Al-Khair Foundation
A United Kingdom-based Muslim humanitarian and development organization providing emergency relief, education, health, water, livelihood and advocacy programs.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Al-Khair Foundation (AKF) is a United Kingdom-based Muslim charitable organization whose work combines humanitarian relief, international development, education and advocacy. The organization was established in 2003 by Qasim Ahmad, initially in connection with an Islamic school in Croydon. The name Al-Khair translates broadly from Arabic as “goodness.” What began as an educational initiative developed into a wider service organization supporting vulnerable communities in the United Kingdom and in countries affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters. The foundation's early work centered on education. The Al-Khair School began in 2003 with five pupils in converted premises in Croydon. By 2013, it had expanded into a primary and secondary school serving more than 350 pupils. The educational model was subsequently connected to overseas school-building and community-development work. Alongside education, AKF developed programs in water access, medical assistance and livelihoods, reflecting a shift from a primarily local educational initiative toward an international aid organization. AKF's first major emergency-relief operation followed the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. Its teams distributed medicines, food and shelter kits and provided support to survivors. In 2007, it established its first shelter in Kashmir. During the following years, the foundation responded to disasters and humanitarian emergencies including the Haiti earthquake, the 2010 Pakistan floods, famine in the Horn of Africa and the 2011 earthquake in Japan. Its Haiti response received recognition from the United Nations in 2010, and the organization described itself as the only United Kingdom Muslim charity working with survivors on the ground in Japan after the 2011 earthquake. The foundation has also pursued communications and community-awareness activities. In 2009, it acquired IQRA TV, a free-to-air Islamic educational channel available through Sky TV. The channel broadcast programs including Live with IQ, IQRA with IQRA and Questions and Answers. AKF has presented education and awareness raising as part of its broader mission, including encouraging children to contribute to their communities and promoting interfaith understanding and tolerance. Partnerships have been an important part of AKF's operating model. It became a founding member of the Muslim Charities Forum in 2010 and announced a formal partnership with the Malaysian Red Crescent in 2012. In 2015, it partnered with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to support education in the Gaza Strip. The organization has also worked with or identified relationships involving groups such as the Qatar Red Crescent, Kenya Red Cross, UNHCR, Christian Aid, Afghan Aid, United Muslim Relief and other Muslim and international nongovernmental organizations. Its development work is intended to extend beyond immediate distributions. Examples described by the organization include livelihood programs, long-term water projects and infrastructure initiatives designed to reduce the effects of future flooding in Pakistan. Its advocacy activities address issues that it believes require public engagement in addition to charitable donations, while its interfaith initiatives seek to encourage dialogue among religious communities. AKF has offices in several United Kingdom locations, including London, Bolton, Glasgow, Sheffield, Leicester and Blackburn, and has operated projects across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America. Qasim Ahmad is identified as the organization's founder and chairman, while Saif Ahmad was appointed chief executive officer in 2015. The foundation's public profile has also been affected by controversy and scrutiny. In 2020, The Times apologized after publishing allegations by Greece's migration minister that AKF had colluded with human traffickers; the foundation had brought legal action against the newspaper. Separately, a 2023 United States Senate testimony by Matthew Levitt alleged that the foundation had created crowdfunding websites connected to Hamas, an allegation that remains a matter of public controversy. The organization has continued to report humanitarian activity in Gaza, including the deaths of personnel and volunteers during the conflict.
