Good Deed for Friday: Hygiene Kits For Homeless Women

Sister Afra Khan has been in touch from Chicago USA to tell us about the hygiene kits she is trying to put together for homeless women.  On her GoFundMe page she tells us a little about her project:  

"As a community service project, I have decided to work on creating hygiene kits for the homeless and extremely low-income women of Chicago.  It is stated that, poor personal hygiene can lead to medical problems, prevent job opportunities, influence access to services, contribute to low self-esteem.  The funds raised will be used to purchase the necessary items needed for each kit.

The kits will be composed of the following items: sanitary products (pads), feminine cleaning wipes, deodorant, face lotion, body soap, pocket tissues, first aid kits, hand sanitizer, body spray, toothpaste & toothpaste, towels, socks & gloves, some snacks, and gallon size ziploc bags.

The cost of each kit will be approximately $10.00.  My friends & family will be helping me put together the kits on the 15th of February, any time before that the funds would be greatly appreciated so we can purchase all the items needed."

Homelessness has become a big and very visible issue where I live in recent years, so this hits close to home, especially during winter.

I truly believe that Muslims should be of benefit to everyone and that our value is in what we can do for others.  No woman should have to struggle for the basic necessities required to keep clean and healthy.  Please visit Afra’s page to find out more and donate if you can insh’Allah.

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Good Deed of the Day: Support the Quran Stories with HudHud App

I usually share a charity programme or a good project on Fridays and encourage people to support in any way they can. I haven't in a while and I really like this project, so I am going to share in the hope that others might want to support also insh'Allah.

The project is a free app called Quran Stories with HudHud. The designers of the app, say:

"Through this app, children will be able to build a connection with the Quran and find true role models of Patience, Honesty, Generosity, Wisdom, Bravery, and Good Character.

Children will learn about the stories of the Quran in a fun and engaging way."

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I like this because as my children get older, I have come to realise more and more that teaching children about faith has to be interesting, relevant, interactive and if possible fun.  You have to find ways to keep children's interest and keep them motivated or the whole process can become very painful for everyone involved.

The app includes stories told by professional story-tellers, games, puzzles and animations, the creators also hope to translate the stories into a number of different languages.

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You can find out more about the app on the Launch Good page here including how to make a donation to the project or raise awareness by sharing on your own social media.

Good Deed Friday: National Zakat Foundation Shelter Projects

The National Zakat Foundation (NZF) has a vision of a faithful, confident, selfless and self-sufficient Muslim community in the United Kingdom.  NZF work to distribute zakat (alms) and donations and make a difference by helping those in debt, those who find themselves homeless or those cannot afford to meet their day to day needs.

Their projects include housing projects for homeless Muslim women in London, Birmingham and Manchester.  Their website describes the reason the shelters were set up and what they do:

Inspiration for the projects emerged from shocking stories about Muslim women sleeping rough on park benches or selling themselves to feed their children.

Our high quality supported housing provides safe accommodation for destitute women who have nowhere else to turn. In addition to the three supported housing projects for Muslim women, NZF has also partnered with St Mungo's Broadway and the Better Community Business Network to deliver a housing project for young Muslim male prison leavers. 

The facilities provide sisters in need with emergency accommodation, provision of food, counselling, benefits and resettlement advice, Qur’an and Islamic study lessons, basic English classes and recreational activities.

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The London shelter can support 14 sisters, the Birmingham one 12 sisters and the Manchester shelter a further 5 sisters.

We can only imagine the difficulties these vulnerable sisters go through and where they would turn to if the NZF didn't do the work they do.  You can donate via the website here.

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Good Deed Friday: Our Rohingya Brothers and Sisters

We have been hearing about the frightening situation of the Rohingya people of Myanmar over the last two years or more, over 146,000 children, women and men have been forced to flee to Bangladesh to escape violence since August 2017, but until recently it has seemed that the ethnic cleansing of these people has been ignored by most of the world.  In more recent days we have seen the President of Turkey speak out about the need for action to stop the genocide and bring aid and relief to the Rohingya.

With others also speaking out including Malala Yousufzai and Desmond Tutu, awareness of the situation is increasing and pressure is being placed on the UN to intervene.

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What can we do?

