Can You Sleep Well While Your Sister is in Need of Shelter?
Somewhere within our Muslim community in the DC Area, a child will go hungry tonight. A Muslim sister and her children will find themselves forced into homelessness.
For some who are reading my message, “homelessness” may just be a word. Although they will admit that this is an unfortunate aspect of or American Muslim community, yet they will sit down on their tables and enjoy a warm meal, and sleep in the comfort of their home and feel secure while the homeless families will still be suffering.
Homelessness is something we all unanimously accept as a tragedy which should be addressed in the community. Everyone agrees that something should be done about it.
Even though everyone acknowledges a need, major financial contributions are essential to speed up the progress to make a homeless shelter a possibility for the American Muslim community. However, based on calculated responses from those reading the article written in the Muslim Link about homeless Muslim women and their children, the majority of the readers did not appoint themselves as the one to “do something.”
Oftentimes, our state of affairs is such that we either wait or assume that someone else will respond to the need. Unfortunately, unless we or someone close to us is affected, we generally pass the task of resolutions to someone else. This may be because we feel inadequate or apathetic therefore, our response is either slow or nonexistent.
Thus, in accordance with accountability: to date, the total amount of monies received for the shelter project as a result of the Muslim link article is $425.00. The most notable and touching fact is that the donations were received from individuals who either had a history of homeless in their past, or were somehow involved in another sister’s homelessness experience. Individuals struggling to make ends meet sent in their $5, $10, $20, or $50, and $100 donation.
In that same vein, the article also flooded our health and social services center with financial and housing requests. Thus, even though the monies received were not enough to build a shelter, it at least afforded a few women and children temporary provisions.
While we contemplate the question, “whose responsibility is it?” The plight of the homeless Muslim women and children continues.
When we contemplate that the homeless are also made up of working families who’ve lost jobs or a place to live, or women with children fleeing abusive homes, “Would our hearts be more touched?”
If we see individuals in need of services as a means to permanently transition out of homelessness, would our Sadaqa be more forth coming?
I add to this report that what was worse than the unwillingness to respond was the action of some male responders seeking to capitalize off of the misfortune of these sisters by wanting me to offer my sisters up for servitude either as wives without rights, or as “domestic” help.
Brothers without employment, housing or already married living very far away called with comments such as, “well they are homeless, therefore, they should be grateful and/or appreciative that anyone pf any status even wants them at all.”
How ironic is that the majority of calls were received from brothers offering marriage but not money toward the alleviation of my sisters’ plight. Please note that never would I exploit my sisters in such a way as to move them from one bad situation to another.
If your intentions are sincere, then come correct proposing marriage as a viable solution not as an exploitative one. It is not my task or assigned responsibility to act as a wali for my sisters.
Inshallah, contact Imam Faizul Khan, Board member and Religious Consultant as a more appropriate means of obtaining what you seek through marriage at (301) 879-0930
Muslimat Al-Nisaa Wholistic Health, Education and Social Services Center developed a comprehensive community strategy to respond to the needs of the homeless in the Muslim community, not as a one organization but as personal endeavor. As an outreach effort, Inshallah, my intent is to assist any sister in need; local or nationwide, regardless of race or Islamic community affiliation. All funds submitted to the clinic have been used in the past to provide temporary housing, medical, nutritional or social services to those sisters who come in the clinic asking for temporary assistance.
Only arrogance would allow one to be so covetous with such a task of this magnitude.
Undoubtedly, the resolution of homelessness in the Muslim community is inextricably linked to the Masjid, Muslim organizations, and the financially capable institutions.
The possibility of building a safe homeless shelter will be based on the decisions Muslims leaders make and the practices they implement toward this end.
To all who brought the good, may ALLAH (SWT) Reward you in this life, as well as in the next. “None of you truly believe until you want for your brother what you want for yourself.” Reported in Sahih Bukhari & Muslim
Asma Hanif at (410) 466-8686; e-mail muslimat_alnisaa@yahoo.com or send donations directly to PO Box 31529, Gwynn Oak, MD 21027.
By Asma Hanif
Sister Asma is the owner of the Muslimat Al-Nisaa Wholistic Health, Education & Social Services Center
http://www.muslimlinkpaper.com