Humanitarian Day

I remember vaguely a story I read some time ago (any help with details appreciated). It goes something like this: Hz Ayesha (RA) once sent a person food. She ensured it was sent anonymously because she did not want them to give her a return for the gift, even prayers for her.

This Sunday Oct. 15th 2006, 10am-2pm, in Washington DC, New York, Detroit, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Jose, Los Angeles and Boston, Islamic Relief will hold Humanitarian Day.

Clothing, hygiene packs, gloves, blankets and other provisions will be distributed to the homeless free of charge from the Muslim community.

The organizers have all the goods available for distribution, but they need volunteers to do the distributing. They ask that you come out for a couple of hours “to be part of this national event in which we will show the nation what Islam is truly about.�

Please go and give if you possibly can. Go because a Muslim does not sleep in peace while her neighbour is hungry and cold. Go because the one who struggles on behalf of the oppressed is close to God.

Even if not a single soul in this effort sees what Islam is really about, still go, for the love of Allah.

76:8-9 They feed, FOR THE LOVE OF ALLAH, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive. (They say),�We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks.

Don’t go desiring converts, or praise from onlookers. Go because those who do not feed the hungry are deniers of accountability to God. Go because this is essential to your own Islam, your own submission to Allah - not just the Islam that you represent in collective actions.

May Allah reward the organizers and participants.