History
Al-Khair Foundation was established in 2003 by Qasim Ahmad in Croydon, United Kingdom. Its initial activity was the Al-Khair School, an Islamic educational institution that began with five pupils in converted premises. The school expanded substantially during its first decade, becoming a primary and secondary school with more than 350 pupils by 2013. This educational origin shaped the foundation's continuing interest in schooling, community participation and Muslim charitable activity. The organization broadened its mission after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, when it launched its first documented relief operation. Teams supplied medicine, food and shelter kits and offered practical and moral support to survivors. In 2007, AKF established a shelter in Kashmir. It later added water aid, medical aid and livelihood programs, moving toward a model that combined immediate humanitarian response with longer-term development. In 2009, the foundation acquired IQRA TV, a free-to-air channel available on Sky TV. The station's programming had an Islamic educational orientation and included Live with IQ, IQRA with IQRA and Questions and Answers. In 2010, AKF became a founding member of the Muslim Charities Forum. That period also saw the organization respond to major emergencies beyond South Asia, including the Haiti earthquake, the Pakistan floods, the Horn of Africa famine and the 2011 Japan earthquake. The United Nations recognized its work in Haiti in 2010. AKF subsequently expanded its network of institutional relationships. It announced a partnership with the Malaysian Red Crescent in 2012 and partnered with UNRWA in July 2015 to facilitate education in Gaza. Its wider partner network has included Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations, UN agencies, development charities and Muslim humanitarian groups. The foundation has described its programs as covering emergency aid, disaster relief, water and sanitation, health, livelihoods, education and advocacy. Its development activities have included projects intended to reduce vulnerability to recurring disasters, such as infrastructure work in Pakistan designed to help prevent or mitigate future floods. The foundation has also promoted awareness raising, interfaith dialogue and tolerance, arguing that certain humanitarian problems require advocacy and public engagement as well as donations. The organization has maintained offices in multiple United Kingdom cities and has operated in countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America. Qasim Ahmad is identified as founder and chairman. Saif Ahmad was appointed chief executive officer in April 2015, having previously led other United Kingdom charities. Dr Jafer Qureshi is identified as a trustee and is also associated with Muslim charitable organizations in Sweden and India. AKF has faced public allegations and scrutiny. In 2020, The Times published allegations from Greek migration minister Notis Mitarachi concerning alleged collusion with human traffickers. AKF pursued legal action, after which the newspaper published a full apology. In 2023, Matthew Levitt made allegations about AKF and Hamas-linked crowdfunding websites during testimony to a United States Senate committee. The foundation's humanitarian work has continued amid the Gaza conflict, during which a reported AKF director and later volunteer aid workers were killed in strikes. These incidents have added to the public record surrounding the organization's operations while also illustrating the risks faced by aid workers in conflict zones.
- 2015
Gaza education partnership with UNRWA
[1]AKF partnered with UNRWA to facilitate education in the Gaza Strip.
- 2012
Partnership with Malaysian Red Crescent announced
[1]The foundation announced its first official partnership with the Malaysian Red Crescent.
- 2011
Japan earthquake response
[1]AKF reported humanitarian work with survivors of the Japan earthquake and described itself as the only United Kingdom Muslim charity working on the ground there.
- 2010
Muslim Charities Forum co-founded
[1]AKF became a founding member of the Muslim Charities Forum and continued emergency responses in Haiti, Pakistan and the Horn of Africa.
- 2009
IQRA TV acquired
[1]AKF acquired IQRA TV, a free-to-air Islamic educational television channel available on Sky TV.
- 2007
First shelter established in Kashmir
[1]The foundation expanded its post-disaster response by establishing a shelter in Kashmir.
- 2005
First major emergency-relief operation in Kashmir
[1]AKF responded to the Kashmir earthquake with medicines, food, shelter kits and support for survivors.
- 2003
Foundation established through an Islamic school in Croydon
[1]Qasim Ahmad established the Al-Khair School with five pupils, creating the institutional basis for the later charitable organization.
Products and positioning
A faith-informed international humanitarian organization combining emergency response with education, sustainable development, advocacy and community partnerships.
Humanitarian aid · 2005
Emergency humanitarian relief
AKF provides emergency assistance following earthquakes, floods, famine and conflict. Activities have included distributing food, medicines and shelter materials, supporting displaced people and deploying relief teams to affected communities. Its documented responses include Kashmir, Haiti, Pakistan, the Horn of Africa and Japan.
