Philanthropy Under Uncertainty: Muslim Religious Giving During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Osman Umarji Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research; University of California, Irvine
  • Rafeel Wasif Portland State University
  • Shariq Siddiqui Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
  • Zeeshan Noor Louisiana State University in Shreveport

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20899/jpna.c7vvvv81

Keywords:

philanthropy, charitable giving, uncertainty intolerance, decision making, COVID-19

Abstract

This study investigates the demographic, religious, and psychological correlates of charitable giving during times of uncertainty. We employ structural equation modeling to understand the mechanisms that underlie faith-based philanthropy amongst Muslims. For this purpose, we analyzed Muslim American philanthropy during the month of Ramadan in 2020, a month traditionally associated with increased religiosity and philanthropy. Utilizing a sample of 1,722 Muslims in the United States and Canada, uncertainty intolerance was associated with financial anxiety (B = .26), which in turn was related to donating less money (B = -.06). Financial anxiety was also associated with subjective financial well-being (B =.-.22), which was associated with donations (B = .11). We also found that income (B = .23), education (B = .30), and age (B = .28) positively predicted charitable giving. Increased religious practice (B = .07), such as prayer and reading scripture, was also associated with donating more money. Our results add valuable insights to the literature about the predictors and mediators of religious giving and philanthropy under uncertainty.

Author Biographies

  • Osman Umarji, Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research; University of California, Irvine

    Osman Umarji is the Director of Survey Research and Evaluation at Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and a lecturer in the School of Education at the University of California, Irvine. His research combines his expertise in the psychological sciences and Islamic sciences to empirically study contemporary issues facing Muslims globally.

  • Rafeel Wasif, Portland State University

    Rafeel is an Assistant Professor in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management at Portland State University. His research interests include Public and Nonprofit Management, Philanthropy, International Nonprofits (NGOs), and Data Science. His research focuses on nonprofits belonging to racial and religious minorities in the US by focusing on the Muslim-American nonprofit sector and international NGOs operating in South Asia.

  • Shariq Siddiqui, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

    Shariq Siddiqui is an Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies and Director of the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Shariq authors research on Muslim philanthropy and the Muslim nonprofit sector.

  • Zeeshan Noor, Louisiana State University in Shreveport

    Dr. Zeeshan Noor is an Assistant Professor and Director of the MS in Nonprofit Administration program at the Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research (INAR) at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, where he holds the Norman A. Dolch Super Professorship. He earned his Ph.D. in Public Affairs with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2021. Dr. Noor is a mixed-methods researcher with expertise in survey-based research.

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Published

2025-02-11

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2024)

Section

Research Articles

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