[bertanu]

Masjid e Quba's been doing this also for last few years - wheres Sky News when ya want them!

Inshallah that homeless thing soon also for the Hackney area masjids/muslims...

This is an excellent topic and Muslims in every community in the West must be forming these initiatives or taking an active role. The truth is we have formed ghettoes and marginalised ourselves from wider society. I agree the purpose isn't to build our reputation - its simply fulfilling our duty to serve our people.

How do you plan to get the Masaajid on board? Have you contacted any of them? What sort of replies have you got?

What do you plan for the Masaajid? Is it the same homeless thing the Churches are providing? Can you have non-Muslims sleeping in the Masjid? Have you thought about segregation and otherwise? Wouldn't it be easier to team up with the Churches (if they are willing)?

[Vzkdgdqx]

: Wouldn't it be easier to team up with the Churches (if they are willing)?

thats the idea.......

[Jxlacvio]

Regards to the UK.

Every borough has a council and each council has a 'strategic partnership'.
these 'strategic partnerships' have sub-partnerships e.g. Crime and disorder reduction partnership. This partnership is made up of Police, Probation, Drugs intervention Programme, Youth Service, etc; usually people who hold high offices in each of these services.

Now you can 'earn' your place to consult on these partnerships.

Most borough's have a CVS (Council for Voluntary, community and faith Sector), this is the 3rd sector; the 3rd sector attempts to be the Voice of the Community, Voluntary and Faith sector. The CVS should have networks, these networks are made up of members of either a charity or a community group.

So if you work you way backwards.

Individual ->group (individual joins a group or forms a group)->joins a network (health, inter-faith, BME (black Minority Ethnic), etc ->Representative of network on a sub partnership->Strategic partnership.

Strategic Partnerships are generally tick box exercise, but an essential one once the key decision making has been approved.

Now why would one take this route?
Throughout each of these stages you can make a difference that impacts your community. Your group will be able to actively be involved in a local initiative. Being part of a network will strengthen your relationship with other groups that share the same values and this be a very good point for resource, information, support, access to funding, etc.

Most progression of local initiatives have similar processes. if you perchance want to become a governor of a school, they will also have a route that leads back to a strategic partnership and a key individual in the council.

We have 4 main primary schools in our area that Muslims attend. Now the council wants to implement SPIRAL (sex education programme), since we have at least 4 Muslim members who are Governors in one school we will gain feedback for any initiatives to be applied in the schools prior to implementation. As soon as the initiative was presented to us we were able to go into consultation with the school governors, head teacher and the lead from the council. Although the initiative is optional, there is a pressure from the Government to implement the program and behind closed doors there is an agenda to get it into the school. Cutting a long story short, for at least on of the schools so far the SPIRAL program has been revamped to assure that it is 100% according to the ethos of islam. With the other schools consultations are underway and inshAllah we will see a progress to make sure all the schools are 100% compliant to Islam on this matter.

Conclusion: You have to be in the know to make a difference and to make impact. Make sure that the information is cascaded to you. The internet has improved the flow of information assuring that you are aware of the situation right from the outset before decisions are finalised allowing for you to contribute.

Hope this helps in some way.

[Xfxhbcxp]

AsalaamzWW - Very interesting - www.hwns.org.uk. Obviously cant see our 'lot' doing this for years (though a number of Muslim Orgs in the USA do similar) but hey who's sayiing ya cant get some brothers and sisters together to help out .....

http://www.hwns.org.uk/docs/HWNS_Annual_Report_2009.htm

alhumdolillah, after some months we finally went with a couple ulama and brothers to a local church to see and hear how this works. mashallah awesome stuff. cant wait to get this off the ground with local muslims helping out also.

one interesting thought provoking thing was when the priest mentioned the profession of one of their regular volunteers - a posh butler. imagine a butler working for the rich in the day times then at night coming to volunteer his time for the homeless....wow!

[CiccoineFed]

AssalaamsWW
Inshallah Shacklewell Centre based in Dalston (Hackney) will be feeding the local homeless every Thursday evening during Ramdhan (usually 2 thursdays per month outside Ramdhan) . Full details on how to volunteer or donate food (or funds) can be found at www.OneCommunityCentre.com

[Uninkipsyncp]

While I support Dawah and charity works, Muslims are REQUIRED to fulfill their Shariah obligations when they live in kufr lands. That means: building & maintaining masajid, schools ( and classes for adults and converts) and facilities that enable Muslims to sustain their Deen and their lives as priority.

For example, in Jami Masjid in Florida, they have a large plot of land wherein a large masjid is maintained, a large school and library are maintained, a free (and reduced price) health clinic for all people- Muslim and nonMuslim, daycare center for Muslim families (and nonMuslims), intro to Islam sessions, food pantry for Muslims and nonMuslims, sports and community facilities so children can spend all of their time on the property.

http://www.istaba.org/pantry.html


It is an impressive accomplishment. They also intend to build an indoor swimming pool for all people run according to Islam.
May Allah reward them.

[VXHLrsO1]

while going as a group of muslims as a part of an organization is all well and good. but individual muslims can also simply sign up as an individual volunteer in a so many organizations. while getting masjids and masjid boards involved etc. thats a long process.

Just go to the local volunteer website in your area, find something that you're interested and do it. I did a few Saturdays at Habitat for Humanity, it was fun, I wish I could do more days there.