CITIZENS ON CHARITY AND THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN

Ramadan is a special period in people’s lives when their attention is focused on spiritual values, compassion, and care for others. During this month, good deeds and charitable giving become part of everyday life, helping to support those in need while at the same time strengthening a sense of responsibility and solidarity within society.

Helping others during Ramadan is perceived not merely as a social obligation, but also as a means of spiritual purification, an expression of compassion, and a form of participation in the life of society. Since ancient times, fasting has been practiced by people of different faiths. Many forms of fasting prescribed strict abstinence from food and water, serving as a serious test of endurance and a measure of the depth of faith in God, as well as a means of purifying the mind, soul, and body.

Fasting is present in many religions around the world. In Muslim life, the practice of fasting — sawm — is understood as a period of spiritual purification and self-restraint. During fasting, a person is given the opportunity to cleanse not only the body, but also the mind and soul from everyday distractions and temptations.

According to the Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Worthy Observance of the Holy Month of Ramadan” (National Database of Legislation, February 17, 2026, No. 07/26/65/0148), based on the noble idea “Ramadan is a month of mercy, unity, and gratitude,” particular attention is to be paid to:

(a) providing comprehensive support to low-income, needy, and socially vulnerable groups of the population;

(b) transforming mahallas into places of mutual respect, harmony, justice, and education;

(c) ensuring responsible care for land, water, air, and the natural environment, as well as the improvement of holy sites, pilgrimage sites, and cemeteries;

(d) organizing events related to the month of Ramadan in a meaningful, modest, and cost-effective manner, without excessive spending.

In order to study citizens’ perceptions of charitable activities and their participation in supporting those in need, as well as to assess the influence of Ramadan on everyday life and social interaction, the Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion “Ijtimoiy Fikr” conducted a sociological study. The findings showed that charitable activity is characteristic of the majority of respondents.

The data obtained made it possible to rank the most common forms of assistance to those in need. Financial donations occupy the leading position as the most universal form of support, cited by 67.1% of respondents.

The second most common form is the provision of food products — 46.6%, followed by donations of clothing and other items — 20.5%.

One in ten respondents personally participates in volunteer activities. Some citizens also provide assistance with the payment of medical treatment or education expenses.

An analysis of the channels through which assistance is provided showed that the dominant form is direct personal support: 81.9% of respondents help relatives, neighbors, or acquaintances directly. Some respondents provide assistance through mosques, mahallas, charitable foundations, as well as through collective campaigns and projects organized at workplaces or educational institutions.

When asked about their motives for providing charitable assistance, respondents primarily referred to a sense of responsibility toward other people, as well as compassion and the desire to support others and share their hardships.

Some respondents associate their charitable activity with personal life experience and difficulties they themselves have faced, which contribute to empathy. Particularly important is the awareness of social responsibility as a moral duty.

The findings also made it possible to rank the most preferred channels for providing charitable assistance, arranged in descending order of frequency. The leading position is occupied by the desire to help personally and without intermediaries, confirming the study’s hypothesis regarding a high level of trust in direct forms of support and interpersonal contacts.

According to the majority of respondents, the most effective form of support for people in need is financial assistance, which makes it possible to address urgent needs quickly and directly.

Respondents also consider it appropriate to provide food, clothing, and essential goods.

Participants in the study emphasized the importance of more sustainable forms of support, including the provision of employment or assistance in finding a job; comprehensive support combining material assistance with social guidance, including mentoring, counseling, and assistance in adapting to independent living; access to education and vocational training, which creates new opportunities for personal and professional development; as well as psychological and social support that helps people overcome difficulties.

The study identified the priority groups of citizens who, according to respondents, should receive charitable assistance. First and foremost, survey participants consider it important to support orphans and children from disadvantaged families. Citizens also believe that seriously ill people in need of treatment and persons with disabilities require special attention.

Some respondents prioritized support for low-income families, as well as single mothers and women facing difficult life circumstances, arguing that assistance should be directed toward those who are particularly vulnerable and experiencing serious hardships. Respondents also highlighted the importance of supporting older people who are left without outside care, noting that such assistance gives them a sense of security and helps strengthen social ties between generations.

The study also examined respondents’ attitudes toward the holy month of Ramadan. The results showed that citizens primarily perceive Ramadan as an important religious month for all Muslims. At the same time, the number of those who view it as a sacred period of worship and spiritual purification has noticeably increased, indicating a deeper understanding of Ramadan as a meaningful spiritual experience.

Respondents also noted that Ramadan is a time of self-discipline and self-development, as well as a period when charitable activity and assistance to those in need increase.

The results of the public opinion survey convincingly demonstrate that Ramadan continues to be a time of spiritual uplift, moral purification, and reinforcement of the values of mercy. During this sacred period, compassion, mutual assistance, and participation in charitable activities are perceived by society as an integral and meaningful part of everyday life. Charitable activity involves a significant proportion of the population, with direct personal support — assistance to relatives, loved ones, and their families — prevailing, along with donations made through traditional and religious institutions.

Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the initiatives of the President of the country aimed at supporting those in need during Ramadan receive a broad and positive response from society. The population demonstrates a high level of trust in the social policy being implemented, emphasizing its humanistic orientation and the important role of the state in strengthening social solidarity and supporting vulnerable groups of the population.