Islamic Charities and Global Governance

Abstract

This chapter discusses the rise of Islamic charity organizations in Muslim-majority states and the rest of the world. These organizations have varied aspects of the operation, including their cooperation with other civic organizations. Four broad frameworks of global governance of NGOs and civil society organizations have been explained to create basis and make relevance between Islamic charities and the topic of global governance. The Quran and other Islamic teachings greatly influence activities on a spiritual basis, and this affects a myriad of tasks. Also, there exist negative perceptions about Islamic charity organizations among Western countries due to allegations of a history of links and/or funding terrorist groups. These negativities, coupled with weak and repressive regimes and regulatory structures of NGOs and civil society organizations in many of the Muslim-majority states and a weak or minimal engagement or participation with the global humanitarian organizations such as the United Nations, constitute some of the challenges that these organizations have been facing. However, the existence of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation serves as a relief for some of the setbacks, as it addresses most issues faced by while addressing the needs of charity organizations. In conclusion, the author provides recommendations regarding the ways that the Islamic charity organizations could improve their operations and relations in the relevant global governance architecture of NGOs and civil society organizations.