Day 5: Faith in Action

"Whoever works actively to fulfill the needs of others is better than the one who stays in secluded worship in the mosque for one whole month." Hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas

On Friday, I took my trunk-full of shalwar kameezes to the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring and helped out at the Eid bazaar after jummah prayers, as people selected outfits that may suit their needs.  It was such a small gesture that it's hardly worth mentioning.  But what is worth mentioning is all the good that I saw others doing, that often goes unnoticed.  So many of us have good intentions, but every idea needs someone who's going to take the lead. For organizing this bazaar, that person was Saba of the Montgomery County Muslim Foundation. Thank you Saba for taking charge and making this happen. Helping Saba was a wonderful American woman, Debbie, who has an interesting story to share.  Three years ago at a comedy club, Debbie heard off-color remarks about Muslims and Islam, which deeply offended her. Although she had never met a Muslim at the time and didn't know much about Islam (she herself was an agnostic), she took the initiative to speak to the MCC imam for several hours to learn more. She returned to the MCC week after week, and the more she learned the more she understood her purpose: to help dispel misperceptions.  She's now a regular MCC volunteer, has tons of Muslim friends, and writes a blog about her experience with Islam. Thank you Debbie for taking the time to learn and helping others understand too.  The MCC is also host to an incredible initiative, the medical clinic, that embodies the true message of the Hadith quoted above.  The clinic has been providing medical care to uninsured community residents, regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity, since 2003, and has seen over 18,000 patients.  It's open six days a week, staffed by more than 40 doctors, nurses and other volunteers, and helps heal wounds in more ways than just physical.   Thank you Dr. Asif Qadri for showing us all how to put faith into action.  Day 5: Deed 5:  recognizing some of the great good being done by so many in our community each day.