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Eid Mubarak!

We wish all Muslims Eid Mubarak. kullo amen wa antum bekhair. Celebrate Eid with bounties of Allah, but please remember our less fortunate brethren in Pakistan.

MuslimServ Inc

MuslimServ is a Canadian Registered Charity (84771-6073-RR0001). We feed the hungry in the name of Islam. We believe service is Dawa. In the true spirit of Islam, our projects provide benefit to all, irrespective of race, religion or gender. We believe in dignity and equality of all human beings; male or female, rich or poor, irrespective of race, religion, color or creed.

Ordinary People Can Do Extraordinary Things
BY MUNEEB NASIR

Circumstances often inspire ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

Shah Nawaz Husain was disturbed by all the negative things being said about Muslims and the religion of Islam in the post 9/11 world.

The retired Brampton engineer decided he was going to do something to change how his religion was being portrayed.

“Our detractors were defining us as evil, malicious and violent people,” Husain says. “I wanted to show what Islam really was, through compassionate deeds.”

So Husain set about starting the MuslimServ charity with the goal of feeding the poor in Canada by asking Muslims to direct some of their charitable giving to his agency.

Formed in 2004, MuslimServ asks Muslims to direct a portion of their religiously mandated yearly donations to the charity.

Husain then uses the donated money, the majority of which comes through the internet, to purchase meat products which he, in turn, delivers to food banks.

The two major campaigns of MuslimServ take place during the Muslim month of fasting, Ramadan, when Muslims generally give their yearly charity (zakat) and, two months later during the Eid Al Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) when donations are given to perform an animal sacrifice to commemorate the Abrahamic legacy.

The Greater Toronto Area is the main focus for the charity where it collected 11,000 lbs of meat during the recent Ramadan in September. It also, did a pilot run in Ottawa where it collected 1,000 lbs of meat.

Although the response to the charity has been good, Husain has to sell his charity to Muslims who think that poverty in their home countries should be supported first.

“Our limitation has been that many feel that greater need exists in countries from where we came from,” he says. “There is also perception that government supplements in Canada are enough to live on. “

Husain is also challenged by having to market his project to a highly diverse Muslim community.

“Our other limitation has been difficulty in reaching Muslims. It is very expensive to advertise. We have to creatively use the small assets we have to reach the community.”

Most of MuslimServ’s current donors are attracted by the charity’s emphasis on helping those close to home which they see as an important part of their religion which encourages Muslims to be among those who benefit their society.

This year’s Ramadan campaign was recognized by Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank as one of the top 10 food drives in the city.

And with recognition such as this, Shah Nawaz Husain hopes that more Muslims will support his charity.

This month, MuslimServ launched its yearly Zabiha 1429 campaign and will conduct the Eid Al Adha sacrifice on behalf of Muslims during the upcoming celebrations in early December and deliver the meat to food banks. The Halal meat packages will bear the inscription; “A Gift from Canadian Muslims”.

More information on the charity can be found at www.MuslimServ.com

(Muneeb Nasir is President of the Olive Tree Foundation, a public endowment foundation, and MuslimServ is one of the many unheralded charities that the Foundation is promoting to Canadians).

Khairat Chicken

Khairat Chicken Campaign is available throughout the year. It is the main outlet for our donors, when other campaigns are not running. It uses Sadaqa/Khairat donations. With donations we purchase halal chicken and make periodic deliveries to the food bank. Because of our low volume of purchase it is not possible to have custom packaging. We are hoping that in near future we can identify it as donations from Canadian Muslims.

Ramadan Chicken

During Ramadan we collect Zakat, Sadaqa/Khairat donations and purchase halal chicken from a major producers at very attractive wholesale level price. Currently we purchase chicken already bagged by the producer. Since our purchase volume is not yet high to have the chicken packaged in our own label, our chicken is in manufacturers bags. We hope in future we will have our own label. Our clients like the chicken and ask for it. But the pity is that we donate only a limited amount and much less than the great demand.

Zabiha Project

On the occasion of Eid al-Adha we conduct Eid sacrifices on behalf of Muslims. Sacrifices are performed by Muslims and the meat is processed at a government certified meat packing plant. It is packaged in 1 kg size packages for ease in handling and distribution. It carries a label identifying it as Muslim donation. Meat is distributed through food banks to deserving clients irrespective of caste, creed or religious affiliation. But we also make delivery to Food Banks where the clients are predominantly Muslim.

Charlse's Story

I haven’t bought food in a month. In order to eat, I depend on drop in centres and the food bank. I get $560 a month from Ontario Works (OW). Four-hundred fifty dollars goes to rent for a room in a rooming house. That leaves me with less than $100, which is pretty much gone in less than 24 hours. That money goes toward a string of small debts I owe people, and toiletries and laundry. Then, I wait for another month. There is not enough money left over for anything. The cost of food is rising. Even the foods that poor people can afford have been rising like 30%.

Lucy's Story

The week before my cheque comes, I start thinking and making choices in my head and budgeting. I always pay my rent first, that’s a must, which then leaves me $168 for the rest of the month. Then I think, “Okay, what sales are on? Do I need detergent, cleaning supplies, shampoo?” If I add water to the conditioner, it lasts a lot longer. Still, if I buy dish detergent, shampoo and laundry detergent, then I’m going to be short, so I don’t eat meat that month. This month, however, was a good month, I ate meat twice.

Gayle's Story

I used to work for the City of New York as a stock handler. It was a good paying job, and we were unionized. One day, I was working underneath a shelf, and a 35 pound box tipped over and fell about 15 feet and landed on me. It crushed my wrist. They couldn’t keep a space open for me at work after I got hurt. I had family in Ontario, so I came up here. As a Status Indian, it was not a problem. Here I also found an orthopedic micro surgeon. I have had 16 or 17 surgeries in the last 20 years. I don’t think I have anything in my wrist left to fuse!

Mary's Story

I have fibromyalgia. This gives me pain within the muscles, as well as fatigue, with varying degrees of severity. I was working as a caseworker on contract with the government, which I had done for 10 years. I would often work at night from home on my computer. While I would type, however, I would need to put ice packs on my arms because they felt like they were on fire. Eventually, I couldn’t take the pain and had to stop. I went to many doctors, but none could give me any answers. All they could offer was short term pain relief, and pain killers. I had hit a wall, and became depressed.

Thomas' Story

I haven’t bought food in a month. In order to eat, I depend on drop in centres and the food bank. I get $560 a month from Ontario Works (OW). Four-hundred fifty dollars goes to rent for a room in a rooming house. That leaves me with less than $100, which is pretty much gone in less than 24 hours. That money goes toward a string of small debts I owe people, and toiletries and laundry. Then, I wait for another month. There is not enough money left over for anything. The cost of food is rising. Even the foods that poor people can afford have been rising like 30%.

MuslimServ News

Donations By SMS

Millions are in need

MuslimServ is soliciting donation by SMS. Please text PAKISTAN to 45678 to donate tax deductible $10.00. Government of Canada matches the donation, for a limited period. Your donation will be added to the phone bill.

Thirteen million people are at risk. United Nation's officials have declared that this tragedy affects more people than combined victims of South Asian tsunami, Katerina disaster, earth quakes in Pakistan, Chile and Haiti. Natural disaster is magnified by weak and inapt government, low financial resources and continuing foreign intervention. Please donate to help the victims.

We plan to pass funds donated for Pakistan to a Canadian Registered Charity working in Pakistan.