By Caroline Mortimer – Independent
Islamic Relief hopes the campaign across five major cities will help to ‘change the negative climate’ around the religion
Hundreds of British buses will carry adverts praising Allah as part of a campaign launched by the country’s biggest Muslim charity to help victims of Syria’s civil war.
Islamic Relief hopes the posters, which bear the words “Subhan Allah”, meaning “Glory be to God” in Arabic, will portray Islam and international aid in a positive light.
Buses will carry the advertisements in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leicester and Bradford.
These cities have large Muslim populations and the charity hopes it will encourage people to donate generously ahead of the start of Ramadan on 7 June.
According to Islamic law, Muslims are supposed to donate 2.5 per cent of their income to the poor and needy.
Known as Zakat, the pratice is regarded as one of the “five pillars of Islam”.
Many people choose Ramadan to donate their Zakat, as the month of fasting is regarded as a month of blessings.
Muslims believe the rewards for all good deeds are greater during Ramadan than during the rest of the year, according to Muslim Aid.
The charity hopes the campaign will help young Muslims channel anger about the war in Syria and discrimination at home into humanitarian work, thereby preventing them from becoming involved with extremist groups.
Imran Madden, the UK director of Islamic Relief, said: “In a sense this could be called a climate change campaign because we want to change the negative climate around international aid and around the Muslim community in this country.
Transport for London (TfL), which regulates the advertisements appearing on the city’s buses, has a clause banning campaigns linked to a “political party or campaign” but does not prevent religious advertising.
It can ban ads if it believes the campaign is likely “to cause widespread or serious offence”.
