Extending a helping hand to the needy in their community, West Virginia University’s Muslim Students Association (MSA) joined forces with Islamic Relief USA on a Sunday afternoon, to pack 30,000 meals for nearby food shelters.
Despite West Virginia’s small Muslim population, the meals will be provided to those in need, regardless of their faith, according to Omar Sabbagh, Vice President of the WVU Muslim Students Association.
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“This is what Islam is,” Sabbagh said, gesturing to the more than 100 volunteers who were busy packing meals, WBOY reported.
“It’s helping people that truly need it, and being there for the community because most of these meals are not going to Muslims. These meals are going to everyone that needs it, and this is who we are as Muslims.”
Over 100 volunteers, including both Muslims and non-Muslims, have actively participated in packing the meals.
The meals included basmati rice, dehydrated carrot flakes, halal pinto beans, and a seven-spice mix.
Blessing
President of the WVU Muslim Students Association, Omar Ibraheem, said he feels the small size of the Muslim community in West Virginia might be positive.
“Sometimes I’m thankful for this small community because it kind of makes us more connected and stronger together,” Ibraheem said. “Although we’re smaller in numbers, we are powerful in our voices.”
Last year, Ibraheem reported that the MSA and Islamic Relief prepared and distributed over 70,000 meals to local food banks.
“That’s why we’re trying to be so loud with our small numbers, we’ve got to make up for that,” Ibraheem said.
“We want to have the most positive impact we can on those around us.”
Islam encompasses the concepts of community service in its morals. Showing kindness to people and charity to the less fortunate are the most emphasized moral virtues in the Qur’an.
The Prophet (saw) said, ‘He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while his neighbor goes hungry’. [Bukhari]