Children are dying in their mothers laps, we need to take urgent action!

[Hamza Asadullah]

Assalamu alaikum,

The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

Mawlana Taha out in Somalia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UPvd...,JTNUM,1E7BM,1


On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “None of you (truly) has faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Bukhari)

Over the last few weeks many of you may have read and watched about the drought in the Horn of Africa. This drought has reached epidemic proportions and the reality is that our brothers and sisters in Africa are dying out of hunger and thirst at an unprecedented level and the numbers affected is rising every day.

I want you to imagine a sister walking bare footed with her baby and younger children on a journey that will take her 15 days to complete in the desert heat of 50 degrees celsius. Throughout this journey she has little food and water, some days they have nothing. While on this journey she loses a child in the desert and then another dies out of starvation, having no time or strength to bury the dead so they keep moving on.


In the scorching heat, they not only see the corpses of livestock but bodies of fathers, mothers and children that set out on this journey just like them lying lifeless in the desert heat. With no food or water in sight they sleep on the burning sand and under the open sky with nothing to shelter them from the elements. The mother with strong conviction keeps moving on.


They finally arrive at the refugee Camp in Kenya having walked from Somalia for 15 days. The mother gazes out into the open and finally sees the camp gate vaguely behind a cloud of dust. Her heart fills up with hope but that is short lived as she comes closer to camp, the reality is that there are thousands waiting outside the camp. The refugee camp cannot accommodate anymore.


Water and food is scarce at the refugee camp. Even though she is exhausted she drags her children holding the baby towards the nearest water supply. Before she quenches her thirst she gives to her children and they drink with relief. She takes the next handful of water for her baby but it’s too late the baby is dead. She sits in despair knowing the reality that her remaining children may die in the next few days.

Brother and sisters can we ever imagine this, can we ever truly feel the pain of what are brothers and sister are facing? Everyday 60 babies die in one camp and 3000 malnourished arrive at the camps which are too crowed to accommodate anymore. The lives of half a million children at risk and 12 million people are fighting for survival. The statistics are unprecedented, this is worst draught in Africa for 60 years.


I hate to say this but if this had occurred in Bangladesh, Pakistan or in our home countries then how would we have responded? Why do our brothers and sisters dying in Africa deserve less of our time, wealth and compassion than our brothers and sisters in our home countries?

We cannot sit back and do nothing. We cannot sit back and watch. And we cannot sit back and think that someone else will do something.


We are a nation of doers, we are a nation that has been sent to the whole of humanity, we are a people of belief and action, and we do not pick and choose who we help based on which country they are from.

A core aspect of our faith is to truly love for our brothers and sisters what we love for ourselves and this needs to be apparent in our action. I want you to take control of yourself and open your eyes, awaken that heart of yours, awaken the spirit of this deen in yourself and do something. Don’t be afraid of doing something good, have courage and the help of Allah will come.


This is an opportunity to serve our Lord...

Start off by supplicating to Allah and ask Him for help, open your heart and let the tears from your eyes flow as nothing happens without the will of Allah. Purify your intention and make sincere conviction that through your action to help others, you seek to come closer to your Lord the Merciful.


What can we do?

· Pick up the phone and donate now on: 0800 4 0800 11

. Make a payment now on the website:

http://www.uwt.org/site/appeal.asp?i...,JTL61,1DM3I,1


. Tell your friends and family to create awareness about what’s going on.

· Encourage everyone to give and help in any way that they can.

· Start a collection.

· Organise a fundraising event.

· Contact the charities working on the ground to find out how you can help.

· Visit the following websites to find how you can help:

http://www.uwt.org/site/default.asp

http://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/

I want you to imagine when a rain drop falls into a in a puddle it creates a ripple. Now imagine what happens if 10 or 100 rain drops fall into the puddle….yes it causes a wave of ripples. Imagine what would happen if you did something and encouraged others, you could make a huge difference.

Don’t sit back after you’ve read this

Do something!

This is an opportunity for you to invest your time and wealth for the Hereafter. Allah describes in the following verses what awaits the good doers: ‘Indeed the righteous shall be amid shades and springs and fruits such as they desire. ‘Eat and drink to your heart’s content because of what you used to do. Thus We certainly reward the good doers.’ (Surah Al-Mursalat: 41-44)


May Allah give us all the ability to help our brothers and sisters in Africa.

[جوري]

Jazaka Allah khyran

[MustafaMc]

For those of you living in USA, I have found Islamic Relief USA to be a reputable charity to make donations.
http://www.islamicreliefusa.org/where-we-work/somalia

Somalia


Waves of Conflict

Somalia’s people have endured violence, treachery and civil war for nearly two decades. With no central government ruling Somalia, contending warlords have been fighting for control since 1991.

