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EID PRAYER: THE DO’S AND DON’TS IN LOCKDOWN
Written by Shaykh Hasib Noor Alhamdulillah what a blessing it is to welcome Eid! We hope and pray deeply that we have all achieved our goals. Allah (SWT) gave us the opportunity to spiritually cleanse ourselves, to draw near to Him, and to help others. This of course includes those less fortunate than ourselves. Allah (SWT) blessed us and Eid is a moment of celebration! Eid is such a special blessing that it’s almost a reminder of how the joyous celebration of entering Paradise. It is a blessed day of eating, connecting virtually with loved ones, and remembering the favours of Allah upon us: Every nation has its day of celebration,…
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Your Vote, Your Voice
IRUSA gears up for a game-changing get out the vote campaign. Let nobody tell you otherwise; your voice matters, particularly on Election Day. With several elections scheduled Nov. 3, including one for the presidency, it is essential we practice our right to vote. It is a right we can’t take for granted. As several recent elections have shown, every vote is precious and plays an integral role in determining policy. Elections have consequences as they signal our priorities, our values, and our convictions. To help generate interest and, more importantly, action, Islamic Relief USA, a nonprofit 501(c)3 humanitarian and advocacy organization, has launched a Get Out the Vote campaign on…
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More Ways to Sacrifice this Season
Easy methods to serve for the blessed second Eid COVID-19 has slowed down a significant portion of our normal lives. Many say this will be our new way of living. That reality can be daunting. With Eid Al-Adha around corner, an added level of stress can fall on all of us when try to think about what we can do with our time. For a large amount of people, both Eids are busy times, with days that can seem endless. If you were looking for ways to still gain some barakah in your time and at a distance look no further. 1) Get Your Qurbani In If you give your…
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For this Eid, Gratitude Means Everything
A reflection on the bounties Eid Al-Adha reminds us of. The Lead up to Qurbani Dhul-Hijjah is upon us, a truly special time of the year where Muslims from all around the world can ask forgiveness from Allah for any potential shortcomings they may have had. Fasting is also sunnah during the first 9 days of Dhul-Hijjah. Bringing with it the equivalent reward to that of staying up during Laylatul Qadr, it’s really that powerful. “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days.” (Bukhari) The Big Day As the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah draw to a close, and we complete our…
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From the Front Lines: Structural Poverty in America
Panelists Stressed the Need For Engagement To Combat Social Injustices Impacting Minority Communities Islamic Relief USA kicked off a webinar series on Wednesday, July 8, with its first installment, “From the Front Lines: Structural Poverty in America.” The discussion was moderated by Tariq Touré, senior communications specialist at IRUSA, and the featured speakers were Imam Makram El-Amin of Al-Maa’uun mosque, and Alia Bilal of the Inner-city Muslim Action Network (IMAN) of Chicago/Atlanta. It focused on the intersections of poverty and systemic racism that are being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the killing of George Floyd, a Minneapolis man who died as a result of a police officer forcing his…
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Srebrenica: A Look at our Beginning in Bosnia
IRUSA reflects on Bosnia and families looking for hope this Qurbani season. In 1995, one of the most harrowing tragedies took place in Srebrenica, Bosnia. Over 8,000 Bosnian men and boys were massacred, in just 5 days. Thousands of women went missing and were the victims of mass rape and torture. The children of those rape victims still have no legal recognition to this day. The Srebrenica genocide is one of the most brutal and horrifying events of our lifetime, but it is widely erased from our collective memory. Till this day, bodies continue to be excavated and buried, giving families an opportunity to finally pray Janaza on their loved ones and bury them honourably.…
