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2024-03-31-accounts

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1172565

ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts

31 March 2024

ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Contents

31 March 2024

Page
Trustees' annual report 1-8
Independent examiner's report 9
Receipts and Payments Accounts 10-11

ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Trustees’ Annual Report 31 March 2024

Reference and Administrative information

Registered charity name: Ansari Qadiri Rifai Sufi Order of the United Kingdom
Charity registration number: 1172565
Principal Office: 6 Sanderstead Close London
SW12 0AQ
England
Board of Trustees: Amina Jappie (Chair)
Sukainah Jauhar (Secretary)
Fadila Laloui (Treasurer)
Faghrie Jappie (Deputy Treasurer)
Rita Ali
Independent Examiner: Irfan Hussain BFP FCA
ASL Partners
14 Honister Gardens
Stanmore HA7 2EH
England
Banking: HSBC UK
Retail Unit 8,
38 Canada Place
Canary Wharf
London E14 5AH

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ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

Trustees’ Annual Report 31 March 2024

Background

The Ansari Qadiri Rifai Sufi Order of the UK commonly referred as AQRT UK has been operating as an informal group since 2002 and was registered by the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in April 2017 (registration number 1172565).

The trustees present their annual report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The legal status of the charity is that of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which is subject to its governing document, the Constitution that took effect on the 12 April 2017.

Trustees

Management of the charity is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. The trustees come from diverse backgrounds, skills, expertise and experiences. The trustees board meet on a regular basis and between meetings communicate by emails. Trustees are aware of their legal obligations under charity law, the aims and objectives of the charity, its governing frameworks, decisionmaking processes; strategic plans and financial performance etc.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Any new trustees will be elected and co-opted by members at the annual general meeting in accordance with the Constitution. No new trustees were recruited during this period.

Induction and training of new trustees

New trustees will undergo orientation and will receive a trustee information pack and the opportunity to attend in-house and/or external training relevant to their roles.

Partnerships

During 2023/2024 AQRT UK continued to work with a range of partners including other faith groups, community groups and voluntary organisations. This included the South London Interfaith Group (SLIG) and the Africa Advocacy Foundation (AAF). AQRT UK is also a member of the National Council for Voluntary Organisation (NCVO).

AQRT UK has also a Memorandum of Understanding in place with the Islamic Sufi Order of Qadiri Rifai Tariqa of the Americas a registered church in the United States.

Organisational structure and decision-making

The trustees are responsible for setting strategies and policies and ensuring that they are implemented.

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ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Trustees’ Annual Report 31 March 2024

Volunteers

AQRT UK recognises that volunteers play a key and integral part in service delivery. We have recruited 10 volunteers from within our membership including trustees. They have a diverse range of experience, skills and backgrounds in terms of professional backgrounds, culture and language. All our trustees are DBS checked and our other volunteers are currently always supervised by trustees and will be DBS checked when appropriate.

We aim to support our volunteers in their roles and receive regular feedback about their performance.

Risk Management

The main risk facing the charity is currently maintaining income at a sufficient level to carry out all the activities and services. In addition to the current policies in place, the trustees have reviewed and assessed the risks to which the charity may be exposed with particular reference to those relating to the operations and finances. The charity has set up a risk management strategy, which comprises:

An annual review of the risks the charity may face.

The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the review; and the implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.

In the meanwhile, the trustees remain satisfied that all insurable risks have been identified and adequately dealt with and that the charities exposure to other risks is kept at a minimum by good working practice by the trustees and volunteers.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Public benefit

The trustees are required to comply with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 and consider the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, "Charities and Public Benefits".

Our Charitable Objectives are:

  1. To advance the religion of Islam, in particular Sufi practices and teachings, for public benefit, by organising regular prayer meetings, lectures, celebration of religious festivals and literature on Sufism to educate others about Islam and Sufism.

  2. The promotion of religious harmony for the benefit of the public by promoting knowledge and mutual understanding and respect of the beliefs and practices of different religious faiths through the organisation, participation and support of interfaith events and partnership activities within the United Kingdom.

  3. The relief of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or another disadvantage.

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ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Trustees’ Annual Report 31 March 2024

Our activities are consistent with national and local strategies and action plans to enhance religious harmony and relieve poverty. Our activities aim to promote equality and diversity, wellbeing and social outcomes and the independence of service users. We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from harm and isolation. We work to empower and encourage our service users to actively participate in activities and processes that improve their circumstances and positively contribute to their communities.

