Muslim Aid Builds Oklahoma Bridges
Despite facing tough days under a devastating storm in Oklahom, the Muslim community have rushed to help clear up their central state, in an effort to build new bridges with their neighbors.
"As Oklahomans, we're part of this community, and our hearts just break for what happened," Adam Soltani, executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CIAR), told Religion News Service (RNS).
"We want to show the compassion and mercy that Islam teaches us."
At least 24 people have been killed after a massive tornado ripped through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore earlier this week.
Trapping victims beneath the rubble, the deadly storm destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses, wiped out two schools and a hospital and left hundreds of people injured, including many children.
Emergency workers have pulled more than 100 survivors from the rubble of homes, schools and a hospital.
Following the storm, Muslims have launched campaigns to provide relief for families of the victims.
While Muslim-American organizations have routinely provided emergency aid following natural disasters, Muslim efforts in the city were special because of the anti-Muslim sentiment in the state.
While several states have passed laws forbidding courts from considering Islamic Shari`ah, in their decisions, Oklahoma is the only one to have done it twice.
The Grand Mosque of Oklahoma City has also been vandalized twice in the last two years, most recently on April 27.
A police captain in Tulsa even went to court to avoid having to attend a “Law Enforcement Appreciation Day” at the Islamic Society of Tulsa.
Though it was expected that Muslims would retreat from offering help, Muslims increased their outreach to extend bridges to help end prejudices.
"I believe this helps break down barriers," said Saad Mohammed, director of outreach at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City.
"But dialogue and interaction are going to have to continue if these barriers are going to stay down."
Mohammed's home was destroyed while his family sought shelter from the tornado in a closet. No one in the family was injured.
Though the Muslim resident and his family are now staying with friends, Mohammed is busy with collecting and delivering donations.
"It's a shock, but we have to keep moving forward," he said.
In the same evening after the tornado hit, Muslim leaders gathered at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City mosque to start a donation drive.
In less than 48 hours, they had collected thousands of food items, toiletries, bottled water, and other necessities.
The Islamic Circle of North America has also dispatched its Disaster Relief Team, which helps with debris removal and patching damaged houses.
“Anytime people come into contact with people of other faiths or ethnicities, it breaks down the stereotypes people have,” said the Rev. Joshua Leu of New Hope Christian Church in Oklahoma City, and a local interfaith activist.
“Whenever you have a disaster like this, people come together and stop caring about those differences.”
Soltani, the executive director of CAIR's Oklahoma chapter who currently helps with his wife in the cleanup efforts, shares a similar opinion.
“People don’t care if you’re Muslim or not. That’s irrelevant,” Soltani said.
“It’s a testament to how Oklahomans come together when things go bad.”
Source: On Islam
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/462849-muslim-aid-builds-oklahoma-bridges.html
"We want to show the compassion and mercy that Islam teaches us."
At least 24 people have been killed after a massive tornado ripped through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore earlier this week.
Trapping victims beneath the rubble, the deadly storm destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses, wiped out two schools and a hospital and left hundreds of people injured, including many children.
Emergency workers have pulled more than 100 survivors from the rubble of homes, schools and a hospital.
Following the storm, Muslims have launched campaigns to provide relief for families of the victims.
While Muslim-American organizations have routinely provided emergency aid following natural disasters, Muslim efforts in the city were special because of the anti-Muslim sentiment in the state.
While several states have passed laws forbidding courts from considering Islamic Shari`ah, in their decisions, Oklahoma is the only one to have done it twice.
The Grand Mosque of Oklahoma City has also been vandalized twice in the last two years, most recently on April 27.
A police captain in Tulsa even went to court to avoid having to attend a “Law Enforcement Appreciation Day” at the Islamic Society of Tulsa.
Though it was expected that Muslims would retreat from offering help, Muslims increased their outreach to extend bridges to help end prejudices.
"I believe this helps break down barriers," said Saad Mohammed, director of outreach at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City.
"But dialogue and interaction are going to have to continue if these barriers are going to stay down."
Mohammed's home was destroyed while his family sought shelter from the tornado in a closet. No one in the family was injured.
Though the Muslim resident and his family are now staying with friends, Mohammed is busy with collecting and delivering donations.
"It's a shock, but we have to keep moving forward," he said.
In the same evening after the tornado hit, Muslim leaders gathered at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City mosque to start a donation drive.
In less than 48 hours, they had collected thousands of food items, toiletries, bottled water, and other necessities.
The Islamic Circle of North America has also dispatched its Disaster Relief Team, which helps with debris removal and patching damaged houses.
“Anytime people come into contact with people of other faiths or ethnicities, it breaks down the stereotypes people have,” said the Rev. Joshua Leu of New Hope Christian Church in Oklahoma City, and a local interfaith activist.
“Whenever you have a disaster like this, people come together and stop caring about those differences.”
Soltani, the executive director of CAIR's Oklahoma chapter who currently helps with his wife in the cleanup efforts, shares a similar opinion.
“People don’t care if you’re Muslim or not. That’s irrelevant,” Soltani said.
“It’s a testament to how Oklahomans come together when things go bad.”
Source: On Islam
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/462849-muslim-aid-builds-oklahoma-bridges.html
