2020 was not an easy year for the world. 2021 is going to be a long haul, a rather difficult one for many members of the community because their loved ones have suffered a lot, both physically and monetarily due to the pandemic and lockdown. This Eid, unlike last year, brings the possibility of meeting loved ones outside the house in open spaces, but in limited numbers. While the Muslim community handed out free food, shelter, converted community spaces into vaccination centres, it is imperative to note that Ramadan and Eid are a month of giving, charity and prayers. After all that the community went through in the past many months, we spoke to members of the community to know how they continued to donate, and follow the teachings of the Prophet.
Farhad Ahmad, Imam at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
“Eid-ul-Fitr comes after a month of fasting where Muslims sacrifice some of their most basic needs of food and drink during day-light hours. It naturally creates a habit and practice of sacrifice for others. So even for Eid, in keeping with the spirit of sacrifice emphasised during the month of Ramadan, Muslims are obliged to spend in charity and help those they can. This was the practice of the founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
“Last year and a half has particularly been difficult for many people and so the auxiliaries of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community have been running food drives for the homeless and donating food to food banks. Other than that, we have also been running events to provide advice to those who have lost their jobs so that they are able to find good alternatives for making a living. There have also been thousands of phone calls made to community members to check up on them and especially the elderly have benefited from these phone calls as it has been a way for them to reach out for help.
"In terms of fundraising, there are new challenges now where you can’t do bucket collections for charities at various shpping centres which the various auxiliaries of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community used to do. Majority of the fundraising has moved online and so that brings its own challenges but we are exploring new ways of raising funds for those in need.”
Muslim Association of Britain
"Despite the pandemic, the giving spirit of the Muslim community is alive more than ever. Usually, at this time of year, many mosques would be offering iftar meals and food packs to the local community but due to Covid restrictions, many mosques are no longer able to do that. But this hasn’t stopped the Muslim community from giving back - for example, our MAB branch in Birmingham has been helping out at local food banks and more of our branches across the country have been delivering food packs to those most in need in their local communities. We are proud that our community members are continuing to give despite all the losses and hardship they have faced in the past year.
Covid may have restricted our activities, but it has allowed us to become more creative by using online tools to help with fundraising efforts (Islamic relief in 2019 received 30% more donations despite the pandemic). Even with the hardships faced by our community in the last year, we have shown that “surely, there is ease after hardship” Qur’an 94:5. In shaa’Allah we will get through these tough times together".
Adeel Shah, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
“Because we are united by lectures, sermons, because we have that system of leadership, we try to play our part and contribute. In the UK when the first lockdown happened, we immediately released a hotline. We said if you’re isolating, vulnerable or self medicating, if you want your prescription picked up at the pharmacy, if you want your household errand done, if you want your shopping picked up, or want someone to speak to is how we tried to contribute to society. We regularly donate blood to the NHS, plant trees, litter picking programs and we raise funds for charities. Our programmes aren’t limited to muslims. We incorporate them thinking of the entire society.
“Yes there’ve been setbacks. There’ve been job losses. Wherever there are issues that occur around the world, our contribution increases. For those people who can’t afford Eid or basic necessities to enjoy the day, Islam has this system, those who are able to - they contribute to those who can’t afford necessiteis. This system of equality within Islam has always been existent.
“Asking for contribution and forcing people to contribute is not a part of Islam. The Prophet taught us that you need to make sure people who live with you, your neighbours (Muslims or non-Muslims) should be taken care of. For example, Prophet Mohammed said if you’re cooking food and if your neighbour is starving, cook a little extra so they can enjoy food as well. The people who live 40 doors down from where you live, qualify as your neighbours, people you travel with, qualify as your neighbours, people you eat and work with are also your neighbours.
“Helping the unfortunate has always been a part of Muslim upbringing. If someone is not wealthy enough, and if they can’t afford to go to Hajj to Mecca, then it’s not incumbent on them. Contributions are done by a person’s own free will and however much they wish to contribute.
“Within our community, adhering to government guidelines is imperative. Within the UK, from May 17th there are further relaxations. Eid this year - we’re celebrating on the 14th of May, Friday (a blessed day of the week anyway). If the law does not permit household gatherings, they shouldn’t happen.
