Role of Mehdavia Youth in ensuring no one sleeps hungry during COVID-19 lockdown

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مَنۡ ذَا الَّذِىۡ يُقۡرِضُ اللّٰهَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضٰعِفَهٗ لَهٗ وَلَهٗۤ اَجۡرٌ كَرِيۡمٌ ۚ‏

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Faith, As Salamu Alaikum Rahmathulahi Wa Barakatahu.

As you all are aware mankind all over the world is combating the deadly pandemic of COVID-19 which began in wuhan by observing various measures to stop its spread. One such measure is to follow Lock Down and strictly self quarantining at homes, which resulted in huge economic losses to almost all the economies. People who could do work from home, and continue to follow self quarantine took this lock down as a boon and spent quality time with their families, and also took to up-skill themselves & devote their time to turn to the creator as coincidentally Ramzan also began during this lock down. But unfortunately a majority of the people who are daily wagers, petty shop keepers, mechanics, and the like who are earning hand to mouth are left with no option to earn their daily breads and meet their ends. Those who could afford stored groceries to meet their requirements during the lock down and support the government to strictly follow self quarantine and help combat the pandemic. But many unfortunate families who could not buy groceries were left to suffer or manage with whatever little they have.  With lock down getting continued day by day many are not in a position to earn anything, and drain out their saving if any in maintaining their families. If this continue then people will die of hunger than the virus itself.

In this difficult time we saw a big gap between those who have and those who do not have. Observing this situation many NGOs, Philanthropists, Institutions & Politicians started lending a helping hand to those who are in trouble and distributing groceries in their proximity. Even Prime Minister of India too appealed to its citizen to help the poor families in his address to the nation.

Following the suit and to ensure our service to the Nation many Mehdavia Youth too joined hands in ensuring that no one sleeps hungry during this global lock down to combat COVID-19. They started mobilizing funds among themselves and distributing to the affected families. 

One of the group by name Team Khalifathullah Mehdi which used to distribute groceries every Ramzan extended its service to lock down period too. So far they have delivered 1796 Grocery packets worth Rs.2156000 /- in 36 locations such as Achalpur, Ahmadabad, Ahmadnagar, Amravati, Ausa, Babanagar, Bannur, Barshi, Bhadravati, Chanchalguda, Chanpatan, Cudapa, Dharamkatta, Farah Nagar, Gangavati, GM Nagar, Gohadli / Babhadli, Gulbarga, Hallikhed, Harinagar, Humnabad, Kirgawal, Kurah, Lalgadhi, Lohara, Mandya, Manvi, Musheerabad, Mysore, Nangaonpet, Palanpur, Palcode, Pindyal, Pune / Bhiwandi, Tadsa and Umarga.

Another group of Mehdavia Youth from Bangalore under banner BASE [Bureau for Awareness and Socio-Economic Empowerment]- has taken a initiative 'No One Sleeps Hungry Due to COVID-19' and believes that a consistent and organised effort is needed to feed the hungry and have taken a pledge to assist in providing relief to the community by providing relief material. They have packaged the grocery kit with Rice, Aata, Sugar, Dals, Salt & Spices, Vegetable Oil, Soaps etc and so far delivered about 800 kits in Channapatna & Bangalore with the help of about 65 donors & volunteers in phase-1. In addition to this they have also extended medical aid to the people in need by providing essential medicines to the diabetic patients too. Base invited all the like minded people to join hands in their initiative in phase-2 and further so as to reach maximum beneficiaries.

We also got reports from Mandya that some of the members of Mehdavia Sadat Mohalla joined together and distributed about 350 kits. In addition to this one of the Philanthropist from Bangalore distributed Rs.500 cash to about 200 people.

Let us see what the Quran has to say on giving. Allah swt has directed all of us to do charity through various verses of Quran.  Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 57 Surah Hadeed verse 11 'Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful Loan (karzan-hasana)? For (Allah) will increase it manifold to his credit and he will have (besides) a liberal reward.' Again Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 73 Surah Muzammil verse 20 'Read ye therefore as much of the Qur'an as may be easy (for you); and establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan (karzan-hasana). And whatever good ye send forth for your souls Ye shall find it in Allah's Presence, yea, better and greater in Reward. And seek ye the Grace of Allah: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.'

Further, Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 245 'Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan (karzan-hasana) Which Allah will double unto his credit And multiply many times? It is Allah that giveth (you) Want or plenty And to Him shall be Your return.'  Again Chapter 64 Surah Taghabun verse 17: 'If ye loan to Allah a beautiful loan (kardan-hasana) He will double it to your (credit) and He will grant you Forgiveness: for Allah is most Ready to appreciate (service) Most Forbearing

Brothers and Sisters, the crux of the above verses is that, whatever one spends in the Cause of Allah or to help one amongst Allahs creation seeking to earn only the Pleasure and Good Will of Allah. Then Allah swt takes every cent spent in His Name and in His Cause as a loan unto Himself which He has promised to repay manifold to the person in the Hereafter.

I have just shared very few incidents of this Hunger Saviors indicatively, there are many good work are carried out by many Mehdavia youths and organisations all across which are done saliently and anonymously irrespective of cast creed or faith. As the practice of any charity work done by Mehdavis are purely done only for the sake of Allah by saying Allah Diya, hence many of them do not want their names to be displayed, accordingly we have withheld the names of individuals. We practice Allah Diya seeking absolutely nothing but Allah's Pleasure and Goodwill in the Hereafter is  nothing but karzan-hasana which has been advised by Allah swt in the verses mentioned above.

Now is a good time to lend Kharzan Hasana, hence I personally urge all our brothers and sisters to ensure your neighbours, relatives or friends do not sleep hungry and ensure that you directly provide them AllahDiya help or join hands with any other trusted organisation in your locality to do the same. All these comes under Huqooq ul Ibad which is also one of the core values of Mehdavis.

May Allah accept this service of all our brothers and strengthen their Iman and make them succeed in both the world and the hereafter.

Jazak Allah
With regards
Inayath Ulla Khan s/o Abdul Khader Khan, Mandya