By Soraya Mitta

Mar/Apr 25

How do we change the world? With this pivotal question, A Continuous Charity (ACC) co-founder, Faizan Syed, opened his landmark speech at the 61st Annual ISNA Conference, which was held last Labor Day weekend. ACC’s mission provides the much-needed answer: one student at a time. 

ACC’s vision is to foster a generation of graduates who will have a strong Muslim identity and be well-versed in their fields, using both for the benefit of all mankind. 

Many Muslim parents make sacrifices to ensure their children sail through college and university without taking loans. However, not everyone can achieve this goal. For those who are hindered in some way or another, there is hope. ACC is a 501(c)3 organization established in 2013 that provides interest-free loans to Muslim students throughout North America, helping them achieve their professional dreams and aspirations without the burden of riba (interest). 

At ACC, investment in both the spiritual and intellectual development of Muslim students is the key to seeing change in the future. 

Interest-Free Education Can Change Everything

According to the U.S. Department of Education, 70% of college students will graduate with debt, most of which includes interest-bearing loans. Nearly 43 million Americans have student loan debt, totaling $1.77 trillion. Student debt is the second highest level of consumer debt, following mortgages. More Americans suffer from snowballing student debt than credit card and auto debt combined. 

Some Muslim students seeking to avoid riba may even be forced to walk away from educational opportunities to avoid loans that clash with their religious principles. ACC offers an alternative by offering student loans in keeping with traditional Muslim values. To date, ACC has awarded 584 students around $8.3 million in educational loans, preventing them from being saddled by almost $4.9 million in riba-based debt. These loans, once paid back, are distributed to other Muslims students to support their education, and the cycle continues. This recycling of funds is a unique, one-of-a-kind model known as a Sadaqah Jariyah, or a continuous charity. 

Every Student Has a Story 

Some of the program’s beneficiaries have shared their unique experiences with Islamic Horizons. 

Abdulaziz: “I was 13 years old when the revolution began.”

At the age of 20, Abdulaziz, now 27, left Syria for the possibility of higher education in the United States. As he left his homeland, the deep impression of war remained in his heart.

“One of my high school classmates was kidnapped, and I lived in constant fear that the same could happen to me,” he said. “We faced frequent power outages, a deteriorating currency, and the constant threat of violence. Bombs fell from the sky, and one even struck my grandmother’s apartment while she and my grandfather were praying.”

Through the difficult times, Abdulaziz relied on his faith to sustain him. “I always remind myself that many others in Syria and Palestine endured far greater suffering, yet they remained resilient and steadfast. Their strength has been a profound source of inspiration for me.”

After leaving Syria, the road to education in America was not always an easy one. Abdulaziz explains, “There was a time when I considered leaving my program when I faced tough financial constraints.” 

In the end, Abdulaziz was able to fund his education in a halal manner as a recipient of an ACC interest-free loan. Now, this Columbia University graduate wishes to use his bachelor’s degree in architecture and his master of science degree in construction administration to help his home country.

“My professional aspiration is to go back to Syria, In Sha Allah, and participate in the rebuilding process,” he said. “I pray for Allah’s help in making this vision a reality and creating a model that can inspire communities globally.”

Abdulwaliy: “I discovered my role as a part of humankind. . . a slave of The Guardian.”

Abdulwaliy, 33, is a senior at Marshalltown Community College in Marshalltown, Iowa, majoring in Applied Mathematics with the dream of becoming a physician.  

Born and raised in Nigeria, he left his homeland behind, entering the U.S. on a student visa to pursue his academic aspirations. Abdulwaliy, a born helper, felt he needed to pursue the purpose that God had laid out for him. 

“I am inspired [by] the route of human discovery and family studies to aid our Muslim community,” he said. “I discovered my role as a part of humankind. . . a slave of The Guardian.”

Considering the high cost of education, he applied to ACC, firmly rooted in his principles of avoiding riba. His submission resonated with the ACC application committee and he was awarded financial support. 

This funding is now helping him obtain the education necessary to care for others. “I am inspired to seek knowledge that prioritizes humankind. I was accommodated,” he said. 

Encouraging others to donate to this Sadaqah Jariyah, he added, “I imagine such behavior as an extension on righteousness.” He went on to recite, “[those]. . . who give charity out of their cherished wealth to relatives, orphans, the poor, needy travelers, beggars, and for freeing captives” (Quran, 2:177).

Currently, Abdulwaliy looks to remain in the United States, and use his knowledge to support the ummah given his deep ties to the Muslim community in his adopted country. 

“I espouse a reality [where] I am interconnected,” he said. 

Mohammad: “Alhamdulillah, one thing I learned is that hardship builds a person.”

Mohammad, 27, is currently studying physical therapy at Hunter College in New York City. While he grew up in the suburbs of Brooklyn, the first five years of his life were spent in a village in Pakistan.  

When he began his pursuit of advanced academic studies, he realized the difficulties in avoiding riba.  

Through this trying time, he remained patient and steadfast. “Alhumdulillah, one thing I learned is that hardship builds a person,” Mohammad said. “There are too many blessings we overlook.”  

He found out about ACC from a friend, applied and was awarded a loan that allowed him to embark on the journey towards becoming a physical therapist. 

At one point, Mohammad feared that he wouldn’t be able to find a program that could accommodate both his spiritual and professional goals. As a proud Muslim, Mohammad said that ACC’s interest-free loans are a blessing.

“I believe [seeking knowledge] is one avenue for bettering oneself and fostering a means for receiving rizq [sustenance],” he said. “[This loan] enables me to have a career, which will, In Sha Allah, be a source from which I draw inspiration and confidence in order to make positive connections and efforts in the world.”

ACC strives to make positive change in the world through funding Muslim students interest-free. Many students have benefited from these loans which will facilitate the educational opportunities that will work to shape the students of today into leaders of tomorrow, In Sha Allah. 

Soraya Mitta is a freelance writer who is passionate about her faith.

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