Imdad in Norway
Faith expressed through care
A meal shared, a visit made, a helping hand. We want people to encounter the compassion of Islam through how we care for those around us.
In Norway, we have joined community efforts with local mosques, sports clubs, Grønland Church and Fattighuset. Our faith inspires us; our help is for people who need it, whatever their background.
What moves us
Faith lived through everyday care
Do good to others, as Allah has been good to you
For us, care begins with noticing the people around us. Who could use a meal, a little time or a helping hand? Islam teaches ihsan: doing good. We want that goodness to be felt in how we meet a neighbour and in the work we share.
Our example is the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who cared for people in hardship and carried building bricks alongside his companions in Medina. Voluntary good deeds draw us closer to Allah (Sahih al-Bukhari 6502). Giving our time, energy and abilities is one way we live our faith. In Norway, this spirit of helping together is called dugnad.
Care takes many forms
Food support · 2020
More than a meal
Food crates in the car and volunteers ready to help. In Gamle Oslo, we joined local partners to share food with people who needed support.
A believer is not someone who eats their fill while the neighbour beside them goes hungry.
Caring for a neighbour brings faith close to home. We are called to notice needs beyond our own. Visiting someone who is ill, offering food and sharing water have value before Allah (Sahih Muslim 2569). That reminder is part of what moves us to help.
Furuset · 2019
Time is a gift, too
We brought gifts to older people in Furuset before Christmas and made time to talk. For us, being present is part of caring.
Whoever among you can be of benefit to his brother should do so.
Our abilities differ, but each of us may have something to offer. Some carry and organise; others listen, comfort and stop for a conversation. Giving someone our time and attention is an act of care, too.
COVID-19 response · 2020
Care in what we do
When the pandemic arrived, we helped provide warm meals for healthcare workers: a practical way to support those caring for others.
Removing harmful things from the road is an act of charity.
We do not have to wait for a grand opportunity to do good. A smile, giving directions, helping someone with poor sight and sharing water are also sadaqah (at-Tirmidhi 1956). Kindness matters when we act on it, even in the smallest moments.
Together, we turn care into action
Help one another in goodness and mindfulness of Allah · Meaning of Qur’an 5:2
One believer is like a building to another: each part strengthens the other.
No one has to carry everything alone. When volunteers, local mosques, sports clubs and faith communities join forces, more people can offer what they do best. That is the community we want to nurture, with room for everyone who wants to do good. We want the compassion of Islam to be felt in our encounters, our cooperation and the help we give.
- Recognise a need
Food, care and support close to home
- Join forces
Volunteers, mosques, sports clubs and local partners
- Put care into practice
Meals, visits and everyday practical help
Qur’anic verses and hadiths are rendered here by meaning.
Explore Islam and community volunteering (Norwegian PDF)Field journal · Norway
Care in action
Explore the work through photos, film and posts from Imdad’s archive
Activities are temporarily unavailable. Please try again shortly.
Community · Participation · Belonging
Help more people feel they belong
Strong communities grow when people meet, feel valued and have a chance to contribute. Yet financial hardship, loneliness and a lack of social connections can leave people on the outside.
One gift for the community
Your gift supports Imdad’s community work in Norway. We prioritise initiatives according to local needs and what we can deliver, rather than assigning your gift to one specific activity.
How we want to strengthen local communities
Through Imdad in Norway, we want to help bridge that gap. Building on our experience of food assistance, visits to older people and volunteering, we aim to develop initiatives that help more people take part, build confidence and form friendships.
We want to strengthen care in our neighbourhoods alongside volunteers, local mosques, sports clubs, faith communities and other partners. Our faith inspires us to do good. Our help and community activities should welcome people of all backgrounds.
Your support can help provide practical assistance, inclusive activities and places where generations and cultures meet. Small acts close to home can make a meaningful difference to everyday life.