Achievements and performance

We observed a hesitance to interfaith engagement between Muslin and Jewish organisation since the ongoing conflict in Middle East. This has had a significant impact on joint working and dialogues. However, AQRT UK has continued holding its weekly onsite congregational zikrs (Sufi meditation) and also providing a Zoom access. This enabled us to continue providing spiritual meditation, support and Sufi teachings and also offered support with mental wellbeing and social isolation and loneliness.

Overall, we provided services to more than 1,000 individuals through the following activities:

Congregational Zikr

The format of the weekly zikr remained the same and was open to everyone who came in peace. A short talk on aspect of Sufism is given prior to each zikr. The topics covered a range of Sufi teachings i.e. love, forgiveness, tolerance, etc.. The onsite and online Tuesday zikr is advertised on Meetup and Eventbrite. We had attendees from different faiths and no faith and also from abroad. Those present are welcome to participate or simply observe. After the meditation we pray for Love, Peace, Togetherness, Unity and Prosperity for all humanity. From April 2023 to March 2024, the total number of attendees to our onsite and online was about 950(440 men and 510 women).

Interfaith and Intra-faith work

Unfortunately, during 2023/2024 Racism, religious intolerance has continued to negatively affect UK communities. Statistics from the Home Office 2024 highlight the continued importance of Interfaith an intra Faith dialogue and joint working.

In the year ending March 2024, there were 140,561 hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales, this represented a decrease of 5% from the year ending March 2023 (147,645 offences), whilst welcomed this is still a concerning level.

There were 98,799 race hate crimes, and as in previous years, the majority of hate crimes were racially motivated, accounting for 7 in 10 of all such offences.

Religious hate crimes increased by 25%, from 8,370 to 10,484 offences and was driven by a rise in offences against Jewish people and to a lesser extent Muslims and has occurred since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

AQRT has continued to promote community cohesion and harmony through our activities which included challenging the dissemination of a negative and incorrect view of Islam, cultural and traditional practices and anti-Semitism.

However, conflict in the Middle East has impacted on AQRT Interfaith and Intra-faith work particularly with Jewish communities. We had been working to mitigate the impact COVID had on engagement with

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ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Trustees’ Annual Report 31 March 2024

Faith and Community Groups by rebuilding existing networks and also in trying to develop new contacts. This has been challenging as initially some groups and contacts were hesitant in meaningful engagement.

The lead Trustee for Interfaith work has maintained involvement with NHS and Local Authority groups such as Integrate Lambeth and Interfaith Networks such as the South London Interfaith Group and Faiths Together in Lambeth.

AQRT UK took part in joint discussion groups and activities aimed to combat and change these belief systems, help differentiate cultural practices from religious practices and promote Islam and Sufi teachings which promote Love, Peace and Togetherness. In this spirit of inclusiveness, we have tried to ensure we support religious harmony and mutual understanding and provide factual information to all interested people. We have continued to collaborate with other community and faith groups with whom we share common principles and aims, by trying to continue to maintain networks and links, and develop and share knowledge and respect for the beliefs and practices of different religious faiths.

A few examples are highlighted below:

We have tried to maintain links with the West London Synagogue (WLS), however this has been largely on an informal basis and we hope to increase our input

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ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Trustees’ Annual Report 31 March 2024

AQRT UK continued to take part in local consultations in respect of Health and Social Care services mainly via Lambeth Integrate and Health watch with the aim of developing effective engagement methods with Faith and Community Groups to address, misinformation and barriers to accessing services. We took part in a number of events to support this work.

AQRT UK is a member of the National Council for Voluntary Organisation (NCVO) and during the year we have used their information and training services.

Promotion of Islam and Sufism

The promotion of Sufism and Islam took place online and onsite during the weekly congregational zikrs. This was delivered through talks followed by questions and answers before or after each zikr where principles, methodology, practices, stories and culture of Sufism are discussed and taught. Spiritual teaching by the AQRT UK chaplains was also provided on a one-to-one basis, as well as in depth phone calls to discuss Sufism. Further opportunities for contact, as well as email discussions come via social media. We also use our Inter Faith work as an opportunity to promote Islam and Sufism.

The spiritual head of our Sufi order Shaykh Taner Ansari and Shaykha Muzeyyen Ansari were invited by AQRT UK to provide teaching in London in April and in November 2023. Shaykh Taner Ansari and Shaykha Muzeyyen Ansari led the Tuesday congregational zikrs In April 2023 during their stay in London which were attended by an average of 55 people from different faiths. Our spiritual leaders also provided teaching to AQRT UK members as well as one to one consultations. Following the passing away of the spiritual head of our Sufi order Shaykh Taner in August 2023, the new spiritual head of our Sufi order is Shaykha Muzeyyen Ansari, who continued the teaching programme scheduled in November 2023.

