(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Even if the Holy month of Ramadan is still in August this year, Filipino Muslims in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are already preparing to ship dates, praying carpets and Qur’an for their fellow Muslims in Mindanao.
These yearly charitable and community services of the Maranao Community United Arab Emirates (MarCom UAE) have collected so far 2,800 kilos of dates or Tam’r, 300 prayer carpets or Sajada, and 250 Holy Qur’an.
The amount of dates is almost six times bigger from last year's donation solicited from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Countries.
The prayer carpets are modern as they have a compass that points the Qibla direction, while the Qur’an copies measure approximately 33 centimeters by 24 centimeters purposely to help old Muslims and those with vision problems read the pages clearly.
According to MarCom UAE President Camid Pumbaya, the collection of these items were sponsored by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) in Dubai through the help of the Filipino Senior Adviser of IACAD Wafa Kasimieh who is an active member of the Filipino Community organization in the city.
Camid explained that they are doing this because Ramadan is very important to the lives of every Muslim. They are aiming to send the items to their poor brothers and sisters in Lanao Del Sur, Lanao Del Norte and other areas of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao “so they can practice the call of Prophet Mohammad in fasting and praying properly during this holy season.”
“We are sending them dates which we consider a golden fruit because it does not grow in Mindanao and it would be very expensive for them to have it from abroad,” Camid added.
Giving of dates is a call of charity for Muslims based on their Prophet Muhammad's teachings (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 498) that says: "Save yourself from hellfire by giving even half a date-fruit in charity."
MarCom UAE is scheduled to send the goods by first week of June as they are still negotiating with an international sea cargo company in Dubai for a discounted rate.
They expect that the delivery will be done on the the last week of July or first week of August which is the start of Ramadan.
Hanifah Caye Ampatua, former president and now an adviser to MarCom UAE, disclosed that they had spent more in paying for the cargo fees last year compared to the actual costs of the dates, praying carpets and Qur’an collected.
Wafa advised the more than 200 members of group to make an early request next year so that more goods can be allotted to the Muslims in the Philippines.
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