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January 11, 2006
Islamic Society of North America, Plainfield, IN
The images of destruction seemed more awful and more personal than those seen on the TV evening news reports as we drove through some neighborhoods of New Orleans. Between the comments of “Look at that!” and “This is unbelievable”, there were long silent pauses and some teary eyes.
The group of young Muslim volunteers and four adult facilitators were seeing and experiencing things that most of them have never experienced firsthand. This group of 21 high school and college students were members of the first ISNA Youth Department sponsored youth volunteers for disaster relief who spent the New Year’s weekend contributing to the relief effort in Louisiana after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina four months earlier. These young men and women came from various states – from Illinois to Virginia, from Georgia to North Carolina, even Ottawa, Canada – to help the victims of this natural disaster, and worked alongside other volunteers – individuals and church groups – in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and New Iberia.
Br. Naeem Muhammad and other staff of Islamic Relief, who are conducting relief efforts in Louisiana and Mississippi, coordinated arrangements for the projects in various aspects of relief work. For three days, the volunteers filled 400 boxes with non-perishable food items, personally delivered those boxes to people displaced by the hurricane, prepared and served meals in a soup kitchen in St. Bernard’s Parish (one of the heaviest hit areas), and assembled household supplies kits, in a FEMA warehouse, for disaster victims, some of whom are like refugees in their own country.
This trip for volunteer relief work provided the youth and facilitators a unique opportunity to form new bonds of friendship, witness the needs of fellow human beings, contribute personally through hands-on relief work, strive with others for a common cause, and increase the awareness and desire to serve those in need. Daily study and discussion sessions related their relief efforts to the power of Allah (The God Almighty), poverty as a tribulation, and charity (sadaqah).
On the final evening, the youth reflected on the impact of their experiences with comments such as “moving; power of Allah in nature; build character; good feeling from victims’ genuine appreciation for our efforts; motivational; stepping stone for continued participation and efforts; profound experience; bring this inspiration to home community; community service by Muslims; make a difference; take action.”
Special thanks and appreciation go to the families and Masjid Abu Bakar in New Orleans who hosted the volunteers and facilitators. Without their dedication and support, such a volunteer relief project would not have been possible.
So much work remains to be done. It will take months and years for the victims of this natural disaster to rebuild their lives and communities. Insha’Allah (God willing), these Muslim youth will carry the inspiration of their experiences to their communities and continue to serve those in need, be they near or far, thus fulfilling an obligation prescribed in Islam, as well as other religions.
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