The Muslim community in Newfoundland and Labrador are rolling up their sleeves to donate blood to Canadian Blood Services and avoid shortage that usually occurs during holiday seasons, CBC reported.

“The Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador wanted to fill in shortages and bridge gaps and work very positively with the other communities when they are busy with their holidays,” Abdelsalam Abugharara, a volunteer imam at the local mosque, said.

He added that the idea was about “supporting one another and bringing happiness to people in hospitals.”

Praise

Gord Skiffington, a manager for Canadian Blood Services in St. John’s, praised the Muslim community for the remarkable gesture.

“It was just incredible. It was amazing,” he said. “We need all blood types every day of the year, and certain times of the year it’s a little more challenging.”

Blood transfusion for medical purposes is permissible in Islam as Muslims are ordered to feed the hungry, take care of the sick, and save the life of people.

It is also permissible to take blood from a non-Muslim and it is permissible to give blood to non-Muslims. These matters are related to human life.

This is not the first time for the Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador to step in to provide the much-needed blood donations.

They also helped St. John’s clinic on Regatta Day in August, when the city shut down for a day of boat races.

“We will make it a national blood donation day throughout Canada, sponsored by the Muslim communities all over Canada,” Abugharara said.

According to the Canadian 2011 National Household Survey, Muslims represented less than 1% of the total population of Newfoundland and Labrador which was estimated at 525,073 persons.