Layla Loo Stinky Poo (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} miss_tesco) wrote,@ 2008-12-30 08:58:00 |
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Small Kindnesses
In the name of God, most merciful, most kind
Have you seen him who denies the Recompense?
That is he who repulses the orphan harshly,
And urges not the feeding of the poor,
So woe unto the worshippers,
Who are forgetful in their prayer,
Those who do good deeds only to be seen (of men),
And refuse Al-Ma'uon (small kindnesses).
- Chapter 107 of the Qur'an: Al Ma'un (Small Kindnesses)
Originally I was going to post this surah (chapter) of the Qur'an and then go straight on to talk about the Islamic conference I went to this weekend, but after reading an article about what's going on in Gaza I'd like to mention that first.
"As I write this, Israeli jets are bombing the areas of Zeitoun and Rimal in central Gaza City. The family I am staying with has moved into the internal corridor of their home to shelter from the bombing. The windows nearly blew out just five minutes ago as a massive explosion rocked the house. Apache’s are hovering above us, whilst F16s sear overhead.
UN radio reports say one blast was a target close to the main gate of Al Shifa hospital – Gaza and Palestine’s largest medical facility. Another was a plastics factory. More bombs continue to pound the Strip.
Sirens are wailing on the streets outside. Regular power cuts that plunge the city into blackness every night and tonight is no exception. Only perhaps tonight it is the darkest night people have seen here in their lifetimes.
Over 220 people have been killed and over 400 injured through attacks that shocked the strip in the space 15 minutes. Hospitals are overloaded and unable to cope. These attacks come on top of existing conditions of humanitarian crisis: a lack of medicines, bread, flour, gas, electricity, fuel and freedom of movement..." - By Ewa Jasiewicz – Gaza City (28/12/08 - The death toll is now over 360)
I'm ashamed to say I don't know anywhere near enough about the Israel-Palestine conflict. I know Palestinians, I've grown up with people around me talking about the issue, but I know very little. I wanted to link you to some kind of informational source but it's difficult to find unbiased ones. News sources in the west (e.g. The BBC, Fox, CNN...) aren't giving the full story and Arab news sources are biased in the other way. Please bare that in mind when you're looking at articles or listening to the news.
I'm not asking you to go out to Palestine and start bandaging wounds, or to become poliicians and resolve the conflict yourselves. You don't even have to leave your computer.
Three Ways to Help Without Leaving Your Seat
1. Speak out with petitions: There are plenty of petitions online you can sign to express your... disagreement with the conflict. Here's just one ('We, the undersigned, express our utmost concern and condemnation of the current Israeli massacre of the Palestinian people in Gaza...')
2. Speak out with letters: Here is a letter-writing campaign which has three ready made letters for the BBC, Fox News and CNN. All you have to do is copy and paste them into a form and sign your name. Although I recommend reading them too!
3. Donate towards the help efforts: "Gaza remains under strict economic sanctions which have cut off food and fuel supplies. The consequent electrical power cuts and destruction of the already weakened economy has bought further suffering to all of Gaza's inhabitants. The closure of borders and inability of Gaza's sick and infirm to travel for medical care has caused numerous lives to be lost." (Muslim Hands) - This isn't even about the recent attacks, just daily life.
Most of us are blessed enough to have everything we need and mainly use our money on things we 'want'. You're poor in the west if you don't own a computer or more than 3 pairs of shoes. But in so many other parts of the world being poor means having nothing. So surely we can spare something. There's a saying of the Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings be upon him): "Money will never descrease because of charity"
There are so many charities that are collecting to help the people affected by the attacks (and by the restrictions caused by the conflict in general). Every little helps!
Human Appeal International (UK), Islamic Relief (UK, USA, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Sweden, Malaysia, South Africa, Canada), Free Gaza (Paypal), UNRAWA
In the name of God, most merciful, most kind
Have you seen him who denies the Recompense?
That is he who repulses the orphan harshly,
And urges not the feeding of the poor,
So woe unto the worshippers,
Who are forgetful in their prayer,
Those who do good deeds only to be seen (of men),
And refuse Al-Ma'uon (small kindnesses).
- Chapter 107 of the Qur'an: Al Ma'un (Small Kindnesses)
Originally I was going to post this surah (chapter) of the Qur'an and then go straight on to talk about the Islamic conference I went to this weekend, but after reading an article about what's going on in Gaza I'd like to mention that first.
"As I write this, Israeli jets are bombing the areas of Zeitoun and Rimal in central Gaza City. The family I am staying with has moved into the internal corridor of their home to shelter from the bombing. The windows nearly blew out just five minutes ago as a massive explosion rocked the house. Apache’s are hovering above us, whilst F16s sear overhead.
UN radio reports say one blast was a target close to the main gate of Al Shifa hospital – Gaza and Palestine’s largest medical facility. Another was a plastics factory. More bombs continue to pound the Strip.
Sirens are wailing on the streets outside. Regular power cuts that plunge the city into blackness every night and tonight is no exception. Only perhaps tonight it is the darkest night people have seen here in their lifetimes.
Over 220 people have been killed and over 400 injured through attacks that shocked the strip in the space 15 minutes. Hospitals are overloaded and unable to cope. These attacks come on top of existing conditions of humanitarian crisis: a lack of medicines, bread, flour, gas, electricity, fuel and freedom of movement..." - By Ewa Jasiewicz – Gaza City (28/12/08 - The death toll is now over 360)
I'm ashamed to say I don't know anywhere near enough about the Israel-Palestine conflict. I know Palestinians, I've grown up with people around me talking about the issue, but I know very little. I wanted to link you to some kind of informational source but it's difficult to find unbiased ones. News sources in the west (e.g. The BBC, Fox, CNN...) aren't giving the full story and Arab news sources are biased in the other way. Please bare that in mind when you're looking at articles or listening to the news.
I'm not asking you to go out to Palestine and start bandaging wounds, or to become poliicians and resolve the conflict yourselves. You don't even have to leave your computer.
Three Ways to Help Without Leaving Your Seat
1. Speak out with petitions: There are plenty of petitions online you can sign to express your... disagreement with the conflict. Here's just one ('We, the undersigned, express our utmost concern and condemnation of the current Israeli massacre of the Palestinian people in Gaza...')
2. Speak out with letters: Here is a letter-writing campaign which has three ready made letters for the BBC, Fox News and CNN. All you have to do is copy and paste them into a form and sign your name. Although I recommend reading them too!
3. Donate towards the help efforts: "Gaza remains under strict economic sanctions which have cut off food and fuel supplies. The consequent electrical power cuts and destruction of the already weakened economy has bought further suffering to all of Gaza's inhabitants. The closure of borders and inability of Gaza's sick and infirm to travel for medical care has caused numerous lives to be lost." (Muslim Hands) - This isn't even about the recent attacks, just daily life.
Most of us are blessed enough to have everything we need and mainly use our money on things we 'want'. You're poor in the west if you don't own a computer or more than 3 pairs of shoes. But in so many other parts of the world being poor means having nothing. So surely we can spare something. There's a saying of the Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings be upon him): "Money will never descrease because of charity"
There are so many charities that are collecting to help the people affected by the attacks (and by the restrictions caused by the conflict in general). Every little helps!
Human Appeal International (UK), Islamic Relief (UK, USA, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Sweden, Malaysia, South Africa, Canada), Free Gaza (Paypal), UNRAWA
