UPDATE (5) | Action Alert! Fundraising Appeal for Pakistan Floods

Update (5) Al Maghrib & Islamic Relief Fundraiser

Updated on Friday, 27th August, 2010

Update(4) Send relief packs to Pakistan free of charge!

Friday, 27th Aug, 2010:

One of the countless Pakistani citizens who’re working day and night for the flood relief efforts is Fakhre-Alam, a young celebrity known well in the nation. Previously, he’d spearheaded a prolonged and effective relief campaign for the earthquake victims in 2005. Now, he joins Pakistan’s national airline, PIA, to bring focused and effective relief for the millions who’re awaiting help.

This video has been made especially for people residing abroad, who want to help with the relief campaign on the ground. PIA, the national carrier, has declared it will ship to Pakistan free of cost any donations that people abroad want to send for the flood victims. Watch the video to learn more:

The List:

1. Get a box (from PIA? Or otherwise?) 12 x 15 x 15
2. A white sheet
3. Two 1.5 liters mineral water (not more, not less)
4. 12 packs of any juices WITH straw
5. Box of salty biscuit
6. Two boxes of sweet biscuits (1 big, 1 small)
7. Box of chocolates
8. Milk carton (1-1.5 liters) expiration not soon
9. Potato chips bag
10. Soap bars (2-4)
11. Box of dates
12. ORS (dehydration-prevention supplement- pedialyte)
13. Disposable cups

Update (3) Donate Sleeping bags via Zakat.org

The Zakat Foundation is collecting sleeping bags, amongst other relief activities, to donate for Pakistan:

Dear Brother/Sister:

As Salamu Alaikum and Ramadan Mubarak!

As you all know, massive floods have hit Pakistan. It is the worst flood in Pakistan’s history.
More than 20 million people and 62,000 square miles of area(1/5 of the country) have been
affected. More than 1,500 people are dead.

Zakat Foundation (zakat.org), a Chicago based relief organization, has been helping victims of the Pakistan flood from day one by distributing necessary items like food, clothing, tents, etc.

Currently, we have launched a sleeping bag drive for Pakistan flood victims. We will be
collecting sleeping bags in different sites and storing it at a warehouse in PA. Once the container is filled, we will ship it to Zakat Foundation’s relief center located in Pakistan. Our
representatives will then distribute the sleeping bags to the victims.

We invite you and your organization to take part in this Sleeping Bag Drive in the following
way:

• Announce to your community to bring sleeping bags in good condition to your center.
• Make an arrangement to either mail or bring it to the warehouse in PA by September 10,
2010.

The sooner we get the container filled, the sooner we can ship it, the sooner our brothers and
sisters get the sleeping bags.

If you need further information, please call me at 708-466-3369 or email murat@zakat.org or muratusa@gmail.com.

May Allāh reward you and your community for your efforts.

Murat Kose,
East Coast Director
Zakat Foundation of America

Update (2): Another target crossed (Alhumdulillah!)

That's right and that's why we've updated our thermometer! In fact, to show you how awesome you guys have been with your donations, you can now see two thermometers – one showing what we've achieved and the other indicating ongoing donations. Alhumdulillah. JazakumAllah khayran katheera! May Allāh accept it from all of you. Āmīn. :D If you know people who may be able to contribute, go ahead and share away! :D

Update (1): Goal set for $10,000

Alhumdolillah, it's testament to the generosity of our readers, their friends and relatives – Muslims brothers and sisters around the world – that we are now touching the initial target of $5000. Current pledges stand at $4806 and that too within just over twelve hours of launching the appeal. May Allāh accept it from all of you and recompense you in the best manner, both in this world and the next! Āmīn.

Overawed by the show of support and solidarity with the flood victims, we've now set the goal at $10,000 final, inshā'Allāh. Whatever is achieved, it is the Mercy of Allāh(swt). May Allāh(swt) accept it from us and from you. Āmīn!

Pakistan floods fundraising appeal:

By Muslim Matters author based in Pakistan, Ameera Khan

Ramadan has begun and many of us have only just begun to experience hunger pangs as we fast during the day. However, as I write this, there are millions across my country who are facing real starvation. The ongoing floods that have wrecked havoc on our peoples' lives, possessions, property and, indeed, their future have plunged them into severe poverty and despair. The scale of the disaster has just begun to become clear but there are already fears of another wave of floods, as the monsoon season continues. The UN has given a harrowing estimate of the damage: it is worse than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake – all put together! Subhan-Allāh, can we even imagine how terrible that must be?

