London: Muslims donate sacrifice meat to Christian charities

Racing to feed hungry and poor people in the European country, British Muslims have donated their Udhiyah meat to two Christian charity organizations to feed the hungry and homeless, reported The London Free Press on Friday, December 28.

"We know there are lots of people who are hungry and live on the streets," said Mohammad Yassine, president of the Islamic Centre of SouthWest Ontario

He said that Muslims in London have donated more than 360 kilograms of Udhiyah meat to the Men's Mission and Salvation Army in London.

"I hope this is going to become a tradition," he said.

A financially-able Muslim sacrifices a single sheep or goat or shares six others in sacrificing a camel or cow as an act of worship during `Eid Al-Adha, which ended last Saturday.

According to the majority of scholars Udhiyah or sacrifice is a confirmed Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

It reminds Muslims of the great act of sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Isma`eel were willing to make for the sake of God.

In Islam, Muslims keep one-third of Udhiyah meat for themselves, donate one-third to the relatives and one-third to charity.

Fighting Hunger

Imam Jamal Taleb of the London Muslim Mosque said the Muslim meat donation aims to fight hunger in the European country.

"We believe poverty is a problem that we need to work together to solve," he said.

It is the first time the London Mosque donates meat to the Men's Mission and the Salvation Army.

Last year, Udhiyah meat was given to the London Food Bank, a non-profit, charitable organization working to help people in need.

The Salvation Army is a Christian charity which describes itself as seeking to bring salvation to the poor, destitute and hungry by meeting their physical and spiritual needs.

The Men's Mission also works to serve the homeless and disadvantaged in London.

Joyce Boutin, of the Men's Mission, said Muslim meat will be distributed as of next week among the poor and the hunger.

"We feed a lot of people here. It was a good choice," she said.

Source: Islam Online (English)

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