CAIR Calls on U.S. Muslims to Donate Eid Sacrifice Equivalent to Hurricane Harvey Relief

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on American Muslims to donate the equivalent of what they spend for a religious rite marking the upcoming end-of-pilgrimage holiday to assist in relief efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

On September 1, American Muslims will mark the end of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, with the Eid ul-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), or "festival of the sacrifice," holiday. Part of that holiday includes sacrifice of an animal to help feed the needy -- a practice called "Udhiyah" or "Qurbani" -- in remembrance of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at God's command. Traditionally, a portion of the meat is distributed to relatives and to the those in need.

CAIR is urging Muslims to make their sacrifice, and then, in addition, to donate an equivalent amount to hurricane relief.

"We urge members of the American Muslim community to donate an amount equivalent to the cost of their sacrifice to help those who are in such desperate need because of the unprecedented natural disaster in Texas," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

Awad cited an Islamic tradition (hadith) referring to the actions of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. That tradition states:

"It was narrated from Mujaahid that a sheep was slaughtered for 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr by a member of his family, and when he came, he said: 'Did you give some to our Jewish neighbor, did you give some to our Jewish neighbor? For I heard the Messenger of God (blessings and peace of God be upon him) say: '(The angel Gabriel) kept urging me to treat neighbors kindly until I thought he would order me to make them my heirs.'" (Narrated by at-Tirmidhi, Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Earlier this week, CAIR called on Muslims across the country to donate to assist relief efforts. CAIR asked Muslims and all other Americans to donate to a relief organization of their choice and provided links to a number of aid organizations. Houston-area mosques are also housing flood evacuees and a number of Islamic organizations are taking part in the relief efforts.

SEE: CAIR Urges Muslims Nationwide to Pray, Donate for Texas Hurricane Relief
http://cair.com/press-center/action-alerts/14565-action-alert-cair-urges-muslims-nationwide-to-pray-donate-for-texas-hurricane-relief.html

Islamic Relief Organizations Include:

• United Muslim Relief
  https://umrelief.org/what-we-do/emergency-response/emergency-alert-hurricane-harvey/
• Islamic Relief
  http://irusa.org/hurricane-harvey-emergency/ 
• ICNA Relief
  http://www.icnarelief.org/wp/index.php/hurricaneharvey 
• Baitulmaal
  https://www.baitulmaal.org/ 
• Zakat Foundation
  https://www.zakat.org/en/what-we-do/emergency-relief/
• Helping Hands for Relief and Development
  https://www.hhrd.org/ 
• IMANA
  http://mailchi.mp/imana/hurricane-emergency-relief
• Pure Hands
  https://www.purehands.org/
• Life for Relief and Development
  http://www.lifeusa.org/

SEE ALSO: Houston Mosques Are Opening Up as 24-Hour Shelters for Harvey Victims (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/hurricaneharvey/article/Houston-mosques-opening-up-flood-shelters-12159992.php
Muslims Opening Their Doors To Flood Victims: 'We Feel And Suffer The Same' (Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/muslims-opening-their-doors-to-flood-victims-we-feel-and-suffer-the-same_us_59a6e953e4b00795c2a341b9
Houston Mosques Open Doors to Shelter Harvey Evacuees (CNN)
http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/30/us/mosques-shelters-trnd/index.html

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

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