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4 Ways to Jumpstart Your Heart and Mind for this Ramadan
See how simple steps can make this coming Ramadan a success Fast now, ask questions later. Aishah (ra) narrated: “The Prophet used to try to fast on Mondays and Thursdays” [Tirmidhi, Nasai, and Ibn Majah]. You won’t find one olympian that will say they walked into a race unprepared. So on the days when no one’s watching, they practice starting, sustaining, and finishing. Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is a simple way to attain blessings but also condition ourselves to take on those upcoming days of Ramadan. By the time Ramadan comes you’ll be a well-oiled machine. Starting a regimen of fasting now will make it easier to reflect on…
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A Warm Hello from IRUSA’s New Chairman, Hamadi Bengabsia
IRUSA’s new Chairman shares a message of gratitude and belief in the next generation of humanitarian relief Assalaam Alaykum, On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am writing to thank every one of our supporters who have helped work towards Islamic Relief USA’s tremendous progress in recent years. Without your tenacity, innovation, and commitment to excellence, our organization would not have experienced such significant growth and emerged as a faith-based leader in the humanitarian and development sector. That growth has meant life-changing service a possibility for people all over the world. Your compassion arrived in the darkest hour for more families than we can measure. I want to further…
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The Right to Vote: Black History Remembered
IRUSA highlights past and present change-agents in the fight for voting rights in America. Fannie Lou Hamer “You can pray until you faint, but unless you get up and try to do something, God is not going to put it in your lap.” – Fannie Lou Hamer A Decision During the summer of 1962, a young African American woman made a decision to attend a local meeting held by the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which was responsible for organizing younger African Americans in the charge for voting rights. Her interests was piqued, and she would go on to become one of the most impactful advocates for equitable access to…
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One-on-One with Zaytuna’s Dawood Yasin
Dawood Yasin sits down for an insightful What-A-Relief podcast about the spiritual value of serving humanity There are many valuable things people learn while seeking a higher education. In the halls of universities across the world, most students are seeking opportunities to better their future, obtain meaningful careers, and build lifelong bonds. Naeem Muhammad interviewed our guest Imam Dawood Yasin of our latest podcast about where his passion for exploration has brought him and how he now teaches students to do the same and serve. At Zaytuna College, in Berkeley California, Yasin is an administrator that believes deeply in exploring the true meaning of education. He also provides a pathway…
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IRUSA Serves and Celebrates MLK Day 2020
The legacy and humanitarian spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King shines through in another day of service On a blustery, sunny Sunday, the day before the annual holiday celebrating the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, some 400 people packed the fieldhouse at the Episcopal High School in Alexandria. It was not for an indoor soccer match or field hockey. Rather, it was to volunteer for a supersized meal-pack event organized by Islamic Relief USA’s Volunteer Services Department. The next day, on MLK Day, dozens of volunteers gathered at mosques in Steelton, Pennsylvania and Long Island, N.Y. to pack 25,000 meals at each location. And, IRUSA employees spent…
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Puerto Rico, Disaster Strikes Again
IRUSA arrives in Puerto Rico a second time after a devastating earthquake leaves thousands of families without access to essentials such as, electricity, water, and food. Only two years after some of the strongest hurricanes hit Puerto Rico, disaster strikes again on the island, this time in the form of an earthquake. For weeks during the end of December, tremors were felt in the southern part of the Island. On January 7, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit the island causing the greatest amount of devastation among them all. Hundreds of homes were damaged and thousands were left homeless. Once again, emergency was declared on the island. And once again, Islamic…
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A New Year means New ways to Serve at IRUSA
IRUSA’s cutting edge micro-finance project puts entrepreneurs in developing regions in control of their businesses with the help of kind hearts. A new perspective We say it repeatedly anytime there is space to have a sober conversation about global inequality, nearly 1 billion people live in poverty today. IRUSA has committed itself to solving this issue alongside partners who also believe poverty can be significantly reduced. As we close another 365 days out and move into the new year, IRUSA is excited about the potential impacts our newest innovations can produce. Poverty to Profit is IRUSA’s newest and incredibly dynamic pathway to entrepreneurs seeking funding in developing countries. For women…
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4 Life Lessons from IRUSA’s Peru Challenge
We reflect on a life-changing expedition for a life-changing cause 1 “The goal is not simply for you to cross the finish line, but to see how many people you can inspire to run with you.” ― Simon Sinek If we told you we could bring strangers half-way around the world to climb endlessly and walk on the edge of cliffs all while depending on each other just so we could support life-saving water projects, would you believe us? In the beginning there were doubts about what, when, and how it would even happen but the Peru challenge did what all IRUSA challenges have been successful at doing, it brought people together…
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Pakistan Celebrity Tour brings Orphans Programs to the forefront
IRUSA’s Pakistan Celebrity Tour reaches out to hearts and minds while bringing stars to the forefront When Wasim Akram walks into a room full of fans of his legendary career in cricket there’s a charged silence that ripples across the crowd. Whispers saying “That’s him, that’s him” drizzle from front to back and finally he bestows everyone with his grand smile allowing everyone to remind themselves that he’s human. This year Wasim was an honorable guest at IRUSA’s Pakistan Celebrity Dinner tour, and his presence brought what it usually brings, donors who believe in uplifting Pakistan and people who love reminiscing about the incredible plays he made as a phenom…
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Islamic Relief USA Gala Celebrates Teamwork and Community
The Power of Building Bridges is hall-marked by IRUSA Partnership Gala Celebrating the work made possible through alliances with other organizations, Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) hosted its 3rd annual Partnership Gala on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Georgetown Marriott in Washington, D.C. “This is one of my favorite nights of the year,” said Anwar Khan, president of IRUSA. “Tonight is a celebration of love.” The theme of this year’s gala, “Building Bridges, Creating Community” was aptly symbolized by individuals from different faith-based groups and other entities crossing a small garden bridge to reach the podium and collect their awards. This year, IRUSA recognized organizations it worked with and to who it awarded some of…
