WaqForever is an Islamic charity based in the United Kingdom. As of 2025, its one active project, the Waqf for Palestine, has raised £2.4 million (approximately $3.2 million) towards funding pro-Palestinian organizations during the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 terror attacks by Hamas against Israel. WaqForever was founded by controversial imam Ali Hammuda, who in 2025 was banned from entering the Netherlands due to hate speech. WaqForever has declared itself to be in “permanent solidarity with the cause of Gaza and Palestine at large.” ¹

Background

“Waqf” is an Islamic term for a “long-term charitable endowment” under which assets remain intact while profits generated from the assets are used for charitable purposes. The plural of the term is “awqaf.” According to its website, WaqForever’s investing follows “Shariah-compliant principles.” ^{2 3}

“Zakat” is an Islamic religious doctrine directing all Muslims to donate a portion of their wealth towards charity. WaqForever claims its “Waqfs” are not “eligible for Zakat” as Waqf donations are indirectly charitable and not directed towards specific Zakat-charity categories. However, WaqForever claims it can accept “Lilah” donations, or voluntary charitable donations under Islamic principles. ³

According to WaqForever, 100 percent of donations are contributed to charity. Administrative costs are covered by “Gift Aid,” a charitable tax provision in the United Kingdom. ³

Activity

In 2023, WaqForever launched its first “Waqf,” Waqf for Palestine, a charity to raise roughly £2 million (approximately $2.7 million). By 2024, WaqForever’s total fundraising for the Waqf for Palestine had reached £1 million (approximately $1.3 million) from over 5,000 donations. According to its website, the Waqf for Palestine claims to provide funding towards “vital aid to the people of Palestine, including food, medical supplies, and disaster relief,” as well as “legal support” to advocate for Palestinian “rights and wellbeing.” ^{4 5 1 6}

WaqForever is partnered with Abdullah Aid, another Islamic U.K.-based charity, to help facilitate the delivery of its charity for the Waqf for Palestine. ¹

By 2025, the Waqf for Palestine had acquired seven properties and was aiming to buy three more. The seven properties generated about £18,000 (approximately $24,000) per month. Some of these properties were donated to the Waqf. ⁶

On June 16, 2025, WaqForever announced that its Waqf for Palestine reached £2.4 million (approximately $3.2 million) in assets. The increase from £1.7 million (approximately $2.3 million) to £2.4 million was accomplished through only two donations. ⁶

As of 2025, Waqf for Palestine was WaqForever’s only listed Waqf, though the organization claimed to plan funding towards additional Waqfs including the Islamic Centre Waqf, the Quran Academy Waqf, and the Orphan Development Waqf. ^{3 1}

Leadership

WaqForever was founded in 2022 by Ali Hammua. Hammuda was educated in the United Kingdom and Egypt, and as of 2025, works as a visiting imam at the Al-Manar Centre in Cardiff, Wales. He is also a senior researcher at the Muslim Research and Development Foundation in London. ^{6 7}

As of 2025, Hammuda posted a video on WaqForever’s website in which he referred to Israel’s counterattack to Hamas’ October 7, 20223 terror attacks and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza as an “intentional apocalypse.” ⁶

In February 2025, then-Dutch Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber and Justice Minister David van Weel denied permission for three Islamic preachers, including Hammuda, to enter the Netherlands, releasing a statement claiming it was “unacceptable that Islamic speakers abuse our freedom to spread hatred,” and that “hate mongering and condoning violence […] have no place in the Netherlands.” The ministers referred to an instance when Hammuda denied the reality of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas. ⁸

In March 2024, the Daily Mail published a video of Hammuda claiming in a lecture that it is permissible in Islam for a man to have sex with his female slaves. Hammuda responded by releasing an article claiming that the Daily Mail had sent a reporter to his Wales-based mosque to unsuccessfully find “embarrassing” materials and only used a 55-second clip of his preaching. Hammuda further claimed that the clip was posted out of context, that he was having an academic discussion, by stating the, “idea of there being sex slaves in Islam is entirely fictional and non-existent. It is a concocted, defamatory claim created by the money-making media machine.” ^{9 10}

In September 2016, Hammuda made an official defamation complaint to the British police after the far-right group Britain First published a video describing Hammuda as a “radical” preacher.” ¹¹

1. “A Waqf for Palestine.” WaqForever. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.waqforever.org/projects/.
2. “What is Waqf?” International Waqf Fund. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://waqf.org/what-is-waqf/.
3. “About WaqForever.” WaqForever. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.waqforever.org/faq/.
4. “Our Vision.” WaqForever. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.waqforever.org/about/.
5. “2023/24 TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT.” WaqForever. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.waqforever.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Waqforever-Trustee-Report-2024.pdf.
6. “Latest News and Updates.” WaqForever. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.waqforever.org/updates/.
7. “Shaykh Ali Hammuda.” The Islamic Council of Europe. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://iceurope.org/advisor/shaykh-ali-hammuda/.
8. “Cabinet refuses entry to Islamic preachers for “hate speech”.” Dutch News. February 25, 2025. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.dutchnews.nl/2025/02/cabinet-refuses-entry-to-islamic-preachers-for-hate-speech/.
9. “Ali Hammuda is recorded saying men can have women as slaves.” Daily Mail. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1315056/Ali-Hammuda-recorded-saying-men-women-slaves.html.
10. Hammuda, Shaykh Ali. “No, Daily Mail, you CAN’T have sex slaves – Ali Hammuda’s response.” Islam 21c. December 31, 2016. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.islam21c.com/islamic-law/no-daily-mail-you-cant-have-sex-slaves-ali-hammudas-response/.
11. “Cardiff mosque complains after uninvited Britain First visit.” BBC. September 5, 2016. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-37278724#:~:text=The%20far%2Dright%20group%20posted,preacher%2C%20which%20he%20strenuously%20denied..