Donors and NGO’s unite to create Muslims for Humanity

KZN-based Muslim businessmen, donors and other humanitarians have joined together to launch a donor led initiative to assist NGOs reach vulnerable people during the Coronavirus lockdown.

According to Muslims For Humanity interim coordinator and Willowton Group CEO, Mahomed Zubeir Moosa, “Muslims For Humanity will not be ‘just another’ NGO, but rather a donor-led association that will assist NGOs to work together to optimize their resources and become more effective and efficient in the wake of rising challenges sparked by the unfolding Covid-19 pandemic”.

“The Covid-19 pandemic will have profound effects on humanity and, in this regard, the Islamic year of 1441 (the gregorian year of 2020) will forever be remembered as the most impactful year in each of our lives and ultimately leading to a new normal. However, we need to embrace the positives and this has given us the opportunity to not only restart our lives, lifestyles and businesses but also to take cognisance of our surroundings,” he said.

A number of NGOs and community organisations have already committed their participation in the initiative, this includes Jamiatul Ulema KZN, Sunni Jamiatul Ulema, Al Imdaad Foundation, Sanzaf, Darul Ihsan and Muslim Relief Alliance PMB to mention a few. Husein Asmal, GM of Sanzaf Durban said: “It is quoted in the Holy Quran that the best of people are those that are of benefit to people.”

Moulana Muhammad Vanker, interim Ameer of the Shura council of Muslims For Humanity and Imam of the Umhlanga Islamic Society said: “To serve humanity is a fundamental ingredient of our Imaan and an important component of our faith. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was asked what is the definition of imaan (faith or belief)? The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said: ‘To desire good for the general masses.’ This brilliant initiative, Muslims For Humanity, was born with the same vision to benefit humanity,” said Moulana Vanker.

According to many economists, the precarious economic situation in South Africa prior to the March 2020 lockdown will inevitably see the fallout from Covid-19 being far worse than in most other economies. “When businesses find themselves facing uncertain financial times, they look to re-engineer themselves in order to sustain themselves in the future. As we head into the turbulent times that lie ahead, there is, likewise, a need for various NGOs to possibly re-engineer themselves”.

Zahid Fakey, Joint interim coordinator and COO of we Feed SA, said that during the seven weeks he had spent in the social welfare space in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown, he had noticed a great deal of duplication as well as gaps in services to the needy. “Muslims For Humanity would be able to address this ‘age-old problem’ and would enable organizations who shared the same vision and goal to extend their reach through collaboration”.