Development program
Water aid
The foundation's water work forms part of its longer-term development portfolio. It is described as extending beyond emergency distribution toward sustainable access to water and related infrastructure for vulnerable communities.
Health assistance
Medical aid
Medical aid is one of AKF's principal humanitarian areas. It has included the provision of medicines during disaster responses and broader health assistance in communities affected by poverty, displacement and conflict.
Sustainable development
Livelihood programs
AKF's livelihood initiatives are intended to support longer-term resilience rather than only short-term relief. They sit alongside water, education and infrastructure programs designed to help communities recover and reduce vulnerability to future crises.
Education · 2003
Al-Khair Schools
The Al-Khair School began in Croydon and grew from five pupils into a primary and secondary education institution serving more than 350 pupils by 2013. The educational initiative also informed the foundation's later interest in building schools overseas and encouraging young people to contribute to their communities.
Educational media · 2009
IQRA TV
Acquired by AKF in 2009, IQRA TV was a free-to-air channel available through Sky TV. Its programming had an Islamic educational focus and included Live with IQ, IQRA with IQRA and Questions and Answers.
Controversies
2023
Allegations concerning Hamas-linked crowdfunding websites
Matthew Levitt alleged during testimony before a United States Senate committee that AKF had established crowdfunding websites connected to Hamas. The available reference describes this as an allegation rather than a judicially established finding.
2020
Trafficking allegations and newspaper apology
The Times published allegations attributed to Greek migration minister Notis Mitarachi that AKF had colluded with human traffickers. AKF initiated legal action, and the newspaper subsequently issued a full apology.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Gaza education partnership
Gaza Strip
Through a partnership with UNRWA, AKF supported efforts to facilitate education in Gaza.
- 2011Japan earthquake response
Japan
AKF reported working with survivors of the Japan earthquake and characterized its presence as distinctive among United Kingdom Muslim charities.
- 2010Haiti earthquake response
Haiti
The foundation provided humanitarian assistance after the Haiti earthquake.
Outcome. The United Nations recognized AKF's work in Haiti in 2010.
- 2010Pakistan floods response
Pakistan
AKF responded to the Pakistan floods and later described infrastructure and development work intended to help reduce the effects of future flooding.
Outcome. The response developed into a broader disaster-resilience and infrastructure focus.
- 2010Horn of Africa famine relief
Horn of Africa
The foundation participated in relief activities for communities affected by famine in the Horn of Africa.
- 2005Kashmir earthquake relief
Pakistan-administered Kashmir
AKF's first major relief venture supplied medicine, food and shelter kits and provided direct support to earthquake survivors.
Outcome. The response was followed by the establishment of a shelter in Kashmir in 2007.
Brand decisions
2015
UNRWA education partnership in GazaStrategyBackground
The foundation expanded its education-related humanitarian work in Palestine.
Action taken
AKF partnered with UNRWA to facilitate education in the Gaza Strip.
2012
Partnership with Malaysian Red CrescentStrategyBackground
AKF sought to expand formal cooperation with established humanitarian organizations.
Action taken
It announced an official partnership with the Malaysian Red Crescent.
2009
Acquisition of IQRA TVStrategyBackground
AKF expanded its educational and awareness activities beyond schools and direct aid.
Action taken
The foundation acquired IQRA TV, a free-to-air Islamic educational television channel.
Aftermath
The channel broadcast educational and discussion programs including Live with IQ, IQRA with IQRA and Questions and Answers.
Recent events
- 2025
Al-Khair Foundation reports deaths of Gaza aid workers and journalists[1]
Other
The foundation announced that an Israeli drone strike had killed several volunteer aid workers and two independent journalists in Gaza.
- 2024
AKF director Hossam Mansour killed in Gaza strike[1]
Other
An Israeli Defense Forces strike in Gaza reportedly killed Hossam Mansour, who had served as a director of Al-Khair Foundation.
Sources2 sources
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