CALIF. MUSLIM FREE CLINIC SHOWS TRUE ISLAM
Chicago, 24 Jumadil Awwal 1436/15 March 2015 (MINA) – Serving his community for decades, a US Muslim dentist has been honored for his dental contributions and community services, setting a role model for American Muslims.
“In my faith, medicine is a noble profession,” Makbul Patel, told The Press Enterprise earlier in March, On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
“So serving the community is one of the noble things to do.”
Being in the US for three decades, the Indian Muslim immigrant, Patel, started his dental career in Chicago before moving to California where he lives currently.
“It was amazing,” Patel said.
“When I came to Chicago, I saw my first winter. I didn’t have any exposure to snow.”
Since moving to California, the 57-year-old Muslim dentist has spent years of serving patients in the Inland Empire since 1990, helping the community through his work and volunteer efforts.
The Muslim dentist has also established a free clinic in San Bernardino, Al-Shifa Dental Clinic, which offers care to Americans regardless of their income, social background, religion, race or ethnicity.
Celebrating his efforts and community services, Petal received a Riverside Heroes Award in late 2014.
Beside Heroes award, he was honored for his service as past chairman of the Islamic Center of Riverside.
Patel has also played a notable role in combating Islamophobia after 9/11 attacks which resulted in increasing attacks and Muslim stigmatization.
Since the 9/11 attacks, US Muslims, estimated between 6-8 million, have complained of discrimination and stereotypes in the society because of their Islamic attires or identities.
A US survey has revealed that the majority of Americans know very little about Muslims and their faith.
A Gallup poll also found that the majority of US Muslims are patriot and loyal to their country and are optimistic about their future.
An Economist/YouGov poll found that a large majority of Americans believe that US Muslims are victims of discrimination amid recent attacks against the community.
Pious Muslim
Organizing Open Mosque day events and holding Annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner in Riverside, Patel has been described by his friends as humble, pious and generous person whose remarkable gestures reflect the true image of Islam.
“What really drives him is his religion,” Omar Zaki, who met Patel more than 15 years ago at the Islamic Center, said.
“As a Muslim, it’s his responsibility to help others. He does this without asking for him.
“He is the guy in the back of the room doing 90 percent of the heavy lifting,” he added.
Nominating his friend for the Heroes Award, Zaki cited his friend’s effort to fight negative stereotypes wrongly associated to Muslims.
“This man has really tried to demonstrate to everyone he has come across what the meaning of being a good Muslim is,” Zaki said.
“He does so with his generosity. We as American Muslims need more Dr. Patels.”
Besides his free Al-Shifa Dental Clinic, Patel opened a dental office in the Muslim-owned nonprofit medical clinic in the unincorporated area of Muscoy in 2004.
I’ve always wanted to do this,” Patel said.
“I came here and saw lots of people who come to my dental office with no insurance. I was looking for a good opportunity. I’ve always wanted to give back to the community.”
With the recent murder of three young Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the burning of an Islamic Center in Houston, Texas, which authorities ruled as arson, and the numerous reports of personal harassment, Muslims feel they are targeted in the States.
Shocked by the heinous crime, world Muslims mourned the three young American Muslims in North Carolina, pouring into social media to send messages of solidarity to the victims’ families.
Twitter users started to employ the hashtag “#MuslimLivesMatter,” to comment on how the mainstream media ignored the news of the murder which did not make national headlines. (T/P006/P3)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
