5 Most Powerful Organizations Serving Muslim Communities and Beyond

By: Nesima Aberra

The word “powerful” can evoke a lot of meaning, negative and positive. In this list, the word “powerful” is meant to have a positive connotation. The organizations were judged by reach, reputation, engagement, geographic diversity as well as an underlying foundation of either Islamic values in the mission or predominantly Muslim representation in membership.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it seeks to highlight the tremendous work Muslims are doing to benefit both Muslims and non-Muslims whether in charity, business, politics, media or the arts. These organizations will surely cause people to rethink preconceived notions about Muslim achievements and contributions in today’s society.

1. Islamic Relief USA

Charity is one pillars of Islam, but Islamic Relief USA takes that duty to another level by striving to become “a worldwide leader in alleviating poverty.”

The non-profit works in over 35 countries and provides disaster relief, humanitarian aid, education, orphan support, health and nutrition and more. Islamic Relief USA is working to support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to improve the lives of people in the poorest of countries by 2015.

Islamic Relief USA has special projects during Ramadan and Hajj and coordinates with other non-profits to serve domestic needs like with its Day of Dignity event, summer food service program and homeless shelter services.  Currently, the group has four campaigns focused on Alabama Disaster Relief, Libya Humanitarian Relief, Middle East Humanitarian Crisis and Japan Disaster Relief. It’s been named a four-star charity by the Charity Navigator.

2. Al Jazeera English

Already a staple in the Arab world, Al Jazeera leapt into wider public consciousness during the Arab Spring for the most consistent and courageous coverage of the historic changes in the Middle East.

In their corporate profile, the network describes its mission is “to provide independent, impartial news for an international audience and to offer a voice to a diversity of perspectives from under-reported regions. In addition, the channel aims to balance the information flow between the South and the North.”

Headquartered in Doha, Qatar, the Al Jazeera Arabic channel launched an English channel in November 2006. Al Jazeera broadcasts news and world affairs 24-hours a day, streams live on its website and is also the number one watched news channel on YouTube. Al Jazeera English is the first international English-language news channel that broadcasts all over the world from the Middle East, filling a void in the media market for quality journalism by journalists of all nationalities, ethnicities and religions.

In 2010, Al Jazeera was nominated for an Emmy award in News category. It won a Freesat Award for Best News Channel of the Year and International Television and Radio Award from humanitarian organization, Amnesty International, for its “People and Power” program.

Though the network has more than 65 bureaus around the world, Al Jazeera still hasn’t successfully penetrated the US television market. But if it continues to report in high-conflict areas and produce hard-hitting, engaging stories, it may just help shape the face of journalism in today’s new media scene.

3. Qatar Foundation

The Qatar Foundation, located in Doha, Qatar, is an independent, private, non-profit, chartered organization founded in 1995 by decree of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, with the mission to “unlock human potential.” Chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the foundation strives to develop people though education, technology, arts, media, cultural events, and research, “thus raising the competency of people and the quality of life.”

The Qatar Foundation is engaged in numerous programs, partnerships and ventures including university science and research programs, post-grad studies at institutions like Carnegie Mellon in Qatar and other global campuses, Al Jazeera Children’s Channel, career fairs, the Doha Debates, the Qatar Music Academy and Philharmonic Orchestra, the Qatar Diabetes Association and the Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development. There is even a 45,000 square meters central library scheduled to open in 2013 for Qatari residents that aims to be a premier academic, research, national and public library with print and digital material.

The diversity of investments the Qatar Foundation has made to benefit not only the country, but also the region has earned it worldwide attention and helped it prepare for competing in the new knowledge-based economy.

4. Aga Khan Development Network

The Aga Khan Development Network is influenced by the ethical principles of Islam, however the impact of its work reaches people from different faiths and communities all in 30 countries around the world.

The AKDN consists of development agencies focused on areas such as environment, health, education, civil society, microfinance and rural development.  Most of the development programs are in the poorest areas of Asia and Africa like Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Uganda, while educational and cultural programs work in Europe and North America.  Some of the agencies include the Aga Khan Trust for Culture to physically, socially, culturally and economically revitalize Muslim communities, the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services for sustainable construction and environments and Focus Humanitarian Assistance for emergency disaster relief.

The non-profit international organizations involved get funding from governments, private sector groups, endowments and donations, with over 70,000 staff members and a budget of $625 million in 2010. The programs and volunteers are being recognized for their contributions as well. This year, the Building and Construction Improvement Programme by the Planning and Building Service received the Award for Avoided Deforestation at the 2011 Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy and the Aga Khan received the 2011 University of California, San Francisco Medal. Ultimately, the people who make up the AKDN seek to improve the quality of life of people and highlight the importance of international service.

5. The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation

The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, formerly the Organization of the Islamic Conference, calls itself the “collective voice of the Muslim world and ensuring to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.”

Founded in 1969, the OIC has 57 member states from Jordan to Azerbaijan to Bahrain to Sierra Leone, working together to advocate for Muslims, resolve conflicts and change the perception of Islam and Muslims. The leadership consists of Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu of Turkey, general secretariat, who oversees an Islamic Summit of kings and queens from the member states and a council of foreign ministers, which develop and implement policies to address the many challenges facing the global Muslim community. After the UN, the OIC is the second largest international organization!

Some of the key issues the OIC has outlined in its Ten Year Program of Action Plan in 2005 include alleviating poverty, promoting tolerance and modernization, countering terrorism, violence and extremism, protecting the rights of Muslim minorities and achieving higher levels of literacy and education, especially for women and children.

Keeping a unified, strategic vision between such diverse states in the name of representing Muslims is a difficult task to handle, but the OIC works to put out timely press releases, reports and newsletters commenting on and monitoring political conflicts, Islamophobia, human rights and relevant data in the Muslim world.  There’s clearly a lot of work to be done, but plenty of room to improve and serve the global Muslim community and the world.

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