By: AMA Media Team
Ramadaan Kareem from the team at Africa Muslims Agency.
As the blessed month approaches, Muslims across the globe prepare in various ways to welcome the month of Mercy.
This year, as we weigh on the difficulties facing those in Gaza, Southern Africa and many other areas, our intention is to serve with humility and gratitude for every blessing which Allah has bestowed upon us.
The inspiration for our Ramadaan campaign, “Meals of Mercy: 23 Nations, 1 Table”, is drawn from a beautiful hadith:
“Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Merciful.
Be merciful to those on the earth and the One above the heavens will have mercy upon you.”
(Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1924, Grade: Sahih)
We invite our community to gather with us this Ramadaan and share mercy through filling plates and cups for those in need.
Amidst the turmoil facing the Ummah, Ramadaan is a time when we unite as Muslims, remembering that we are all equal. The concept of 23 Nations, 1 Table serves as a reminder of our unity, of the shared pain we feel with those for whom Ramadaan is a time of difficulty.
Each Ramadaan, AMA focuses on the provision of food and water to communities who would otherwise spend Ramadaan at a bare table.
We share iftar boxes, grocery hampers, and hot meals with entire villages, camps, and communities. These meals and hamper contents are tailored to local tastes and needs, as part of our effort to maintain the dignity of recipients and to serve with mercy in our hearts.
AMA’s reach extends from families in places ravaged by war such as Gaza, Syria and Afghanistan, to rural Malawi and Mozambique where drought and changing weather patterns have left millions facing starvation, to our own communities in South Africa, struggling to afford a plate of food for suhoor and iftaar.
We also renew our efforts in providing water to villages in Malawi and Mozambique, as well as Afghanistan. In these dry, remote areas, lack of clean water leads to a poor quality of life, filled with sickness, starvation and low productivity and prospects. Women and children walk long distances while fasting to search for contaminated water, so that there is a sip to be taken for iftaar.
The mercy of water cannot be underestimated, as water is the basis from which all other needs can be met. And in our Creator’s mercy, the giving of water brings the best of rewards to the giver – Thawaab-e_Jaariyah…a reward for every drop taken from that well or borehole.
We invite communities to join us in bringing meals and water to those in need; from schools to masaajid to restaurants and businesses – there are many ways to give. From hosting your own meals of mercy with AMA, to donating business profits from the month to the cause, using your social media pages to share the need or simple collection tins for kids…everyone can play a part.
Our Ramadaan preparations begin months in advance, moving hamper items across countries to be packed and delivered to distribution points, ready for sharing. We aim to distribute our monthly hampers before or early in Ramadaan, to ensure that families can benefit throughout the month from your generous donations.
With every meal we donate, we are acutely aware of Allah’s favour on us, providing us with the opportunity to earn His Mercy in this blessed month through simple acts of ibaa’dah and service.
We ask Allah to make this Ramadaan a month of peace and ease, to bring barakah to our communities and to bless our Ummah in abundance. May we have good health and open hearts to accomplish all the goals we set ourselves, from fasting, to prayer to charity and service to humanity.
For in this blessed month, no family should go to bed hungry. Share your meal. Share your mercy.
