Contributing to wider society in the west
 

AsalaamzWW,

Is there anyone here who lives in the West who contributes anything postive towards the wider society either individually or collectively through an organisation?

Things such are raising funds for say the local hospital that everyone in the community uses, few hours per month helping out at local homeless shelter, fundraising to donate benchs for local park, help raising funds for local childrens play areas, teaching something like say maths to kids on a voluntury basis at local community centre etc.

What sort of advice can you give to others who may wish to get involved in such? How did you go about it? What was the response from the muslim community and wider non-muslim community? Any interesting stories/expereinces?

i grew in a rough coucil estate (just behind what is now st Pancras eurostar station) - we had Christian missionary type charity workers come and organise street festivals, sports days and they set up a toy library for poor children in the area...this was in the early 90's - the beneficairies included a lot of poor bangladeshi muslim kids

fast forward to 2009 - i know a Muslim group that does the same thing in Stockwell for the benefit of both mulims and non-muslims. Its beautiful to see.

is this what you mean by contribution?

Yes thats what i mean. Raising money for say a hospital whos services everyone uses would be something very positive to do. It'll give a good image of the muslim community contributing positively towards the wider community and not just themselves and as its a hospital it would also class itself as helpiing the sick.

When non-muslims see that muslims are contributing towards bettering their area/society believe me its a massive dawah. Even if it doesnt spark a fire of curosity about Islam in them at the least they wont, inshallah, have as harsh a attitude (or may even have a positive attitude) towards Muslims. However our primary intention should be to please Allah by helping the local community and as a bonus have the intention for dawah by actions. I remember when the floods in Glos happened some years back the masaajids of leicester went down there with a huge lorry full of bottled water for everyone.

Many of our UK muslim communities are very isolated and hardly ever or never do such things to contribute to the wider society - kinda like we live totally in our own little worlds. Many dont see such things as rewards/hasanah infact most would probably say "oh they have taxpayers money for that why should we give" nevering seeing the bigger picture or the short and long term benefits.

Imagine people sitting on a bench or kids playing on swings with plague (spelling?) saying "Donated by Masjid e XXX" or "Donated by the muslim commnuty of XXX" = the feeling people, muslims or non-muslims, will get when they read that.

theres a white revert brother (linked with tassuwuf) who used to give talks pre qutba on Friday in the city in London. The brother works in the city with full sunnah, beard and imamah (turban). Along with his work within his local muslim community about 6 or so hours per month he gives free time to teach Maths at local community centres and even a chruch community hall now and then (as others have come to know of his kidmat). Im not saying go to church to do such and such but the benefit (and behavioural dawah) that brother gives to the kids (and their parents) - both muslims and non-muslims - is unmeasurable.

Bottom line is we live here, have for decades and probably will for decades more. Regardless of faith we & our kids and everyone else walk the same streets, play in the same parks, use the same hospitals and medical services, etc surely contributing postively to better our wider surroundings/society is a huge plus plus for everyone.

I agree, this is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. But very overlooked by many many Muslims. In my area for example, whenever there's a cleanup of a highway we've adopted, we get some volunteers (some brothers, some sisters, etc), but sometimes we lack in volunteers. The Tablighi brothers need to get more involved in these activities. And also the general masjid-goers.

can we not pinpoint groups - everyone (TJ's, sufi's, ulama, Committee's, layman etc) at least in an individual capacity needs to roll their selves up and get stuck in. Asking whole groups to change their stance will not happen and will create alsorts of problems its better done individually or together with others also willing to help.

great thread


what molana hasan nadwi said in1982 dewsbury markaz opening

http://engagersindawah.blogspot.com/...ali-nadwi.html

You must earn your place in this country. You should leave an imprint on the host community of your usefulness. You must demonstrate your existence here is more beneficial than that of the native people. You must impart on them the lessons of humanity. You should demonstrate how noble and principled you are, and that there cannot be found more upright humans elsewhere besides you. You need to establish your worth, that you are a blessing and mercy for this country. However if you decide to live in an enclosed environment content with your Prayers and Fasting, apathetic to the people and society you live in, never introducing them to the high Islamic values, and your own personal qualities, then beware lest any religious or sectarian flares up. In such a situation you will not find safety


alhamdulillah im involved in a few national/international projects

http://www.july7thvictim.blogspot.com/

mashallah. interesting stuff there Br Ahmed.

i just filled out our local areas volunteering form. no point preaching to others online if i aint doing it myself!

http://www.hackneyvoluntaryaction.org/id2.html

i have got a few other ideas up my sleeves which i feel others can also help towards with minimal effort but great results. Inshallah will start this in the next month or so in time for Ramadhan (best time to fundraise!)

ive read this before on Mufti Zubair Bayyats site. Each time you read it.... well it just hits the nail right on the head again and again.

Beautifull thread brother. shame we're about 30 years behind............


Out mindset is so wrong,thats the problem I feel. We're too insular and like you said,stick to our little communities and our families. We don't think of the bigger picture.

sign up on the blog in my linkhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...on_biggrin.gif

its only just begun

Br Ahmed, how do you do such things in Dewsbury? Do others join you? whats the response from other muslims in your area? From the many ulama there any helpers either directly or indirectly?

I also live in a similar guji (i.e. very narrow minded x100) area so any help/advice would be invalueble.

p.s. mashallah just hearing that Shaykh H.Yusuf (db) talk on your site "Time for Changes" - Subhanallah Shaykh Hamza - Wow he is out there!! Takbir!

the blog will reveal all eventually

Dont worry bruv, im making dua Uncle Mu'adh starts his UK revolution soon......

email sent. jzk.

I didn't mean to pinpoint specific groups. I just mentioned the group I see the most in the masjid.

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

Chocs anyone

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Mosque-giv...eet.5762525.jp

This thread should be made a sticky. The best and most inspiring,most intelligent thread I've come across since I came to these forums. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...n_thumbsup.gifhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...n_thumbsup.gif

qoute daywalk3r

Chocs anyone

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Mosque-giv...eet.5762525.jp


qoute fake shaykh

i bet the commitee of that masjid got the chocolates on offer (buy 1 get 2 free)http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/icon_lol.gif,

thats a very good idea simple but effective, we need to think out of the box and do similer things, atleast the people that we see day in day out will have good thought's about us and probably woun't vote bnp at the electionshttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...cheesygrin.gif

sister idil for once i agree with youhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo.../icon_wink.gif

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...