Every year AQRT UK usually organises a Sufi study trip under the leadership of the spiritual head of our Sufi order; In February 2024, AQRT UK organised a self-funded Umrah trip (a voluntary Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca) in Saudi Arabia with 12 students; in addition, other religious and historical places were visited as part of this trip.

In addition, we have continued supporting isolated and ill students and members by regular phone contacts.

Support and Mentoring

AQRT UK spiritual leaders continue to support students and members of the public by being regularly available via phone calls, emails and individual meetings.

Practical Help and Support

The lack of funding has adversely impacted our ability to develop projects. However, one of our volunteers has assisted a number like-minded voluntary organisations which are working in this area, by taking women experiencing domestic violence on social outings such as visits to Kew Gardens, the British Museum etc. and by helping with food distribution and befriending schemes.

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ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Trustees’ Annual Report 31 March 2024

Work to relieve poverty

Being a very small charity, this aspect of our charitable objectives post COVID-19 pandemic is still being impacted due to the loss of donation and also the availability of our volunteers. We are committed to developing this work stream and hope to increase our ability to fundraise and apply successfully for funding.

We have developed an emergency programme through which families and individuals experiencing hunger, poverty, homelessness and who need emergency support are provided with food and essential goods upon assessment. In 2024, AQRT UK made food donations to a food bank in Brixton.

Our membership and trustees have diverse cultural backgrounds and include social workers, medical professionals, and Safeguarding consultants. We also have links to the Sufi and wider Muslim community. Consequently, we are able to respond quickly by providing support to address and meet urgent needs. We have experience of working in partnership including local Social Services and other voluntary sector organisations. We are currently restrained by limited funding and availability of volunteers.

Funding bids

During the year 2023-2024, AQRT UK made 2 funding bids to small charitable trusts related to projects aimed at empowering and supporting women from disadvantaged communities around overcoming barriers to accessing services around domestic violence.

Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in obtaining funding. As a small charity this means we are facing restrictions in our ability to develop and sustain our charitable work.

Future aims and objectives

Our charity objectives will continue to shape the trustees’ future plans with a target to expand our activities especially on work to relief poverty. Being a very small charity with limited funding solely based on individual donations at this stage, we intend where possible to focus on partnership bids which will maximise resources by preventing duplication. However, the impact of the post COVID- 19 pandemic still presents major challenges both operationally and financially, as well as increasing the need for services as more people face poverty and isolation.

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ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Trustees’ Annual Report 31 March 2024

Financial review

AQRT UK had total receipts of £16,864 as shown on the Receipts and Payments Accounts. For the year ended 31 March 2024, there were net receipts of £3,648(2023: net payments £1,803). All AQRT UK assets are held for the furtherance of its objectives and are adequate and sufficient to meet its objectives. AQRT UK did apply for grants during the year ended 31 March 2024 but was unsuccessful. AQRT UK does not employ any staff and trustees do not receive any remuneration. Trustees and volunteers can receive reasonable travel allowance subsistence cost.

Reserves policy

The trustees review the reserve policy of the organisation annually. Their decision on the level of the reserve depends on the level of the unrestricted funds available. For this year, they decided that the current level of reserve should be maintained at least at a level equivalent to approximately three months' expenditure (excluding the collection and distribution of Zakat, Fidya, ninety percent of tithing and our community activities and programme). The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of any significant drop in the organisation's funding, they will be able to continue AQRT UK's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This leaves free reserve at 31 March 2024 of £1,685 which is equal to around 7 months average expenditure during the year ended 31 March 2024.

Principal funding sources

The current Charity’s main source of income is through individual donations, donations at zikr, zakat, fidya and ten percent on each tithing collected by members. The total amount donated at Zikr was £1,715.

Restriction on funds

Restricted income includes ninety percent tithing payable to the Islamic Sufi Order of Qadiri Rifai Tariqa of the Americas based in New York, USA, linked to the teaching, training, spiritual development and individual support provided to the Charity’s members. Restricted income includes zakat and fidya and these funds are to be used solely for the relief of need, financial hardship and for AQRT UK activities.

Investment Policy

There are no restrictions on the Charity's power to invest but as we do not have available funds to make investments this is not an immediate issue for us.

Trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the Receipts and Payments Accounts (“financial statements”) in accordance with applicable law and receipts and payments accounting. Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the receipts and payments of the charity for that period.

