Listen to the silent cry - Ramadan
Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Arrukban; 5/9/08
For millions of Muslims, the holy month of Ramadan is a time to reflect on the good and bad events of the year gone by and an opportunity to think about others less fortunate than ourselves. When I was a child, my parents used to tell me to view fasting during Ramadan as a privilege - I have the luxury of being able to choose when and what to eat. I was taught that during this time I should pause and think about those less fortunate than myself, and that I should try to help these people in any way I can, whether by dedicating time and energy, or by giving zakat (tithe). Today, I recall my parents’ words and their mild instruction on solidarity and moral duty for all of us. Last week, just before Ramadan, I witnessed for myself the suffering of fellow Muslims much less fortunate than me. I had the opportunity of going to the town of Waajid in South Central Somalia. I also went to the refugee camp in Dadaab in northeastern Kenya to which over 210,000 Somalis have fled. What I saw is a real humanitarian crisis for Somalis.I went to an old hospital in Waajid where displaced persons, who had fled the fighting in Mogadishu, had spontaneously settled. The hospital itself has been unused for almost 20 years and is unable to serve the local population for anything but shelter. There I saw women, children and the elderly in a malnourished state, living in very precarious conditions.
See: http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/columns/region/10242554.html
Tags: Africa, Human Rights, Religion