Mozambique and the Aftermath of Two Cyclones
Asalam alaykum loves! We have reached the end of Day 8 for Ramadan, May Allah bless all your efforts, all your good deeds and forgive your sins! I was reading something earlier talking about the scariest part of Ramadan, it isn't the difficulty of fasting long hours or praying all night, it is the fact that the Big Shaytan is locked up. So any desires we act upon, any sin we commit, is the result of our own temptations, our own soul pushing us towards habits or things we know are not good for us.
It is scary because we can't even blame Shaytan for the acts we commit that we know are wrong. It shows us how bad we cannot give something up or go a certain amount of days without doing. It makes you feel like how can you keep going the rest of Ramadan when you know you have committed a sin, that you are dirty and unworthy because you cannot give up this deed for Allah's Sake.
Don't give up! Even if you have committed a sin in Ramadan, still repent, still do good deeds to erase that sin, give in charity, read some Quran or help your family. Remember that Allah says even if our sins were to reach the skies he would still forgive us. Fear that Allah won't forgive you but at the same time have hope that He will forgive you. Try your best the rest of Ramadan to increase your worship and stay away from committing that sin again!
I wanted to talk about the situation in Mozambique, since it is Ramadan and the reward for giving to those in need, but before I do I wanted to talk about charity and verses that mention it:
Surah Az-Zalzalah, verse 7:
It is scary because we can't even blame Shaytan for the acts we commit that we know are wrong. It shows us how bad we cannot give something up or go a certain amount of days without doing. It makes you feel like how can you keep going the rest of Ramadan when you know you have committed a sin, that you are dirty and unworthy because you cannot give up this deed for Allah's Sake.
Don't give up! Even if you have committed a sin in Ramadan, still repent, still do good deeds to erase that sin, give in charity, read some Quran or help your family. Remember that Allah says even if our sins were to reach the skies he would still forgive us. Fear that Allah won't forgive you but at the same time have hope that He will forgive you. Try your best the rest of Ramadan to increase your worship and stay away from committing that sin again!
I wanted to talk about the situation in Mozambique, since it is Ramadan and the reward for giving to those in need, but before I do I wanted to talk about charity and verses that mention it:
Surah Az-Zalzalah, verse 7:
So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it,
Surah Baqarah, verse 215:
They ask you what (things) they should expend, Say, "Whatever charity you expend is for parents and nearest kin, and orphans, and the indigent, and the wayfarer; and whatever charity you perform, then surely Allah is Ever-Knowing of it."
Surah Baqarah, verse 274:
Those who spend their wealth [in Allah 's way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly - they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Surah Al-Mu'minun, verse 60:
And those who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear (whether their alms and charities, etc., have been accepted or not), because they are sure to return to their Lord (for reckoning).
Surah Al-Hadid, Verse 7:
Believe in Allah and His messenger, and spend (in charity) out of the (substance) whereof He has made you heirs. For, those of you who believe and spend (in charity),- for them is a great Reward.
"In March, Cyclone Idai ravaged southeastern Africa in the “worst extreme weather event to occur so far this year,” according to the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. As the cyclone made landfall on March 14, heavy rain and unusually strong winds pummeled Beira and other parts of central Mozambique, as well as neighboring Malawi and Zimbabwe. At least 2.8 million people in the three countries were affected.
The storm killed 598 people in Mozambique and as of early April injured more than 1,600 because of falling trees and debris, according to the government. More than 130,000 people across the country were displaced."
Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe were hit with two cyclones Idai and Kenneneth within a matter of months, leaving a majority of the country in devastation and poverty. It left people without homes, caused flood damage and also affected public places like schools, hospitals and roadways. It has also affected families who do not have access to clean water, and exposing them to diseases like Cholera and Malaria.
Children are affected because they fear the flood water and do not like moving around outside and often cry at night. Access to education is limited and women and girls are resorting to unsafe means to obtain money for food. They also have to walk longer distances to obtain firewood and water which increases their chances of being attacked.
What's beautiful in the midst of all this despair and hardship, public places like Churches, schools and other public buildings have been made into shelters to house those displaced from the cyclones. There was a story talking about Muslims using a Oman Catholic Church as a safe haven and them using the areas to sleep, make food and wash up. In light of tension there have been between the Catholics and Muslims, they are putting their differences aside to care for each other.
"I had never been in a church before ... but as long as I am safe I don't mind," said Aamilah Felciano, who is Muslim. "It doesn't mean I have abandoned my faith, I am just saving my life."
"We don't ask about people's religions, human life is all we value," Father Ricardo Filipe Rosa Marques, the 41-year-old priest in charge, told AP news agency.
The church has suspended mass and other routine programmes. There is no space or time for such activities, the priest said.
"There can be no better mass than giving people shelter and hope. That is the church's mission," he said. "
Let's do what we can for our brothers in Mozambique! Donate or Share the links below to Charities working to help the cyclone survivors!
Find additional resources and organizations here: https://www.pbs.org/
May Allah reward whatever you can give!
Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/
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