More than one million Somalis are internally displaced with no shelter, food or access to clean water, according to the US Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook. Infant mortality rates and illiteracy have skyrocketed since the violence commenced.

After setting up a field office, Islamic Relief responded promptly with aid and development projects.
In 2007, Islamic Relief provided more than $15 million worth of medicines and medical supplies to Somalia, which benefitted hundreds of thousands of Somalis.

Despite generous support from donors, Islamic Relief requires your support to continue serving Somalia’s ailing population. Please donate today to help Islamic Relief alleviate the suffering in Somalia.
Poverty & Natural Disasters

In addition to the civil unrest, Somalia is plagued by natural disasters which have only added to the extreme poverty that millions of Somalis endure.
Torrential rains in November and December of 2006 created the worst flooding in a half-century, ruining crops and affecting over 500,000 people. Only two percent of Somalia’s land is suitable for farming, according to the CIA World Factbook, and drought has only exacerbated the existing food and water crisis.
Most of Somalia’s population consists of nomadic herdsmen who depend on water to sustain their livelihoods.
Violence in the region has limited the data available, but independent aid agencies agree that Somalia is enduring a horrendous humanitarian situation with millions grappling with extreme poverty and malnutrition.
Islamic Relief has been providing thousands of Somalis with humanitarian aid, food and water parcels, and shelter since 2006. Development projects in water and sanitation, as well as the rehabilitation of schools and hospitals, have provided a glimmer of hope for Somalia’s suffering people.
Please donate today to help support Islamic Relief’s work in countries like Somalia.
Islamic Relief in Somalia

Islamic Relief has been carrying out seasonal Ramadan and Udhihyah/Qurbani meat distributions in Somalia since 1996.

Responding to a humanitarian crisis that was caused by an uproar of violence in Somalia, Islamic Relief established a permanent field office in May 2006. The preliminary goals of the office were to implement various development projects and to alleviate the suffering of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Today, Islamic Relief’s work in Somalia is focused on improving access to water, healthcare and education for pastoral communities as well as assisting people who have fled their homes due to conflict, floods or drought.

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you Hamza Asadullah;

Thanks for starting this thread, and it has been said we all sin against God when we allow grinding poverty to exist.

In the spirit of praying for justice for all people

Eric

[Hamza Asadullah]

Millions face famine in Somalia


More than 3.7 million people need emergency aid as thousands flee the region's worst drought in more than 50 years.


Please watch short clip:

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/a...513428525.html


The United Nations has declared a state of famine in some parts of southern Somalia where the worst drought in over half a century is already being blamed for thousands of deaths.

An estimated 3.7 million people, or more than one-third of Somalia's population, is in need of emergency aid, the UN's food agency said on Wednesday.

"Every day of delay in assistance is literally a matter of life or death for children and their families in the famine-affected areas," Mark Bowden, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Somalia, said.

"It is likely that tens of thousands will already have died, the majority of those being children."

The UN has appealed for $300m to help victims of the drought, and aid groups have criticised the slow response of many Western governments to fund the shortfall.

Al Jazeera's Mohamad Adow reports from Nairobi, Kenya.


Source: Al Jazeera


Can you Imagine if we were in their situation. Would we not be so desperate for help? We are living in complete luxury compared to so many and there is no doubt that we will be accountable for every penny we spent in this world.

Abu Dharr (RA) narrated that... Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “Those who have much wealth (in this world) will be the least rewarded (in the Hereafter) except those who do like this and like this (i.e., spend their money in charity).” (Bukhari)

So let us spend as much as we can of our wealth in the path of Allah and help those who need it most and right now none need it more than the people of Somalia.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) has said: 'Sadaqah (charity) does not decrease wealth.' (Muslim)

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) as saying: “Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth and the servant who forgives, Allah adds to his respect; and the one who shows humility, Allah elevates him in the estimation (of the people).” (Muslim)

So let us give what we can and remember that we will not lost out by giving in charity for every penny we give will come back to us and we will benefit from every penny we give in the path of Allah in this world and the next.

Almighty Allah says:

'The likeness of those who spend their money for Allah's sake, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn), it grows seven ears, every single ear has a hundred grains, and Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala multiplies (increases the reward) for whom He wills, and Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures needs, All Knower' (2: 261).

'Whoever works righteousness, whether a male or a female, while he (or she) is a true believer, verily to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do.' (16: 97)

There are many charities all over the world who are raising money for this appeal. The charity i personally recommend is Ummah Welfare Trust which has a 100% donations policy meaning not a penny of ours will go towards their own administration costs but every penny will go towards what we donate for.

In the UK you can call them on 0800 4 0800 11 or 01274 390 396. Or donate via text or on the website:

http://www.uwt.org/site/appeal.asp?id=617