Islam advocates feeding the hungry, regardless of race, religion or background. It is such an important part of the religion that Prophet Muhammad said a person is not really a Muslim if he goes to bed satiated while his neighbor goes hungry.
In another hadith, Prophet Muhammad said, “Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and set free the captives.” Al-Bukhari
Hoping to get the reward from Allah, there are many Islamic charities that strive to alleviate hunger and suffering around the world.
📚 Read Also: Why Should We Feed Hungry People?
In London, Ontario, the Muslim Soup Kitchen has been distributing 125 free meals every Saturday for over a year.
Without an in-house kitchen, the local Muslims is raising funds to keep the program going, CBC reported.
“In order to continue, even on the basis that we are going right now, it’s going to be very difficult without having an in-house kitchen,” said Yousef Al Hatoum, the first manager of the Muslim Soup Kitchen and chairman of London’s chapter of the Egyptian Community Centre Of Ontario (ECCOO).
“At the beginning we started with like 65 meals. They went up to 125 right now. That put a big pressure actually and depleted very quickly the [funds for food] because what we are trying to offer, it’s not just a simple meal,” said Al Hatoum.
Yousef Al Hatoum stands in the doorway of the Hyatt Mosque and Centre’s pantry. (Angela McInnes/CBC)
Continuing Efforts
Al Hatoum said they hope to renovate the former church into a community hall where all will be welcome, and use the basement classrooms for Arabic and Islamic education on weekends.
The building’s kitchen must also be brought up to code, so that the Muslim Soup Kitchen can rely less on paying restaurants for the meals.
“I see that out of those hundred plus people who are coming every Saturday, they are waiting for the meals, we serve meals from between one and two, and sometimes they are there at 11:30 and they are sitting on the stairs and they chat with each other,” said Al Hatoum.
“The isolation has been broken. And this is what really makes us very happy.”
Zeba Hashmi, the Muslim Soup Kitchen’s current manager, said raised funds will help them make a difference at a difficult time.
“There’s so much more that needs to be done, but everybody needs to do their little part,” Hashmi said.
“Whether through donation or volunteering or, you know, any kind of labour you can put into any kind of effort that can help others. It’s so beneficial towards our city and creating that good feeling with other people who are struggling.”
“If you’re able to help in any which way, it’s a good thing.”