Posted on 07/07/2006 7:00:35 AM PDT by xzins
Muslims expand charity work to buff tarnished U.S. image
Myrtle Beach Online
By Sadia Latifi
July 06, 2006 We want to encourage them to go to beyond their mosques and their comfort levels and truly practice the religion More Muslims are volunteering this summer - and not just for traditional Muslim charities.
They're responding to a national Islamic group's appeal to get more involved in community social services and thereby turn back anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States.
'You can talk about the beauty of Islam until the end of time, but if you're not doing something tangible, then people will always say, 'Where are the Muslims?'' explained Dian Alyan, an outreach coordinator for the Muslim Community Association in the San Francisco Bay area. 'We need to change the rules of the game ... to concrete action.'
To that end, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a leading advocacy group, recently launched a three-month nationwide initiative called Muslims Care, which focuses on community health awareness, helping the needy and youth services. Like many people of other faiths, Muslims have focused charitable efforts largely on their own faith communities.
'We want to encourage them to go to beyond their mosques and their comfort levels and truly practice the religion,' said Rabiah Ahmed, CAIR communications coordinator. 'It also helps with the image issue. We find that Americans tend to change their attitude when they see Muslims engaged in service work and not just foreign policy.'
In Sacramento, Calif., CAIR organized four visits to homeless shelters this month to provide food and supplies. In Orlando, Fla., volunteers are hosting a community-wide picnic. In Columbus, Ohio, Muslims are coordinating a school supplies drive for underprivileged children. In Cincinnati, they're hosting a public health fair that includes physician counseling and screenings for cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Alyan, a founder of the GiveLight Foundation, which aids orphans in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, said she's optimistic that the good works will gain non-Muslim attention.
'Over time when you start building credibility, people will start noticing,' she said.
I didn't know that, but it makes perfect sense.
In other words, there is a bit of obfuscation going on in this article.
It must be read as if Bill Clinton were saying it. I wonder how they screen out the dhimmis??
And this article is dripping with evidecne that this is just another PR stunt with little actual substance. It's all about "image" for Muslims.
They learned this from the liberals???????
You might want to mention that to the DNC.
Well put.
All this is nice, well and good even. But how long do we wait for their condemnation of terrorist acts? Especially acts of terrorism against non-Muslims? Any missive issued condemning the bombings in London on their first anniversary? I won't hold my breath.
Alyan, a founder of the GiveLight Foundation, which aids orphans in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, said she's optimistic that the good works will gain non-Muslim attention.
I wonder if they give aid to the orphaned children of Christian parents murdered by Islamo-terrorist rebels in the Sudan? Oh wait, a Muslim group does, those very rebels themselves - they call it 'conversion'.
Funny you say that, because one of their pillars (like the Commandments) is that they must give to charity.
"You might want to mention that to the DNC."
They would consider funds to the DNC as a purchase rather than a donation.
Witness Rep. Dhimmi McKinney.
Does jihad count as charitable work?
"It must be read as if Bill Clinton were saying it."
Notice the reporter's/PR flak's name.
Like Mother Theresa?
More worthless journalism.
I can't remember which state (one of the Carolinas?), but I believe a member of the House is on the board of CAIR.
"Like many people of other faiths, Muslims have focused charitable efforts largely on their own faith communities."
Glad I wasn't the only one who caught that BS. I don't see the soup kitchens, etc checking what faith someone is at the door.
Absolutely. And it would help if that terrorist-apologist organization, CAIR, would quit whining every time someone notices that all terrorists seem to be islamofascists, and start denouncing and outing terrorists.
If they would denounce terrorism they would get my attention and respect.
Islam prohibits Muslims from contributing to Kuffars:
Ask The Imam
With regards to Zakat [charity], is it acceptable to give one’s zakat to a non-Islamic organization that has outlets in Islamic countries and spends it on Muslims who are poor or sick?
For example, Leprosy Mission Canada collects money from donors and spends it on orphans or needy people suffering from leprosy in third world countries including Bangladesh, which is a Muslim country. I have donated part of my zakat money to this organization specifying that I want it to be spent on Leprosy sufferers in Bangladesh…is this acceptable? If not what shoud I do? Thank you for your reply.
Answer 11764
2004-05-27
Getting a non-Muslim organisation, of the type you described, to distribute your Zakaat would not be advisable for a number of reasons:
1.They are unaware of the laws of zakaat and are very likely to flout them.
2. While they might give it to lepers, every leper is not necessarily deserving of zakaat.
3. They are non-Muslims as well in Bangladesh, thus it is very likely that this will be spent on them as well, as it would be very difficult for the organisation to adhere strictly to the desire of every donor.
4. In zakaat it is necessary for the money to be handed over to the recipient in cash or kind (i.e. tamleek is necessary), while the majority of these organisations don't operate in this manner, rather they open up hospitals, provide medical services etc. This is an incorrect manner of distributing the zakaat.
5. Many of these organisations try to beguile Muslims and lure them away from Islam to Christianity by offering them medical and other services and showing them how generous Christians are. Thus by having such an organisation distribute your zakaat, you would be unwittingly aiding in making Muslims murtad (renegade).
Thus we would advise you to give the money personally to a deserving Muslim or have it distributed by a reliable Islamic organisation.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
"All I need to konw about muslims and arabs I learned on 9-11."
....and the utter silence that followed.
The aftermath of 9/11 was even more apropos of the thinking of Islam as a whole.
Tacit approval via lack of immediate and total condemnation.
Acceptance only comes by being an American at heart. Anything after that is your choice because you are American. Fakes are nothing more than guests, some of whom are attempting to seize everything we have and believe in.
Ask The Imam
Is it Ok to give Zakat to charitable institutions, hospitals etc. when we know that they might use the money on non-Muslims as well?
I understand that Zakat can only be given to muslims,so in he above situation when one gives Zakat to a charitable instituion or hospital etc one can't be sure that all the money would be spent on muslims only even in a predominantly muslim nation like Pakistan.Please advise
Answer 2103
2001-01-27
It is not permissible to give Zakaat to such institutions.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.
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