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for

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ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Trustees’ Annual Report 31 March 2024

safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees’ annual report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 22/01/2025 and signed on its behalf of:

Amina Jappie

Chair of the Ansari Qadiri Sufi Order of the UK

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ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Independent Examiner’s Report 31 March 2024

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Ansari Qadiri Rifai Sufi Order Of The United Kingdom On accounts for the year 31 March 2024 Charity no 1172565 ended (if any) Set out on pages 10 - 11 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2024. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Date: Signed: 22/01/2025 Name: Irfan Hussain BFP FCA Relevant professional Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 14 Honister Gardens, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 2EH

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ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Accounts 31 March 2024

ANSARIQADIRI RIFAISUFIORDEROF THE ANSARIQADIRI RIFAISUFIORDEROF THE ANSARIQADIRI RIFAISUFIORDEROF THE ANSARIQADIRI RIFAISUFIORDEROF THE ANSARIQADIRI RIFAISUFIORDEROF THE 1172565 1172565 CC16a
UNITED KINGDOM
Receipts andpayments accounts
For the period
from
Period start date To Period end date
01-Apr-23 31-Mar-24
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
Total funds Last year
to the nearest
£
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations 3,795 - - 3,795 6,025
Tithing 1,244 11,195 - 12,439 11,675
Zakaat and Fidya - 630 - 630 1,112
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)
5,039 11,825 - 16,864 18,812
A2 Asset and investment
sales, (see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
**Total receipts ** 5,039 11,825 - 16,864 18,812
A3 Payments
Premises rent 2,268 - - 2,268 1,674
Teaching program 925 - - 925 3,446
Bank charges 217 - - 217 279
General expenses 806 - - 806 825
Zakaat and Fidya - - - - 1,991
Tithing paid - 9,000 - 9,000 12,400
- - - - -
**Sub total ** 4,216 9,000 - 13,216 20,615
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
**Sub total ** - - - - -
**Total payments ** 4,216 9,000 - 13,216 20,615
Net of receipts/(payments) 823 2,825 - 3,648 - 1,803
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds lastyear end 1,630 2,586 - 4,216 6,019
Cash funds thisyear end 2,453 5,411 - 7,864 4,216

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ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Accounts 31 March 2024

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories Details Details Details Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds Bank Account 2,453 5,411 -
-
Total cash funds 2,453 5,411 -
Details
B2 Other monetary assets - - -
- - -
- - -
Details Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B3 Investment assets - -
- -
- -
Details Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
- -
- -
- -
- -
Details Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
When due
(optional)
B5 Liabilities Independent examiner's fee Unrestricted 700 30 January 2025
-
-
Notes to the accounts
(i) Under a signed agreement, 90% of tithing received by the charity is payable to a related organisation, Islamic Sufi Order of Qadiri Rifai Tariqa
of the Americas based in New York, USA. During the year £9000 was paid to Islamic Sufi Order of Qadiri Rifai Tariqa of the Americas (2023:
£12400). A balance of £2720 (2023: £525) remained payable at the year end.
(ii) The Spiritual Head of both the charity and the Islamic Sufi Order of Qadiri Rifai Tariqa of the Americas, Shaykha Muzzeyen Ansari, delivered
Sufi training programs and consultancy during the year and was paid £925 (2023: £4938).
(iii) A Trustee, Sayyed Goolamhossen, was paid £206 for reimbursement of expenses paid on behalf of the charity.
(iv) There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
Signature Print Name Date of
approval
Fadila Laloui 22-Jan-25
Categories Details Details Details Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds Bank Account 2,453 5,411 -
-
Total cash funds 2,453 5,411 -
Details
B2 Other monetary assets - - -
- - -
- - -
Details Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B3 Investment assets - -
- -
- -
Details Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
- -
- -
- -
- -
Details Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
When due
(optional)
B5 Liabilities Independent examiner's fee Unrestricted 700 30 January 2025
-
-
Notes to the accounts
(i) Under a signed agreement, 90% of tithing received by the charity is payable to a related organisation, Islamic Sufi Order of Qadiri Rifai Tariqa
of the Americas based in New York, USA. During the year £9000 was paid to Islamic Sufi Order of Qadiri Rifai Tariqa of the Americas (2023:
£12400). A balance of £2720 (2023: £525) remained payable at the year end.
(ii) The Spiritual Head of both the charity and the Islamic Sufi Order of Qadiri Rifai Tariqa of the Americas, Shaykha Muzzeyen Ansari, delivered
Sufi training programs and consultancy during the year and was paid £925 (2023: £4938).
(iii) A Trustee, Sayyed Goolamhossen, was paid £206 for reimbursement of expenses paid on behalf of the charity.
(iv) There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
Signature Print Name Date of
approval
Fadila Laloui 22-Jan-25

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