Muslim Aid was established in the UK in 1985 by community leaders from 17 Islamic organisations in response to the drought in the Horn of Africa. As a leading and well established faith-based British humanitarian charity, Muslim Aid's work is governed by the teachings of Islam, such as compassion, empathy, generosity and helping others in need. This is implemented through emergency responses and eliminating poverty and its causes by developing innovative and sustainable solutions that enable individuals and their communities to live with dignity.

Muslim Aid, a premier British Muslim relief and development agency, guided by the teachings of Islam, endeavours to tackle poverty and its causes by developing innovative and sustainable solutions that enable individuals and their communities to live with dignity and by supporting initiatives that promote economic and social justice.

The vision is the alleviation of poverty, education for all, and for the provision of basic amenities for those in need; in order to create a world where charity and compassion produce justice, self-reliance and human development

Muslim Aid's values are compassion and sensitivity to others' needs and condition; empowerment of people to realise their own potential; justice for all by considering the rights of people and treating them with dignity and respect they deserve regardless of their ethnic background; and accountability both for the own actions and those of partners.