WASHINGTON, 9 January 2005 — Mosques and Islamic organizations throughout the US are urging members of their communities to be generous when donating humanitarian aid South East Asia’s tsunamis disaster.
The underwater tremor — the world’s biggest earthquake in 40 years — struck deep in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Sumatra two weeks ago, triggering tidal waves up to 30 feet high that obliterated villages and seaside resorts in six countries across southern Asia.
Large US Muslim organizations and small local mosques say Muslims throughout the United States are reaching deep into their pockets to aid of the victims.
In New Jersey, Muslims donated more than $300,000 to the tsunami relief effort through their local mosques on Friday.
Imam Hamad Ahmad Chebli of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey in South Brunswick told local reporters the contributions are not surprising to those in the Muslim community since the religion places a heavy emphasis on charity: “Charity in Islam is one of the five pillars. Islam was built on charity.
“The importance of charity in Islam is at the same level as the importance of prayer,” Chebli said.
The South Brunswick mosque believes it collected about $50,000 in donations after Friday’s prayer service. Chebli said the money would be distributed to various aid organizations, mainly the Red Cross.
“Prayer and charity are mentioned together 83 times in the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized that you are not a good believer if you don’t love your brother like you love yourself,” Chebli said.
“Muslims have to practice what they teach,” Chebli said. “Those that are fortunate have to give something to those people who lost everything.”
The Majlis as-Shura of New Jersey, the state’s council of mosques, issued a call for assistance Thursday. By the end of Friday afternoon prayers, $250,000 in cash was received, along with donations of clothing.
Tomorrow, representatives of several South Florida Islamic centers will gather at a Miami mosque to tally funds collected for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in South Asia. Local elected officials will also be present to recognize the humanitarian relief efforts of the South Florida Muslim community.
In Hawaii, over 200 Muslims gathered at a mosque there Friday to collect money to help the tsunami survivors. Many present said they had lost loved ones in the disaster and “We know of at least five families here in Hawaii who were directly affected by having lost relatives,” Hakim Ouansafi, president of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, told journalists. “From what I understand, one family lost five or six family members.”
Ouansafi added that the state’s Muslim population of about 3,000 has been deeply saddened by Sunday’s disaster. He said that Muslims want to help all those affected, of all faiths, races and nationalities.
“There will be no conditions put on the donations,” he said. “This is to help human beings.”
