SeekersGuidance Supports Islamic Relief’s Efforts for Victims of Haiti Earthquake
The people of Haiti are in dire need of support after their country was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake this past Tuesday. 45,000 to 50,000 people are feared to be dead and many more injured. (BBC) Homes, schools, and hospitals have collapsed with people trapped inside them.
IslamicRelief has announced that it is teaming up with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to give $1 million in aid to the survivors of the earthquake. (Washington Times) Naeem Muhammad of Islamic Relief (and Native Deen singer) is leaving the US on Saturday for Haiti to assist with the relief efforts. Donations to Islamic Relief can be made here.
Eyewitness Accounts
Several brothers and sisters from Haiti and the Dominican Republic have given SeekersGuidance eyewitness accounts and updates.
Ibn Ambroise (Haiti):
“Brother Abou Bakr lost his sister when their house crumbled (she made shahada a few months ago). They are gathered at a masjid in Port-au-Prince that still stands, alhamdulillah! Their condition isn’t too good. They have no food, no water, no clothing . . . [very little] medicine.”
Abdus Salam (Dominican Republic):
“We are in contact with brothers that are in the masjid in Haiti and it was said that all the masjid are standing while all the churches were destroyed. So the brothers and siters are waiting there for the help of Allah. Ya Allah make it easy on them . . . Ameen!
[Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s response: “O Allah, protect the mosques and the churches–the Muslims, Christians, and others!”]
“They are really in need. They need food and all the help [they can get]. They [said] that their houses are all destroyed.”
Sr. Rodriguez Rosie (Dominican Republic):
“[Shaykh] Faraz, We have bad news. Our Haitian brother Abdurahman lost his sister, his brother and his cousin yesterday because of the earthquake. He is very sad, I ask you to please make lots of duas for him and his family. We really need to give our brothers a hand…inshAllah.”
Healing Haiti Online Fundraiser
InshaAllah, SeekersGuidance, Islamic Relief, and MSA National will be hosting an emergency online fundraiser for the survivors of the Haiti earthquake. The online fundraiser is scheduled for this Sunday January 17 at 2pm EST. So far the following speakers are confirmed: Imam Zaid Shakir, Imam Tahir Anwar, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, Imam Khalid Latif, and Nader Khan.
