Every year for approximately 29/30 days Muslim communities around the world observe the holy month of Ramadan. This tradition is a fundamental part of the Islamic faith and has continued for well over a thousand years.
In 2016 nearly a decade ago British Muslims were contributing £100 million across various charities according to an article featured on the Charities Commission citing the Muslim Charities Forum.
Although there isn’t an exact accurate figure in 2025 it is clear that British Muslims are donating Millions of pounds especially during Ramadan to support the needy around the globe.
This incredible philanthropic pushsolidifies the Muslim diasporas commitment to charitable causes& also showcases the important economic impact.
Statistics, Economic Contributions and Demographics
The Muslim community in Britain has been incrementally increasing, with the most recent statisticsstipulating a figure of approximately 4.13 million Muslims living in the UK, representingaround6.3% of the wider population.
Interestingly50% approximately of this demographic is below the age of 30, which alludes to a community which is young, vibrant and upcoming.
When it comes to the economy, British Muslims contribute around£31 billionevery year to the British economy, validating their vital role in a variety of fields, which include but are not limited to finance, health& wellbeing, education as well as entrepreneurship.
Ramadan: The Giving Of Charity
The holy month of Ramadanis an imperative month which is earmarkedfor religious rituals such as fasting from dawn to dusk consecutively for a month, prayer&self- reflection.
Muslims have a religious duty to donate 2.5% of their wealth for charitable causes. This is known as Zakat and is one of the five core pillars of the Islamic faith focusing on social welfare.
During the month, Muslims living in the UK have showcasedsincere generosity, donating at a rate of £38 per second, amounting to over £100 million in charitable contributions. This numberrenders to an average of £371 (2018) donated per persona year, representing a deep-seated commitment to supporting those who are in need.
These particular charitabledonations have been given towards alleviating a range of challenges, locally as well as around the globe. In Britain, money hasaidedcommunity food banks, homeless services, educational initiativesand community organising projects.
Globally, contributions have supported disaster relief efforts, humanitarian suffering, emergency disastersand providing aid to people in war zones.
The Charity Commission has previously applaudedthe charitable giving by Muslims, being aware of the “sheer scale” of fundraising by British Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan year after year.
DoMainstream Brands Embrace Inclusive Marketing& Can They Get It Right?
In recent years there has been some recognitionin relation to the major economic and cultural influence of the British Muslim community, some companies have begun to tailor their products, services& adverts in order to resonate with Muslim consumers, quite often during the holy month of Ramadan.
This incremental movement towards inclusivity not only develops brand loyalty but also fosters a wider sense of representation & general acceptance.
Sainsbury’s Ramadan Campaign
In 2024, Sainsbury’sreleased a focussed Ramadan campaign entitled “It’s Not Ramadan Without…,” revolving around food-related traditionsthat aligned with Muslim families& their cultural perspectives.
The campaign,was created in partnership with the media agency Unite and the digital partner Amaliah, which showcased special recipes as well as tasty snacks enjoyed during Ramadan in particular.
This culturally sensitivemethodology led to a 21% increase in Ramadan sales compared to the prior year. Surveys carried out after the campaign showed that 67% of Muslim audiences were very interested in shopping at Sainsbury’s supermarket after engaging with the campaign, as well as 47% stating that it was their preferred store.
Challenges and Opportunities in Representation
Despite some positive enhancements, challenges still exist in the authentic representation of Muslims across the media as well as advertising.
Some researchdelivered by media agency UM in collaboration with Amaliah declared that 58% of women from a Muslim background felt stereotyped in adverts and across various media channels. On the other hand, a smaller number of 19% feltmore positively represented across advertising platforms.
Moreover, the same researchnoted a major opportunity for brands, with 75% of respondents saying they would be much more inclined to buyitems from brands that portray Muslims authentically.
However, generally at times the representation of Muslims can feel superficial. Over the last decade there have been major supermarkets who have made gaffes related to Ramadan campaigns next to Pork products, which were spotted by keen shoppers.
These types of blunders can lose the trust of Muslim communities and push negative ideas around corporate firms and tick box exercises.
The substantial multi-million-pound charitable contributions by British Muslims during Ramadan highlight the community’s commitment to social welfare & their core role in the UK’s socio-economic fabric.
British Muslims play major roles in the economy and form a significant part of society and are present across all levels from education all the way to Westminster at the heart of government. The economic contribution from British Muslims should be highlighted more often to challenge negative stereotypes and increasing Islamophobic sentiments in some elements of contemporary British society.

The COW News