PENNSYLVANIA MUSLIMS DONATE BLOOD
Harrisburg, Pennsylvanian, 19 Jumadal Awwal 1436/10 March 2015 (MINA) – Rendering help to the community, one of the teachings of Islam has been actualized by Masjid al-Noor Mosque of Pennsylvanian, when it opened its doors to those wishing to give blood and learn about their own health.
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself,” Ibraham Almeky, president of the Islamic Association of Northeast Pennsylvania, told Times Leader, quoting from the Prophetic sayings, On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
Almeky was speaking during a special blood drive and health fair held last Saturday at the mosque.
Opening its doors to those wishing to learn about their own health, Masjid al-Noor event has also promoted healthy eating, offering healthy snacks to attendees.
“We welcome everyone here,” said Almeky.
“All religions share an emphasis on kindness and good will.”
Mohammed Hefeez of Mountaintop who has given blood at the age of 12 before was excited for having another chance.
“When you realize the benefit of blood donation to those who have experienced physical trauma,” said Hefeez, “you realize how necessary it is.”
Another volunteer, Munther Kamal of Kingston, asserted that his doctor said giving blood was healthy for both the giver and the donor.
Physicians attending the event have added to the health fair’s success, offering answers to attendants.
“We have doctors with specialties ranging from oncology-haematology to paediatrics answering questions of attendees,” Almeky, an internist at the Medical Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania, said.
“We want to be helpful to those around us.”
Other representatives from the Associated Family Home Care Inc. have also provided information about in-home services.
New Programs
The event is part of a series of community-centered outreach efforts of the mosque, which have included offering gas cards to the needy and providing soup, donuts and pizza to first responders.
“People sometimes are uncomfortable with things they don’t understand,” Abdel Elbattah of Larksville said.
“Everyone should be willing to explain their beliefs and inform others.”
Geisinger Blood Center officials have also expressed their appreciation to the organization sponsoring the event.
“Encouraging and maintaining diversity among our donors helps Geisinger Blood Center to continue supplying quality blood products to the community,” Blood Center Director Mike Quint said in a press release.
“Blood donation is an important community service and it should be shared by everyone.”
Though there are no official estimates, the US is home to from 7-8 million Muslims.
An earlier Gallup poll found that the majority of Americans Muslims are loyal to their country and optimistic about their future in the United States.
Two reports by the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies indicate that an evolution has indeed occurred.
In 2009, 40 percent of Muslim Americans ages 18 to 29 said they were thriving, the lowest percentage in that age group. By 2011, 10 years after the terrorist attacks, that number had risen to 65 percent.
Several high-profile Islamic bodies have unanimously agreed it is permissible for a Muslim to donate blood if it would not harm the donor’s health or quality of life, while stating it is impermissible to tamper with human body.
They have also sanctioned donating blood to blood banks as a charitable act to save the lives of human beings, even if non-Muslims.
(T/P006/P3)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
