Help the 600,000 displaced and 4,000 killed in Bangladesh by Cyclone Sidra, DONATE NOW! MuslimMatters.org

Help the 600,000 displaced and 4,000 killed in Bangladesh by Cyclone Sidra, DONATE NOW!

20. November, 2007 by SaqibSaab Action-Alerts, The World 14 comments

3,447 people officially killed as of Tuesday morning. 600,000 people left homeless, and the entire cities of Patuakhali, Barguna and Jhalokati District hit hard by the storm surge of over 5 meters (16 feet) and tidal waves over 3 meters (9 feet) high. Food, fresh water, and shelter yet to reach many of the thousands, hungry and exhausted. Hundreds of women gather at relief sites wanting food and water, only to be left waiting.

“I've been waiting here for several hours hoping to get some food and drinking water,” said Safura Begum, who has three children. “But I'm not sure it will come. Some biscuits and a few bottles of water are what I've gotten in the past three days,” she said.

And it's only getting worse, as locals say the death toll is now at 4,000 and the Red Crescent estimates total deaths to be at over 10,000 people killed.

So here's how you can help.

1. Make Dua for those afflicted by Cyclone Sidra. Make dua for the forgiveness of the Muslims killed and patience for their surviving families, as well as ease for those who survived. Only through Allāh's (SWT) mercy can we receive relief.

2. Donate, donate, donate! There are many different options out there, and millions of people will be giving money seeking reward from Allāh (SWT). Don't be left out.

Relief Options

3. Spread the word. Inform your family, friends, co-workers, everyone you can about relief venues and to make Dua for the victims.

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http://www.muslimmatters.org Amad

May Allah help our Bangladeshi brothers and sisters in this time of need. We should remember that tragedy can strike anyone at anytime. Last time it was the earthquake in Pakistan, before that the Tsunami of South Asia and now the cyclone in Bangladesh.

It should also remind us that these afflictions all happen for a reason and due to some wisdom of Allah that we do not know of. But the Muslim’s affairs are always good.

I hope that everyone who visits this site and reads this post looks into the little kid’s eyes in the photo, and donates towards helping him and thousands like him. For the sake of His Creator and our Creator.

Inshallah, I commit to doing so today and I encourage everyone else to join me in making that commitment.
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H,

also

http://ramadan.muslimaid.org/

may Allah swt help them and have mercy on them, ameen
http://solomon2.blogspot.com Solomon2

May Allah help our Bangladeshi brothers and sisters in this time of need.

Are you aware that beginning your response this way makes a negative impression, Amad?
http://www.muslimmatters.org Amad

Solomon2, are you aware that your comments are starting to become really irritating esp. since they sometimes make no sense?
Moiez

Allah does what he wills and there is always hikmah in it. May Allah help them in this time of need! Ameen. I am spreading this message!
http://www.muslimmatters.org ibnabeeomar

so what impression are you hoping to leave by saying calling upon God is negative?
http://inexplicabletimelessness.blogspot.com inexplicabletimelessness

Ameen to the du’as.
http://aboouthmaan.wordpress.com Aboo Uthmaan

As-salaamu ‘alaikum

Some brothers in the UK are doing their bit (may Allaah reward them), you can find out more at the following link inshaa’Allaah:

http://www.mercymankind.org

Was-salaamu ‘alaikum

Aboo Uthmaan
http://solomon2.blogspot.com Solomon2

Moiez sounds even worse. SaqibSaab issued a call for help and the two of you invoked Allah profusely but contributions from yourselves come last or not at all. Why shouldn’t you be ashamed of your stinginess here?

I have another suggestion. All businessmen who have ordered products from Bangladeshi manufacturers should show understanding and accept the delays without invoking terms of contracts which could push firms into bankruptcy. Indeed, offerring more cash up front may be even more useful, for it will speed up reconstruction and folks will get back on their own feet that much sooner.
http://www.muslimmatters.org Amad

the two of you invoked Allah profusely but contributions from yourselves come last or not at all. Why shouldn’t you be ashamed of your stinginess here?

Now I see what you find troubling! I think you should learn a few facts about Muslims and about our charity, which will help you resolve the conflicts you see in the messages above:

1) We always ask for help from our Creator first. Even the doctor before operating invokes the Creator. Because “man proposes, and God disposes”. This is not unique to Muslims, but is much more prevalent. There is a hadith that approximately says this: if the world gathered and wanted to harm you but it was not Allah’s plan, then they could not harm you a bit. And vice-versa.

2) There are two types of giving. The open or “publicly announced” giving, which can ONLY be done to encourage others. IF there is the slightest element of insincerity or showing-off, then that charity is not only NOT acceptable, but in fact will become a major sin. “Every action is upon its intention” (Hadith). The second type of giving is secret giving where the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand gives. This is the preferable method for Muslims, because this avoids all possible avenues of showing off.

So, I am not sure how you missed it, but I actually made a public commitment to give (to encourage), though I did not disclose the amount for the purpose of the second type. My experience on MM is that the encouragement doesn’t work well in the blog world, it is much more effective in a crowd of people. And I didn’t want to use this tragedy to ask people to add comments and “help MM’s hits”.

In conclusion, don’t be in a rush to judge people. Our goal is to spread the message… it is upon the individual to give and earn the reward, or not to give and skip an opportunity to help others and please Allah at the same time.

P.S. Your idea is a good one. I hope you will spread that on your blog as well. You know kinda like “walk the talk”.
http://solomon2.blogspot.com Solomon2

Amad, thank you for the explanation of this cultural difference. I will revise my interpretations accordingly.
http://www.muslimmatters.org Amad

You are welcome, Solomon2, and thank you for keeping the Bangladeshi victims in your thoughts.
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SaqibSaab

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