#Community
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The Levels of Faith: Which Phase Are You In?
By Aseel Elborno “Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand ( ie engaging your representatives, going to marches, signing petitions, voting, volunteering); and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue ( ie speaking up in social gatherings, writing on social media) and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart ( ie thoughts and prayers) — and that is the weakest of faith.” [Muslim] Islam is a faith that calls for action in the face of injustice. A simple google search with the words Islam and justice will dish out hundreds…
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Disaster Response Still Needed…Islamic Relief USA Steps In
With the onslaught of natural disasters that took place throughout much of 2017, it’s easy to lose track which happened when, and where. Just in my short time here, I’ve heard and seen accounts of hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, tsunamis, all within a short time. When they happen so close together, it’s common that the latest disaster trumps (the verb, not the president) the one that took place before it. And then it doesn’t take long for the one that’s getting the attention currently to be overshadowed soon by another act of God. Hurricane Harvey, for example, happened way back in August. Since then, you had Hurricane Irma in Florida, a…
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Volunteering in the Spirit of Martin Luther King Day Brought Out the Best in All
It doesn’t get more rewarding than volunteering on Martin Luther King Day. I should correct that and say it doesn’t get any better than volunteering and being surrounded with some genuine bleeding hearts who decided to devote some of their holiday afternoon to give back to society, rather than just chilling at home or spending it with friends. I got to see this spirit of generosity up close and personally at the Clock Tower Thrift Shop, one of many destinations where Islamic Relief USA had volunteers as part of Martin Luther King Day – Day of Service. The store is in a modest building on the corner of a residential street…
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On the Road with the Promise for Palestine Tour
By David Hawa Travel Log: Seattle ✈ San Francisco ✈ LA ✈ San Diego The magic number this week has been four. For the past four days, I’ve been in four cities, doing four charity events, averaging less than four hours of sleep, and spending less than (twenty) four hours in each city. The reason for my travels? Islamic Relief’s Promise for Palestine tour with humanitarian and world renowned artist Mohammed Assaf. The money raised on this tour will benefit the Palestinian people we serve through our programs. I’m sure people might say wow, lucky guy: Seattle, San Francisco, LA and San Diego in one trip. But honestly, you can’t tell the difference from city to…
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Receptive United Nations Delegation Kept Islamic Relief On Its Toes
By: Syed M. Hassan As a member of the Public Affairs Department for Islamic Relief USA, I, along with my colleagues, have the enviable task of presenting a good and accurate portrayal of our humanitarian work. Granted, it’s not easy. People of influence can be hard to sway, and the traction you hope to gain is fleeting. Sometimes, you feel knocked down because your results fall far short of the effort you put in. But you gotta keep trying. As the late boxer and fellow Muslim Muhammad Ali said, “Ain’t nothing wrong with going down…it’s staying down that’s wrong.” You got to keep punching. Sooner or later, it will have…
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Beyer Encourages Islamic Relief to Stay Strong
Rep. Don Beyer, who represents Virginia’s 8th Congressional district, which includes the city of Alexandria, stopped by on Sept. 15 at Islamic Relief USA‘s headquarters to give a morale boost. “It’s a great pleasure to be here,” he said. Like many times when a political figure comes into contact with his constituents, Beyer struck a positive tone. He lauded the organization for the great humanitarian work it does and for standing on its principles. And if there was any doubt Islamic Relief USA is located in an undesirable locale, he quickly dispelled those perceptions. Beyer said his congressional district is among the most educated and wealthy in the country. As…
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Unity Walks Puts a Spotlight on People Who Hate Hate
There was plenty of physical sunlight present during the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 10. But as hundreds of people gathered for the annual Unity Walk at the Washington Hebrew Congregation on Macomb Street NW, another type of light had shone. Just ask Rabbi Bruce Lustig. “Hatred doesn’t have the power to include intelligence and discernment,” he told a crowd of hundreds gathered in the synagogue’s auditorium before commencing the walk. “Love does! The face of America is when we come together. We’re here to bring light.” It’s the light that shines when people of different faiths, socioeconomic backgrounds, and walks of life come together to stand up to, and perhaps…
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A Day Off for Eid and a Special Meal — It’s a Luxury
In the U.S., most families try to take the day off of work and school for Eid to make it more special. This Eid, think about what a luxury that is. Because for Saleha, taking off would make the day less special. Saleha, in Bangladesh, goes to work on Eid like she does any other day. If she were to take off, the family would celebrate by having even less to eat. Saleha’s husband is too old and sick to work, and her son-in-law passed away, so she supports her family of seven all alone by working as a maid. They need the money she earns each day—about $1.85 to…
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Alternative Spring Break: College Students Giving Back in Flint
Masouna Kochaji is a Communications Coordinator at IRUSA. She recently attending Alternative Spring Break in Flint, MI and shares her experience with ReliefLab. In early March, I was sent to Flint, Michigan to accompany Howard University students on an alternative Spring Break. Having only heard stories of the conditions in Flint, I was anxious to see what the situation would be. The Howard students would be spending an entire week at various schools in Flint, and work with local students and staff in the classroom. While the students were going to support the community for a week, I’d only be on this trip for two days…and what I saw in those…
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Identity, Sincerity, and the Age of Social Media
A few months ago, I sat for dinner with a new friend of mine to break bread and get to know each other. There was, however, no bread involved–only noodles and a conversation that drifted to our common struggles as hijabis. We both shared our challenges to represent our true selves to others without feeling like what we’re doing is for others. Being hijabis, we’ve often felt that both Muslims and non-Muslims are quick to make assumptions about who we are and the kinds of opinions we hold. We’re often thought of as too conservative or not conservative enough. We find ourselves frequently feeling the need to correct these assumptions…
