Speech for the closing remark of the Musabaqah Hafazan with the Somali community and Fast 2 Feed program organized by
Muslim Aid Malaysia Humanitarian Foundation. 10 August 2011.
Assalamualaikum wrb and good evening. Welcome to the Salahuddin al-Ayubi Mosque to you, to all Somali community, and to all the invited guest in the hall, I extend my best wishes on this holy month. Ramadhan Kareem. I want to welcome members of the Salahuddin al-Ayubi Mosque, Haji Bakhtiar, members of Muslim Aid Malaysia Humanitarian Foundation; and Members of the Somali Community Learning Center, including Mr. Fattah, Mr Ahmad and others.
We, from Muslim Aid, we have a tradition of hosting iftars that goes back several years that we called it Fast 2 Feed, or in short F2F. These events, give the opportunity for the people to sponsor our fellow Muslims such as the orphans, the poor family, disabled, single mother and even the refugees to break fast. These remind us of the basic truth that we are all the servant of Allah, and we all draw strength and a sense of purpose from our beliefs.
These events are also an affirmation of who we are as a Malaysian, a symbol of unity. Muslim Aid understood that the best way to honour our fellow Muslim, especially the Somali community in Malaysia is to be with them as part of our own society in Malaysia, helping hand in hand in education and other community development programs.
Our Founder, Yusuf Islam or popularly known as Cat Stevens understood that the best way to honor the place of faith in the lives of our people was to help people who are suffering. Yusuf Islam said that “It is part of my faith as a Muslim to try to help those who are suffering from poverty or economic or political injustice.” And that is where Muslim Aid started in London back in 1984.
Indeed, over the course of Muslim Aid history, humanitarian program has flourished within our borders precisely because every human being, not only the Muslims, but all have the rights to have better education and a proper place to live.
This is not to say that the refugee is without controversy in Malaysia. We all know that currently Malaysia is not a signatory for the UN refugee convention, but through the continuous effort from other organizations such as the UNHCR and Muslim Aid, we strive to help the refugees community have a better place to live, especially in Malaysia. We will try our best to raise funds and come out with quality program in order to make the Somali community part of the Malaysian community itself.
Tonight, we are reminded that Ramadhan is a celebration of a faith known for great diversity. And Ramadhan is a reminder that Islam has always been in our heart. The Musabaqah al-Quran which is held today is a step encouragement for youths and others to actively read and understand the Quran and at the same time to become a pious, quality and excellent youth through the wide teachings of Al-Quran such as the rule of prayers and repentance.
The Rasulullah SAW said, "
The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Qur'an will be with the honourable and obedient scribes (angels) and he who recites the Qur'an and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have a double reward.''
[ Hadith Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Last but not least, I would like to thank everyone who is involved from the organizer itself, the donors who trust in us, in making the Musabaqah al-Quran event a reality. May Allah give us barakah in our life, insyaAllah. Thank you all for being here, and I wish you a blessed Ramadhan. Wabillahitaufiq, wassalamualaikum wrb.
