Winter is certainly a difficult time for the less fortunate. This year, that struggle is even more acute due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Believing in Muslims’ individual duty to be good to their neighbors, a local Muslim eatery in Norwich, Norfolk, England, is giving out free hot meals to the needy.
The Bombay Spice Bangladeshi and Indian Takeaway on St Augustine’s Street prepared 300 meals on Tuesday, February 2, to the families in need, Norwich Evening News reported.
📚 Read Also: Norwich Mosque Cooks 120 Meals a Week for Homeless
The meals, distributed at the Norwich Central Mosque and Islamic Community Center, included chicken korma, chicken curry or vegetable curry with rice.
“We just wanted to do something for the community especially with the pandemic. So far the foodbank is going well,” Sirajul Islam, secretary at the Norwich Central Mosque and Islamic Community Centre, said.
Helping Neighbors
Islam encourages Muslims to treat their neighbors in a gentle way that reflects the true and genuine spirit of Islam as exemplified in its tolerant aspect especially with people of other faiths.
It makes no difference whether the neighbors are Muslim or non-Muslim.
This falls in line with what the Muslim community in Norwich is known for, offering free meals to the less fortunate. In December 2020, the Rose Lane Mosque teamed up with The East Anglian Bangladesh Trust and with St Martins Housing Trust to provide 120 meals on a weekly basis for the homeless.
A pillar of Islam, Zakat or charity is a religious obligation for all Muslims who meet a criteria of wealth. It’s a mandatory charitable contribution, the right of the poor to find relief from the rich.
In addition to the obligatory Zakah, Islamic Shari’ah also encourages giving in optional charity, called Sadaqah.