Learn More:

Who are the Rohingya Refugees? - Amnesty International

Myanmar: "We Are At Breaking Point" - Rohingya: Persecuted In Myanmar,Neglected In Bangladesh - Amnesty Internationl Report

Human Rights Watch's reporting on Burma

Erdogan says world ‘blind and deaf’ to Rohingya plight - The Guardian

Mayanmar intensifies its abuse of Rohingya - New York Times

Rohingya violence: Calls for Aung San Suu Kyi's Nobel Peace Prize to be withdrawn over Burma crisis - The Independent

Donate:

Islamic Relief in Mayanmar

Muslim Aid's Mayanmar Emeregency Appeal

Islamic Help's Rohingya Emergency Appeal

Human Appeals Myanmar Emergency Appeal

Penny Appeal's Emergency Rohingya Campaign

Raise Awareness and Taking Action:

Restless Beings is an international human rights organisation that has been championing the human rights of the Rohingya, including through lobbying for international media and political attention, petitions, protests and through sharing footage and witness statements of the situation in Myanmar.

Petition to Urge the UN & Muslim World to protect Rohingya Muslims in Burma

Petition to UK Parliament: Please take actions against the Rohingya genocide

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Good Deed Friday: The Hajj Riders

I have been following the Hajj Riders recently and their big dream, dedication and hard work has really inspired me alhamdulillah.

The Hajj Riders are a group of brothers who are cycling from London to Madinah to raise awareness of the humanitarian situation in Syria and raise £1 million for Human Aid UK’s Syria EMS Ambulance, Medical Equipment and Emergency relief projects insh’Allah

They will be crossing seven countries (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Egypt) over a distance of 35,000 km, during a period of six weeks.  Once they get there they intend to perform Hajj.

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The latest e-mail update says:

“The Hajj Riders have passed the half-way point where they have already been through France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Greece – as well as facing the gruelling test of the Alps along the way. However their toughest tests have yet to come as the riders approach Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the desert heat where temperatures reach 50 degrees.”

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The latest update from their Facebook page tells us:

“No one said it would be easy,

No one expected the tests that came though.

In times of old they faced *diseases* (illness), *wars* (political and physical), *bandits* (thugs), *starvation* (financial issues) *etc*...

Ships would sink, paths would be blocked and the animals they rode would die!

As a Hajj Rider I can tell you now that we tasted a test similar or equivalent to every one of these at some point.

It truly has been a journey that has reminded me to be grateful for the ease of our generation and to reflect on how these journeys would mean so much to those who embarked upon them.

After weeks of trial and test in 100 different ways they have finally reached the shores of Saudi Arabia.”

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You can find out more at their website, or Facebook page where they are posting regular vlogs and updates.

You can head over to their givebrite page if you want to donate.

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"And proclaim that the people shall observe Hajj pilgrimage. They will come to you walking or riding on various exhausted (means of transportation). They will come from the farthest locations." ~ Quran (22:27)

"And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely." ~ Quran (5:32)

Good Deed Friday: Sign Language Interpreters for Tarawih

Islam for Deaf have proposed the first tarawih prayer in British Sign Language (BSL) using qualified and registered Muslim Interpreters.  The prayers will take place throughout the month of Ramadan at Central London masjid with translation from Arabic to English and then English to BSL.

To make this happen Islam for Deaf need to raise £8,500 to pay for the Arabic translators and the BSL interpreters.

The video below provides more details.  The young man in the video is my lovely sister-in-law's brother and one of the nicest, kindest people I have ever met.  I absolutely love this initiative and would encourage everyone to take a look and try and support in any way that they can.

The tarawih for the deaf will be streamed live on the Islam for Deaf website and YouTube channel for the global deaf community to benefit from. The recording will be of the first ever Qur’an in BSL insh'Allah.

Please do visit the website and donate what you can to make this happen this Ramadan.  You can also donate via the Go Fund Me page here insh'Allah, where you can leave a message of support too.

Good Deed for Friday: Supporting the Dispossessed Bedouins of the Negev

I previously blogged that I hope to publish an irregular blog post on some Fridays, sharing a charitable campaign or a beneficial project that readers can donate to or contribute to in some way.

This weeks campaign is to help Brother Noor Abu al-Qiyan whose home was demolished to make way for a Jewish village on the site:

"Noor Abu al-Qiyan lost everything on 18th Jan 2017 when his father was murdered, his house and possessions bulldozed, his family's life savings stolen and his herd of cattle and chickens largely destroyed, as part of the ethnic cleansing of his village Umm al-Hiran by the State of Israel to make way for a Jewish village on the site. Two weeks after his father's death, Noor's grandfather died from a broken heart.

