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What Flat Tires Can Teach Us About Being One Community
"Though the cir
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What a Difference a Day of Dignity Makes
IRUSA Day of Dignity events connect with hearts and communities Ending the year off right The year isn’t complete at IRUSA with connecting with communities across the U.S. for the annual Day of Dignity events. It’s a project partners, communities, and staff look forward to being a part of. Emergency services, food parcels, and care packages are made available. Each year the efforts building deeper bonds and have deeper impacts. In places like Bronx New York, community members came from far and wide to get things such as health screenings and hygiene kits. “This is also an opportunity for the local Muslim community to demonstrate we can be service providers…
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On World Poverty Day, Let’s Do All We Can to Mitigate Suffering
At Islamic Relief USA, every waking hour is devoted to reducing poverty. That’s why it was unusual when I learned there was a particular day dedicated to this cause. According to the United Nations, October 17 is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (also known as World Poverty Day). The UN first declared this day back in 1992. While much progress has been made in the standard of living for many people in many nations around the world, poverty, if not extreme poverty, unfortunately remain common. In the United States alone, there are some 38 million people living in impoverished conditions. To combat this, Islamic Relief USA conducts many…
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Smiles Galore as Mohammed Assaf visits IRUSA Projects
Written by Fareeha Amir, IRUSA Multimedia Manager who travelled with a group of staff with Mohammed Assaf to Jordan in August 2019. Edited by Kelly El-Yacoubi. Mohammed Assaf’s smile is contagious. So it’s no surprise that when he visited Islamic Relief USA projects in Jordan this past August, his positivity came right along with him. The Palestinian singer is most well-known for winning the second season of Arab Idol in 2013, the precursor to his immense popularity as a singer and celebrity figure in the Middle East. But Assaf’s influence extends beyond the microphone. As a child he grew up in a refugee camp in Gaza, an experience that has…
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Fall 2019 Flooding Displaces Families Worldwide
This fall, flooding in countries like the Bahamas, Mali, Sudan, India, and Niger have displaced families.The impact is devastating; the need for aid is critical. For many of us in the United States, the fall season brings warm, cozy, and nostalgic feelings. We associate the season with sweaters, pumpkin patches, leaves changing colors, and warm seasonal drinks like apple cider. Yet for many of our brothers and sisters around the world, fall is a time of caution and concern. Rainy seasons often begin or peak, sometimes growing into full-on floods. Some evidence suggests that climate change has made these seasons increase in severity, leaving families already grappling with poverty in…
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Regional Office Spotlight: Meet IRUSA’s South West Team!
Did you know IRUSA has seven regional offices around the country, for maximum impact to help those in need? This month, we’re happy to introduce you to the the South West regional office team. They’re pretty great, if we do say so ourselves. So without further adieu, let’s find out more about the South West regional office! IRUSA Headquarters: So, who are you gals and guys? SW: We’ve got 10 staff members who all work together in different, yet complementary ways, to create the biggest impact for our brothers and sisters in need. They are: Daud Mohmand, National Events and Project Manager Ghulam Kehar, Interim Associate Director of US ProgramsMuhammad Niyaz,…
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Do These 12 Actions on World Humanitarian Day
It’s World Humanitarian Day. And it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. After all, with humanitarian crises in Myanmar, Syria, and Yemen and so many other places that seem to have no end in sight, any true humanitarian can be easily overtaken by a mixture of grief and compassion. But those feelings are the precursor to action. And that’s why humanitarian organizations across the world aren’t taking a no for an answer when it comes to intervening and coming to aid of those in need. Today, you can join your fellow humanitarians by taking actions big and small, local and global. In fact, we’ve put together 12 actions for you right here,…
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6 Ayahs on Allah’s Promises for Good Deeds
Everything we did in preparation to receive and spread love this Eid didn’t come easy. But we buckled down, dug deep in our hearts, and within our pockets, to make sure that people we love can enjoy themselves. There were also people you knew you’d never have the pleasure of meeting face-to-face that you sent you fresh Qurbani meat to. And even if it wasn’t money that you contributed, the time spent caring for those closest to you was truly an investment in the bounty of Allah. We’ve collected six ayahs to remind ourselves and you of the promises of Allah for those who do good for his sake. Surah…
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Visitors from IR Kenya Highlight Transformative Impact of US Support
Islamic Relief partner offices visit Capitol Hill Donations from Islamic Relief USA supporters, as well as US government funding, play a vital role in programs that are overcoming interfaith conflict and lifting people out of poverty in some of the world’s most difficult and dangerous places. That was the message of representatives from Islamic Relief Kenya and Islamic Relief Worldwide as they visited the United States in mid-July 2019 to meet representatives of USAID, the Kenyan embassy, and various officials on Capitol Hill. The visiting delegation included Naser Haghamed, CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide, Obaid Rahman, Country Director of Islamic Relief Kenya, and Gloria Kivuva, Communications Officer for Islamic Relief…
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2 Thoughts on Finding a Hajj State of Mind
Wrapped in Love A house with solid pillars holds firm, can survive the worst storms, and keeps the people that live inside safe. So too is the beauty of the five pillars of Islam: with the adoption of each pillar, another layer of security wraps around the heart. When the intentions of Hajj are made and Allah allows a believer to place their feet upon the pilgrimage, fulfilling that pillar forever changes the heart of the one who is blessed to go. As the 2019 Hajj season approaches, the words of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ring loudly and true: “Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or transgression will…
