IECRC (USA & Canada)

In the Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful

Prayers and Salutations upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad

 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL2b1t-2cKc]

As part of the international effort to provide relief to those affected by the recent floods in Pakistan, the Islamic Educational and Cultural Research Center USA and Canada (IECRC), initiated by donations from the Kingdom of Bahrain and Pakistan, launched the Ghareeb Nawaz Package Distribution during the Eid-ul-Fitr season of 2010. The packages, which were made locally in Karachi by dedicated IECRC volunteers, contained varying combinations of Flour (Aataa), Rice, Sugar, Oil, Ghee, Chanaa Daal, Moong Daal, Besan, Masoor Daal, Sufayd Chanaa, Kaalaa Chanaa, Tea, Sharbat, Red Chillies, Dhania Powder, Salt, Dates, Vermicelli and Custard Powder. Different size packages were distributed to families with varying number of members at the Sheebi Goth Flood Relief Camp in Malir District east of Karachi under the supervision of camp leader Mr. Sagher. He is well know for his honesty and hard work in the area.

Mr. Sagher was very grateful for the receipt of these humanitarian aid packages which were distributed individually by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Qadri, the Founding Director of IECRC to  the 64 families (317 individuals) who are under the jurisdiction of Mr. Sagher’s camp. Mr. Sagher thanked Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Qadri and his laborious team which included Mr. Muhammad Tahir Qadri of the IECRC and DSP Arshad Tanoli. The entire entourage was accompanied by police escort from Karachi which oversaw the distribution process. Under the unsafe conditions that distributions such as these are faced with, such police escort was necessary.

At this occasion Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Qadri, a world renowned Islamic scholar, noted that the reason humanity faces such kinds of challenges is because we have turned away from the Path of Allah – the Path that calls towards His Worship and the unconditional service of His creation. He exhorted all Pakistanis and people around the world to become exemplars of patience and steadfastness during this and all adversities and to obey the verse of the Holy Quran where Allah Almighty says:

“O Believers! Seek help with patience and prayer; no doubt, Allah is with the patient ones.”

[The Holy Quran, Chapter Al-Baqarah, 2:153]

 

He further exhorted that when a believer prostrates in front of Allah Almighty, his difficulties are eased by the blessings and power of supplication. He thanked all the people who donated towards this noble project proving the Prophetic Hadeeth that when one part of the Muslim Ummah is in pain, the other part feels it. It is this feeling that was impetus for all the donors proving that we are truly one body. It doesn’t matter if we are in the USA, Canada, or Bahrain, our hearts are with our suffering brothers and sisters no matter which part of the world they are in. Dr. Qadri ended with a prayer for all.

Included in this report are some photos and a video clip which were created with the intent to show testimony of those who have received the packages. Although it is better to carry out such efforts without any exhibits, such display was necessary in the current circumstances where there is much distrust associated with donations reaching the deserving recipients.

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