• Alukah English HomepageSitemapRSS
  • Alukah English Homepage
  • Alukah Guestbook
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Make us your Homepage
  • Contact Us
Alukah in Arabic
Alukah is a rich, cultural website supervised by Dr. Khaled El-Jeraissy and Dr. Saad El-Hmed
 
Website of Dr. Sadd Bin Abdullah El-Hmed  Supervised By 
  • Homepage
  • Islamic Shariah
  • Thoughts and Knowledge
  • Society and Reform
  • Counsels
  • Muslims around the World
  • Library
 All Sections | News   Reportage   Articles   Special Coverage  
  •  
    Safi Kaskas and Abdalrahman Aboelmajd discuss The Qur’an, A ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    Samira Amarir and Abdalrahman Abulmajd about Jenna the ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    Marek Dziekan and Abdalrahman Abulmajd about Qur'anic ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    Lisa Suhay and Abdalrahman Abou Almajd around Mrs. Lisa's ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    Peter Bussey and AbdurRahman Abou Almajd Modern Physics ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    Rebecca Ruth Gould and Abdalrahman Abou Almajd about ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    Sheeza Ali and Abdalrahman Abulmajd discuss God is not a ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    This is what it’s like to do Ramadan fasting in the ...
    Independent
  •  
    Ramadan also about Quran’s True Message
    The Star
  •  
    Muslims free to observe Fasting in China
    The News
  •  
    Gambia bans music, dance during Ramadan
    punchng
  •  
    Jerry Bergman and Abdalrahman Abulmajd discuss Darwinism as ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
Home / Muslims Around the World / Reportage

Muslim Students Help the Homeless in Louisiana

About Islam

Published On: 17/7/2016 A.D. - 11/10/1437 H.   Visited: 4701 times     



Print Friendly Version Send to your friend Visitors CommentsPost a CommentFollow Comments



Full Text Increase Font SizeReset Font SizeDecrease Font Size
Share it



Nestled in the hubbub and humidity of New Orleans, Louisiana lies a Catholic University that hosts a Muslim Student Association (MSA).  Xavier University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college with the distinction of being the only historically African American, Roman Catholic institution of higher education in the United States.

Within this unique university setting in the US, a Muslim student population thrives. Eman Al-Bassisi, a student at Xavier and a member of the MSA says, “My College is very diverse and accepting so I never really had a problem expressing my religion or talking about it to others.”

Recently, the Xavier MSA hosted a much needed outreach for the homeless in New Orleans.

According to the Huffington Post, “Homelessness was an out-of-control problem after Hurricane Katrina. After Katrina, thousands of people were living in abandoned buildings and houses throughout the ruined city.”

However, in the decade since the storm the number of homeless people has dropped from 11,619 to 1,703 chronically homeless people in New Orleans and the neighboring areas.

But the young, Muslim students in the area knew that even one homeless person was one too many and wanted to do something about it. The Muslim students took time out of their much needed spring break to assemble and distribute meals in their Feed the Homeless project.

Allah tells us in the Qur’an,

“Give to the near of kin his due, and also to the needy and the wayfarers.” – (Al-Qur’an, Surah Al-Isra’, 17:26)

As Mohammed Yusuf Dadani writes for American Muslims for Hunger Relief, “While hunger in the land of plenty is not a new phenomenon, the last few years of economic turmoil have worsened matters for the poor in this country. As unemployment has soared and bankruptcies and foreclosures have increased, the ranks of the poor have swelled in alarming proportions. So we find ourselves in the anomalous situation that one out of every six people in the richest nation on earth, is today living below the poverty line.”

Al-Bassisi wanted to help be a part of the solution to the problems facing the poorest of her community. She says, “I wanted to this project because there are Many Hadith of the Prophet to help the homeless. Plus you learn to appreciate what you have.”

One such hadith states,

“A person who strives to take care of the needs of the widow and the poor man is like one who struggles in the way of Allah (a mujahid), or like one who stands during the night to pray and fasts during the day.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

In the midst of the only break away from writing papers and studying for exams, these MSA members took the time to think of those who are less fortunate, to help those who the average young person wouldn’t give a second thought.

Allah tells us in the Qur’an that “We have made some of you a trial and a means for testing others […]” (Al-Qur’an Surah Al-Furqan, 25:20). And the Muslim Student Association of Xavier University is doing their best to pass this test of helping the less fortunate.

In our current climate of fear and hateful rhetoric where politicians demonize Muslims and terror attacks around the world get more headlines than good deeds do, it is an act of bravery to put a spotlight on and celebrate Islam and being a Muslim, and to exercise the teaching of our Prophet (PBUH), who sought to build communities and spread good for no other reason than they wish to please Allah.

“(The righteous are those) who feed the poor, the orphan and the captive for the love of God, saying: ‘We feed you for the sake of God Alone; we seek from you neither reward nor thanks.'” – (Al-Qur’an, Surah Al-Insan, 76:8-9)



Print Friendly Version Send to your friend Visitors CommentsPost a CommentFollow Comments



Selected From Alukah.net

  • Muslim Students compete to help Refugees(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • Muslim-Friendly Website aims to help Muslim Travelers(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • Islamic Association in UK offers breakfast to homeless(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • Feeding Paris’s Poor and Homeless during Ramadan(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • London Muslims Break Fast with Homeless during Ramadan(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • Homeless and helpless: The Rohingya Muslims of Rakhine state(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • Paris Students invited to wear Muslim Veils for 'Hijab Day'(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • Ohio Muslim Students Challenge Negative Stereotypes(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • Muslim Students aim to break stereotypes through public prayer(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • Muslim Students Forced To Pray Outside In The Rain And Snow(Article - Muslims Around the World)

 


Add your comment:
Name  
Email (Will not be shown to visitors)
Country
Comment Title
Comment

Please write: COMMENT in this box to verify that you are human

Enter the above code here:
Can't read? Try different words.
Our Authors
  • Those who disobey God and follow their sinful lusts..
  • One can attain real happiness
  • Islam clearly reveals to us more details about the one true ...
  • Allah the one true God is Creator, not created
  • Allah is only one, he has no children, partners or equals
  • Allah is eternal, he does not die or change
  • Islam leads to ultimate truth and success
  • Try to find out the truth abut Islam
Participate
Contribute
Spread the word
Tell a friend
All Rights Reserved © 1445H / 2023 to Alukah.Net
Site was last updated on : 25/1/1445H - at: 9:23