Reflecting on Ramadan & Helping Those in Need

By Mohamed AlJunaibi (@maljunaibi)

In my article this month, I would like to take the opportunity to wish fellow readers happy and blessed Eid greetings extended from my side to you. While it may be a little off from the usual tech areas I have been accustomed to writing in Sail eMagazine, it is important to note that a month of Ramadan has now passed and it was during this time where I and many Muslims used the month to further spiritually reflect and connect to our closest members of family and friends. It is a truly unique month.

Ramadan is usually a reflective month for many people. With food and water out of the equation during our more routine part of our day to day lives, we begin to reach a level of selflessness and overall abstinence of materialism. This brings about a phase of awareness within our overall surroundings. We have more time to think and ponder deeply and ask about the things that we would consider important to our daily lives; An inner solace and chance to re-affirm close ties to family and friends during this month of contemplation.

Ramadan, quite simply, is the most important month for many Muslims.

The Eid Al Fitr holiday is a time when we celebrate our accomplishments and return our thanks and gratitude to the All Mighty. It is a chance to celebrate one’s achievement of fasting during the holy month and close attainment to God.

It is also a time for children to be children and to celebrate their childhood on this beautiful day with their families and friends. Remembering this, it is also important to note that this is (and should always be) the time to extend our happiness to the less fortunate in society. Through both mandatory alms (zakat) and voluntary alms (sadaqa), we work to ensure that our happiness is shared with those who need it most.

This Eid, one cause (of the many out there) that matters the most is the starvation and drought in Somalia. Many people around the world (Muslim and non-Muslim) have taken the initiative in raising the funds to help those who are currently suffering.

I would like to end this month’s article with ways to help in making a huge difference to people’s lives.

You can donate either through your local Red Crescent or to a charity house.

With technology being the usual theme of my articles, it may be a good idea to check some of the websites and social media campaigns helping those in need. Likewise, various search engines (Google and others) are also good places to start this search in ways of helping others. Here are just few examples you can start with:

1. Fellow Bloggers (@Emaratist  and fellow Sail Magazine colleague and school mate @IamShaima): http://www.emaratist.com/help-somalia/
2. Red Crescent Society (UAE): http://www.rcuae.ae/Pages/Default.aspx
3. World Food Program: https://wfp.org/donate/hornofafrica?gclid=CJKF18ao1qoCFYF_6wodSUZM6w
4. Hidaya Foundation: https://donation.hidaya.org/donation.aspx?projectId=135&gclid=COyD58io1qoCFct56wod93Iu8g
5. British Based: Global Giving: http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/pr/8500/proj8493a.html?rf=ggadgguk_goog_even_somalia_4&gclid=CJDmps6o1qoCFcZ66wodKmbC7w

Wishing you all, a happy and prosperous holiday.

Sail eMagazine’s 18^th Issue – September 2011
Here We Start – Art of Living 101 – Community Talk – Food for Thought
Just Another Undergrad – Society of Tomorrow – The First Years Last Forever
The Mind’s Eye – To the Point – Too Blunt for Words – Words, Observations, and Ramblings