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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.…
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We can’t Afford to Look away
COVID-19 is still an active threat and everyone needs to pay attention Open Doors If you were an essential worker, more than likely you understand what it was like to walk out of your home unaware of COVID-19 would affect you or the people you loved a few months ago. But our essential workers were left with no choice. Heads of households who didn’t have the privilege of remote work had no choice but to continue while taking precautions and hoping for the best. Today many states are beginning a slow multi-phased return to normal public operations. This return should be celebrated because it means people who’ve lost the ability…
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Eyes on Yemen: Preventing a compounded Crisis
COVID-19 looms over Yemen As we in the Western world grapple with the realities of just how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected our lives. It can be easy to overlook the fact that we may have access to resources that lessen its impact. Some of us have seen this pandemic out, safe in the knowledge that we are protected by a functioning health care system as well as other vital services. Unfortunately, that is not the case for countless brothers and sisters all over the world. In particular, at this point in time, for brothers and sisters in Yemen. Dubbed by many as “The World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis,” the situation…
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From Farm to Family: Your Qurbani is an Act of Love
It’s here! It only seems like yesterday we were celebrating Eid-al-Fitr, and fast approaching in the not too distant future is Eid-al-Adha. This truly is a special time of year, for everyone involved, so it’s time to get prepared. The blessings are around the corner. Which means it’s time to start thinking about Qurbani. The act of Qurbani is a time-honoured tradition of significant importance and holds a deep meaning to all Muslims. Each year we sacrifice an animal to feed those in need, honoring the sacrifice that Prophet Ibrahim made with his willingness to sacrifice his son, Prophet Ismail, for Allah. The Qurbani sacrifice takes place during the Eid…
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On World Refugee Day: Let’s make our Actions Count!
This World Refugee Day we see where we can make a difference. A Year of Challenges The year 2020 has been full of unexpected adventures- to say so mildly. Not only did it carry a ‘series of unfortunate events’, to borrow the title of the series on Netflix, but it has amounted to issues of such magnitude that would make any “Hitchcock” movie seem like a light comedy. An unseen virus has brought the whole world to a standstill; demonstrations have followed the shocking news of the murder of George Floyd and conflicts around the world have become more vicious with a dramatic increase in the number of people fleeing…
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POST-RAMADAN GOALS
The celebrations have come to an end, our special clothes tucked away and we’re starting to get used to eating during the day again. However, as Ramadan, and Eid-ul-Fitr depart for another year, we’re faced with a new challenge. How can we take what we’ve learnt during such a blessed month, and sustain it so that our lives as Muslims can improve throughout the year? It’s crucial for your faith to achieve sustained growth that you take all the lessons you’ve learnt during Ramadan and look to build on them. So whether you had been reading the Quran everyday, or learning new surahs, making extra prayers, doing addition dhikr or…
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A Grand Iftar We’ll Never Forget
Communities gather virtually to contribute to IRUSA’s emergency aid Islamic Relief USA held its first-ever “virtual” Grand Iftar on April 26. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the large in-person gathering was unable to take place at a hotel in the D.C.-area as it normally would. While the format was different, the program nonetheless provided viewers/guests an evening of enlightenment, reflection, and several opportunities to support various organization programs around the world. Projects in countries where Islamic Relief has a rather large footprint were highlighted, including Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen. Anwar Khan, president and cofounder of IRUSA, talked about the need to support immediate and long-term programs in Pakistan, particularly Balochistan and Rawalpindi,…
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EID DURING QUARANTINE
Ramadan is sadly coming to a close, the end of a blessed month for another year. However, with the end of Ramadan, comes another reason to celebrate…EID!!! This year, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt our usual routine, this Eid will certainly be one that many of us will never forget. Whilst we can’t follow our usual traditions of going to the mosque for Eid prayer or visiting friends and family. There are still many things that we can do to ensure that this Eid is memorable for the right reasons. That’s why at Islamic Relief USA, we’ve come up with tips to Insha’Allah make your Eid-ul-Fitr special. Dress…