The Bedouins living in "unrecognised" villages in Israel have a particularly difficult life as the state refuses to provide them with the most basic of facilities such as electricity, running water or sewage. They are a neglected and discriminated community in the midst of a cruel and inhuman reality. Noor's story is particularly painful, because his father, Yakoub, a respected teacher and an outstanding member of the community, was shot dead on the day the state came to demolish his village. 

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He is mourning for the loss of his father and grandfather, his home and his animals. All Noor's clothes and textbooks and other possessions were lost under the rubble of his home. Neither Noor nor the rest of his family were given time to salvage hardly anything before the demolitions began. In addition, all the solar panels and water storage tanks from their homes were destroyed, in itself an act amounting to a loss of tens of thousands of dollars."

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How Can You Help

The campaign was started by one of Brother Noor's teachers and is trying to raise £15,000 to assist the family to rebuild their lives.  You can go to the campaign page to donate here.

You shall not attain righteousness until you spend out of what you love (in the way of Allah). Allah knows whatever you spend. ~Quran (3:92)

Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allah, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” ~Quran (2:261-262)

Previous Campaigns:

Good Deed for Friday: Help a Young Writer Publish the Story of Prophet Yusuf (AS) - 14th April 2017

Good Deed for Friday: Orphanage and Quran School in Uganda - 7th April 2017

Good Deed for Friday: Help a Young Writer Publish the Story of Prophet Yusuf (AS)

I previously blogged that I hope to publish an irregular blog post on some Fridays, sharing a charitable campaign or a beneficial project that readers can donate to or contribute to in some way.

This week the spotlight is on thirteen year old Manal Farris' campaign to raise funds to publish her book about Prophet Yusuf (AS).  Entitled "The Boy in the Well' - The Story of Prophet Joseph", the book aims to share the story of Prophet Yusuf (AS) with teens in a way that is interesting and engrossing and brings home the lessons from his life.

Manal says:

"By helping me raise money to publish this book, you will be part of putting a book out in the world that is both fun to read and beneficial.

You’ll be assisting a future author (me: grinning as I say this) and you’ll get a copy of ‘The boy in the well’ for yourself!" 

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How You Can Help?

Manal is planning to raise £5,000. From that, £3,500 will go to printing 1000 copies of the book, the remaining £1,500 will go towards editing and marketing.  You can donate at Launch Good here.

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Good Deed for Friday: Orphanage and Quran School in Uganda

I hope to publish an irregular blog post on some Fridays, sharing a charitable campaign or a beneficial project that readers can donate to or contribute to in some way.

This week the focus is on Sheikh Faisal Ddungu's campaign to raise funds for the IQRA Children's Education Centre and Quran Memorization Centre and orphanage in Uganda. The school is run by a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening, enhancing enriching student’s interest in science education in general and the Quran in particular. 

Sheikh Ddungu has built a school and orphanage where 45 children have succeeded in becoming Hafiz (memorizing Quran).  The next phase of the campaign seeks to provide an adult literacy classes, a computer lab and a free clinic on the premises.

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How You Can Help?

Their latest building project is a new building designed to house over 50 students and orphans. The building, which is approved by the Ugandan Board of Education, will cost over $30,000.  This will include the cost of construction, building materials, beds, desks, chairs, dining hall equipment, and other supplies. 

After this building is built, another building “The IQRA Clinic” will be quickly under way and provide free healthcare to thousands of people in Uganda.

To find out more and donate, you can see the campaign details here.

There is a hadith that says that Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said while talking about Friday, “There is a time on it (i.e. Friday) at which Allah grants the request of any Muslim servant who, at this time, happens to be asking Allah for something while standing in Prayer” And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) pointed with his hand to indicate that this period of time is very short. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

I always feel better asking for something, having tried to do something good myself. If you have a little time, please visit the Launch Good page for thisproject and see if you can help.

If you have a charitable or outreach project or campaign that you want to promote, please get in touch via umm_salihah @ yahoo.co.uk

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created; on it he was made to enter Paradise; on it he was expelled from it; and the [last] hour (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) will take place on no day other than Friday.” (Muslim)

Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan which Allah will double unto his credit and multiply it many times?’ ~ Quran 2:245 

Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allaah, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” ~ Quran 2: 261-262

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Allah said: ‘Spend, O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.’” (Bukhaari, 5073; Muslim, 993)