It is clear that, given the widespread nature of the disaster and the lives and livelihood it has turned up side down, the flood survivors will need massive support. From generous, common citizens in Pakistan to foreign aid agencies and the Government's relief efforts… all are working together to save lives, prevent death and disease, and eventually rehabilitate people. To sustain their work, your donations will no doubt go a long way. Alhumdolillah for the month of Ramadan that Allāh(swt) has blessed us with – we have the opportunity to give our Zakat and generous Sadaqah for the sake of tremendous reward from Allāh(swt), inshā'Allāh.

It was related on the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allāh be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whosoever relieves from a believer some grief pertaining to this world, Allāh will relieve from him some grief pertaining to the Hereafter. (Narrated in Saheeh Muslim)

Action Alert! $5000 initial target | Organizations and Charities you can donate to:

Muslim Matters has set an initial baseline target of generating $5000 (now changed to $10,000… see update below now going beyond $10000!) for the relief efforts. To be able to keep a track on the donation pouring in, we kindly ask you to leave a comment below, mentioning the amount you have donated by virtue of this fundraising appeal.On the last fundraising appeal for a different cause, Muslim Matters' readers generated more than $20,000 Alhumdolillah. Let's take the bar higher this time, inshā'Allāh. May Allāh reward you without measure! Āmīn.

Here is a brief list of just some of the organizations working on the ground to distribute food, clothing, medicines and provide shelter to the victims of the flood.

Islamic Relief  USA (Pls click on IR banner above; if you don't see one, click here)

Zakat Foundation (Pakistan appeal)

Islamic Relief  UK

Edhi Foundation

Helping Hands (ICNA)

Pakistan Red Crescent Society
(PRCS has offices in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Muzaffarabad.)

AlKhair Foundation UK
(has put together Flood Aid Shelter Boxes)

United Nations
(to donate $10 text SWAT to 50555 to send money to the United Nations)

Reflections on the Pakistan floods:

By Muslim Matters author, Hena Zuberi.

I watch in horror, the beautiful Swat Valley, a treasure of unparalleled natural beauty broken by the very same nature. Bahrain, Kalam, Madyan, Mingora, vacation spots from a childhood past, beaten, drowned by the 20-foot waves in the River Swat. The terrible force of Allāh(swt)'s water destroying everything in sight, crumbling homes and bridges, made out of cement and bricks. The monsoon season is in swing and, as it continues to rain, every river from the north down to the southern part of Pakistan will swell and inundate its surroundings. So far 13.8 million people are affected by disease and displacement, entire villages (650,000 homes) destroyed.  The United Nations is calling this a worse disaster than the tsunami, the 2005 earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake… all put together! These are not just statistics; these are people, our brothers and sisters.

Rain can be a mercy or a test from Allāh(swt)  - they are surrounded by water yet they do not have a drop to drink. Inna lillahi wa innaa ilayhi raji'oon. Truly to Allāh do we belong and to Him we shall return!

We hear so much bad news, courtesy of 24-hour news channels, that our hearts have become hard. We say a quick dua or shed a few tears and sometimes send in some money. As I sit here in my brother-in-law’s luxury condo overlooking the serene Potomac River in Washington D.C., do I even deserve to comment on these people’s suffering?  To be there and actually deliver bread and tents or shelter a family, to risk my life to rescue a human in the land of my birth, would I be worthy then? I want to be there, yet I feel so inadequate.

Besides clutching our own brood of kids, showing them pictures of the tragedy helpless children are suffering a few days before the merciful month of Ramadan, so they can learn to look beyond their own wants, what else can we do? As we get ready to fast, we can remember these people have not eaten for days. As we take our babies to the doctors, lets remember the water borne diseases their babies may suffer. As we stock up our freezers from the Halal store and our overstuffed pantries from Costco, lets remember the true spirit of Ramadan and give as much as we can.  Maybe this is Allāh’s way of reminding us that we are NOT giving enough in Sadaqah.

In a Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A man has sinned enough if he neglects to feed those in need.” (Related by Muslim and Abu Dawud)

Ya Rabbi, the advent of your blessed month is here, please remove the sufferings of our Pakistani brothers and sisters. O Allāh, nothing is beyond your power. O Allāh, send upon them helpful, wholesome and healthy rain, beneficial not harmful rain. Āmīn!