Voices of Faith: We must stress the importance of giving back
In our interconnected lives, it's crucial to extend a helping hand beyond ourselves. By dedicating time to supporting those around us, we create opportunities for everyone to thrive together.
Spending time helping people in my community has been a valuable experience that has taught me patience, compassion, and empathy. It’s a significant part of my life, and I am committed to staying engaged to help make a positive impact on my community. During this time, I've had the opportunity to connect with many individuals and listen to their stories. These experiences have been enlightening, emphasizing the importance of gratitude for one's blessings. Health, safety, and security should never be taken for granted and are precious.
In my faith, giving charity, or Zakat, holds profound significance. It is a fundamental pillar of Islam, emphasizing the duty to support those in need as an integral part of Islamic worship. Giving back to others plays a vital role in both my moral and religious values. Zakat is a way for Muslims to give back to the community and purify their wealth. In the Quran, Allah, the most glorified, the most high tells us that “The person who treats others kindly and thinks well of them, will find that his intention will remain true, he will feel at ease, his heart will be sound and Allah will protect him from evil and calamity.” Kindness, respect and honesty are all core characteristics for being a Muslim. Islam has taught me the importance of giving back and helping others.
During the sacred month of Ramadan, fasting serves as a spiritual journey of self-restraint and reflection. Beyond abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, it is a time to deepen our connection with Allah and to feel for the poor and less fortunate.
As the president of Kent State's Muslim Students’ Association, I lead in initiatives to support our community during the holy month of Ramadan. This last Ramadan, Kent State’s MSA raised money to make donation boxes. They consisted mostly of dry, non-perishable items, to help families in need. We hope to make our Ramadan donation boxes an annual drive. Iftar is the meal that Muslims break their fast at sunset and serves great cultural and religious importance to many. We hosted a few of these iftars, invited Muslims and non-Muslims to learn about Ramadan, and broke our fasts together at sunset. As a student organization, we frequently collect funds for donation to various charities as our club’s mission: to always help people in need. Our club strives to help the community in any way we can, and we hope to continue this tradition for as long as we can.
Giving back to our community is a fundamental principle that emphasizes the essence of humanity. Whether it is through charitable donations, volunteering, or fundraising, it is an act that enriches both the giver and receiver. Giving back is important not just for its tangible benefits to our community, but also in its ability to inspire others around us and create a long lasting positive change.
Ramah Kassis is president of the Kent State Muslim Students' Association.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Voices of Faith: We must stress the importance of giving back