World Psychiatric Association.
Dr Javed is a renowned Consultant Psychiatrist specialising in Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Schizophrenia. During his career, Dr Javed has served on the boards of several world-recognised organisations including the Royal College of Psychiatrists UK, World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR), and the World Psychiatric Association (WPA).
Member Board of Trustees (Akhuwat UK)
Omar Chaudhry is a Management Consultant, based in Europe, specialising in Private Equity Due Diligences. He was one of the founding trustees of Akhuwat UK when it was launched in 2010. Omar is closely involved in the day-to-day operations of the charity and with The Akhuwat Foundation since its inception in 2001.
Omar completed his early education at the University of Oxford, and later completed an MBA from INSEAD.
Member Board of Trustees (Akhuwat UK)
Dr. Izhar ul Haq Hashmi graduated from King Edward Medical College and went on to do his post-graduate studies in Oncology. He has completed numerous trainings and courses in cancer management and human resources. His career has focused on marketing and sales in the high-tech pharma industry.
Dr. Haq is a founding member of Akhuwat and was appointed as the Project Director of Akhuwat Health Services. He is also Director of Programmes at the Punjab Welfare Trust for the Disabled.
Akhuwat
