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Ramadan is a special time for humility and compassion when Muslims give more to help those facing challenges during the holy month.
FEED THE POOR
Feeding the poor and needy is an act that draws us closer to Allah. We earn His forgiveness, mercies and blessings through this act of charity.
“Anyone who looks after and works for a widow and a poor person is like a warrior fighting for Allah?s cause, or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all night. (Bukhari)
As Muslims start Ramadan fasting on Thursday, the local Muslim community in Chicago see the fasting month as a chance to step up efforts to help millions affected by devastating earthquakes last month in Turkey and Syria.
The Orland Park Prayer Center, for example, will be collecting funds every night during Ramadan, which continues for the next 30 days, for earthquake relief, Chicago Sun Times.
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Earlier, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago has raised $2 million for earthquake victims.
“This is such a time of sharing meals, family togetherness and enjoying each other’s company,” said Arjumand Khan, a council spokesperson.
“And that is far from the case for those in Turkey and Syria suffering from loss, homelessness and hunger.”
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Hijri Islamic calendar. It commemorates the first revelation of the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad.
From dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations).
Community Work
Rami Nashashibi, the founding executive director of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), a community organization based in the Englewood neighborhood, said Ramadan gives his organization a chance to bolster the community work it does year-round.
“For us, we really step it up during Ramadan,” Nashashibi said. “It’s an opportunity to revisit why you do what you do and make sure you’re doing it for a greater reason than receiving accolades and to be accountable to a greater power.”
This year, IMAN is holding a drive to raise $1 million during Ramadan.
“When you have the gifts of health, housing and community, you need to help those who fight and struggle to have those gifts, who have been systematically disinvested in and abandoned,” Nashashibi said.
“Ramadan is a perfect chance to uplift that.”
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In addition to charity effort, Ramadan is a chance to bolster community relations though shared iftar events.
Towards that end, IMAN will host an iftar on March 29 to which mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson were invited.
“It’s not so much a forum, but a way to give them both opportunities to talk about their own spiritual convictions,” Nashashibi said.
“We see all our work for the community as spiritual work. So this is a chance for the candidates to participate in the holy month.”
Read Original Report Here By About Islam