Adeel Malik
Separation of migrant children from their parents in America has been the main talk worldwide. From the cage camps to children being drugged and to the sickening reports of assault and abuse of children has made people to be in disgust and shock.
Members of Islamic Society of Tampa Bay has offered to host the 2,300 children who have been separated from their parents by President Trump’s border policy as reported by WFLA.
The group announced the offer at a news conference on Tuesday at noon.
The Islamic Society of Tampa Bay and other religious leaders made the announcement about their humanitarian program at a news conference on Friday. Ahmed Bedier, president of United Voices for America said
“This immoral policy of taking babies from their parent and locking them up must stop, the Muslim community is ready to do its part by hosting these children in loving and safe homes until they are reunified with their parents.”
He alongside other religious leaders said that so far, there are more than 100 families in the Tampa Bay area who would like to host the migrant children until they are reunited with their parents. Bedier further said,
“It will be very much like the foster care system per say.. without the financial help from the government. This will be completely self funded.”
The families have offered to host the children at no cost. The program would also pay for the children’s transportation to the Tampa Bay area.
The faith leaders say they have received more than $1 million in pledges to pay for the children’s transportation.
“Our ultimate goal is to protect the children,” said Bedier.
He said the faith communities do not want to play the blame game when it comes to the crisis involving migrant children who have been separated from their parents.
“How did we get here? It doesn’t matter,” he said.
Bedier said he hopes the U.S. government will respond to the offer.
“We hope that the government responds well to our offer and takes us up on it.”
Nyla Hazrajee is one of the people stepping forward to host. She said, she would want someone to do the same for her child. She stated,
“This is not supposed to happen and it’s our job to make sure that it doesn’t happen.”
The Islamic Society of Tampa Bay are known for their sense of generousity and concern for the well-being of their society as last year after Hurricane Irma caused havoc, they allowed their facility to be used for shelter as more than 600 people managed to stay safe.
Such compassion and showing selfless care for the society is one of the core teachings of the Islamic faith which is rarely mentioned by the mainstream media and critics alike. Below are some of the teachings which enable Muslims like such to do what they do.
Allah (God Almighty) says in the Quran (41:34),
“And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.”
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,
“The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind.”
[Daraqutni]
“Whosoever alleviates [the lot of] a needy person, Allah will alleviate [his lot] in this world and the next.”
[Muslim]
“Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you.”
[Tirmidhi]
As Muslims, as people who believe in justice and empathy, we urge all people with power and authority to do what is right by humanity and not just by the nationalistic beliefs, for it’s nationalism that has caused great damage to the world of the past and present. We pray for all hose who are being oppressed and are suffering worldwide.
