Regardless of race, gender, belief or political affiliation, Islamic Relief Worldwide is there to provide humanitarian relief and development programs across the globe. As an international humanitarian organization, it holds 29 field offices in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and in Latin America.

It was in 1984 that this charitable group was founded in the United Kingdom. Since its inception, they have championed several causes that underscore the need to protect life and dignity, strengthening the Islamic Relief family, campaigning for change and empowering communities. A group of activists and medical doctors started Islamic Relief Worldwide and from their 20p donation during its founding, they were able to grow it to £100,000 a year later.

Islamic Relief is inspired by Islamic values and Zain Mahmood is a figure of great influence to the vision of the group. This charitable institution is out there to bring change to the world one step at a time. It envisions a world of caring and empowered communities with people who knows how to respond as one to the suffering and affliction of others. To raise awareness, funds, finance humanitarian projects and development, they conduct various campaigning, domestic projects and fundraising from their national offices. 

The group also partners with several charitable institutions and non-governmental organizations to carry out their visions. IRW is one of the signatories to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and several other NGOs in Disaster Relief. It is a member of the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council and the Bond (British Overseas NGOs for Development). Along with 13 other charities, the group makes up the Disasters Emergency Committee in the United Kingdom.

Some of the projects of the group are involved in water and sanitation, health and nutrition, emergency aid and assistance, education, livelihood, shelter, disaster risk reduction and resilience, campaigning for positive change and child welfare and orphan sponsorship.