FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Duston Barto, Public Relations Manager
Phone: 708/499.6151
Fax: 708/799.6154
Web: www.thezakat.org
Islamic Eid Gives Joy for Struggling Christians in Pakistan
Evergreen Park, IL, 12/20/2006– For the first time in Pakistani history, holiday cheer came to Islamabad’s Christian community through the kindness of Muslims. Charity is important in all world religions, so when Muslims pre-celebrated their Eid al-Adha by giving presents to the Christian minority, the familiar spirit of giving found no religious confines. On Thursday, December 14, the Zakat Foundation of America (Chicago) and the Khubaib Foundation (Pakistan) presented the Islamic Eid to struggling widows and orphans in Islamabad who gladly accepted gifts of clothing, shoes, school supplies, food, and other items.
Muslims observe Eid al-Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice, in commemoration of Abraham’s willingness to obey God. In a vision, says the Qur’an, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, but just as the sacrifice was about to be executed, a divine voice called out, “O Abraham, you have already fulfilled the vision.” A lamb was then provided for the sacrifice as the son’s life was spared. Muslims observe the significance of this event in terms of commitment, obedience, and self-sacrifice.
Charity is also an important aspect of Eid al-Adha, and the Zakat Foundation helped bring the holiday spirit of Eid to the poor Christian minority in Islamabad. Christians make up only 2.5% of the total Pakistani population. A majority of those have a long history of human rights struggles; a high illiteracy rate, unsanitary conditions, joblessness and unskilled labor, and overall poverty have resulted in frustration and overall feelings of hopelessness.
The Eid giving followed a religious coexistence seminar chaired by Sardar Abdul Qayyum, the former President and Prime Minister of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Participants included other political dignitaries, Muslim and Christian leaders, and renowned scholars and intellectuals. Both the Bible and the Qur’an were read, and an interfaith prayer was offered by the former Federal Minister for Population Welfare, Mr. Julius Salik.
In his opening address at the seminar, Mr. Nadeem Ahmed Khan introduced the Zakat Foundation of America. He said, “This foundation is established on the highest principles of charity and seeks to provide for those in need around the world, with special focus on aid to orphans and widows, and on educational and developmental projects.” He continued in saying, “the Zakat Foundation distributes aid on the basis of need alone and does not discriminate on the basis of religion, age, gender, race, or nationality.”
The distribution of Eid gifts was conducted at Aabpara Community Hall in Islamabad. Over 150 widows and 500 orphans received gifts. Needy Christian families also received a month’s ration of food.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Muhammad Ijaz Ul Haq emphasized the need for Pakistan to provide for its needy, religious minorities in order to abide by Pakistan’s constitution, which calls for equal access for all people. He commended the Khubaib Foundation and the Zakat Foundation of America, the two organizations striving most to achieve social welfare and the uplifting of depressed and deprived communities.
The Zakat Foundation of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit humanitarian aid organization based in Evergreen Park, IL which seeks to bridge the gab between its financially privileged donors and those in need around the world. To learn more about The Zakat Foundation, please visit www.thezakat.org
For more information about this, or other programs of The Zakat Foundation of America, please contact Duston Barto at 708/499.6151 or by email dbarto@thezakat.org
EID GIFT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM REPORT
Following a seminar on inter-faith religious harmony, tolerance and universal brotherhood; there was a practical application of such things tow work in bringing Muslims and the Christian minority of Pakistan closer together. A gift distribution of needed clothes, shoes, school supplies and food packages was a welcomed token of love from Muslims to their Christian friends. This is an especially remarkable occasion as it occurred near the Christian holiday of Christmas, though for the Muslims giving the gifts, it was a celebration of the Eid al-Adha.
The field officers of the charitable organizations had conducted a survey at a very large scale to indicate the most deserving persons of aid and to understand the major civic problems faced to this deprived community in Pakistan. Over 250 widows and more than 500 orphans and deserving children were selected to provide assistance in the first phase. The distribution among these deserving peoples was made at Aabpara Community Hall on Friday, December 15th at 3:00 PM. The event was largely attended by the community’s political and religious leaders, civil society activists and representatives of Christian community in the parliament. A large number of prominent Muslim Citizens, representatives of NGOs, Government officials, journalists, scholars and intellectuals participated and shared their views with the gathering.
The co-existence program was started by the recitation of Holy Qur’an by Retired Naval Commander Farooq Khan Lodhi, who not only recited the selected verses of Surah Maryam but also translated it into Urdu for the better understanding of the Muslim beliefs and to pay regards to the holy personalities of Christianity. This helped to bridge a cap and created a great impact on common Christian feelings. After the Qur’an recitation, Bishop Amjad read a lesson from the Bible that was listened to by everyone present with a great deal of respect.
Mr. Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, the Director International Affairs for Khubaib Foundation, highlighted the importance of today’s program with brief introduction of Khubaib Foundation and The Zakat Foundation of America as well as the history of their cooperation. He then introduced the important guests to the audience.
The chief guests were:
Mr. Ijaz ul Haq, son of the former President of Pakistan and the Federal Minister of Religious Affairs
Mr. Mushtaq Victors, the Federal Minister of State for Minority Affairs
Mr. Julius Salik, the Former Federal Minister
Dr. Aliya Imam, the Former Advisor on Culture, Social Welfare and Special Education for the government of Pakistan
Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, a Labor Union Leader and Secretary General of the Capital Development Authority Labor Union having the confidence of over 25,000 workers including thousands of Christian sanitary workers.
Dr. Aliya Imam spoke first, highlighting the importance of living together with peace and honor. She stressed that there are certain interest groups who create differences and feelings of hatred among the human beings. She praised the organizers and especially the management of The Zakat Foundation of America who decided to arrange such an intellectual discussion and institute activities of humanitarian relief for Christian widows and orphans.
Chaudhry Yasin thanked Khubaib Foundation and Zakat Foundation and highlighted the major problems facing the Christian sanitary staff workers in his department. Mr. Julius Salik, a prominent Christian Leader, indicated several hot issues facing the Christian community in Islamabad including health care, education and emergency relief for poor families. He highlighted the services of both the Foundations in the past which they offered to earthquake affectees and the poor communities living in slum areas of Islamabad. He announced that he would gladly be a volunteer for the activities to promote inter-faith harmony and tolerance under the banner of Khubaib Foundation and Zakat Foundation of America. He declared this distribution to be a mega distribution for his community fellows as it is the first one but motivated dozens of other groups to work in this neglected area of human service and care.
Professor Mushtaq Victor addressed the audience explained the activities done by his “Ministry for the welfare of minorities” in Pakistan but he declared it is very small to what it is needed to be done. He said “I congratulate The Zakat Foundation of America and Khubaib Foundation for arranging these two connected activities which I participated.” He further said “Yesterday I presented my speech in front of Scholars and opinion makers of this country on an intellectual issue and today we are in a practical work to provide relief to those who were unable to celebrate happiness without this gift. It shows that both the foundations are not engaged in lip service as we have seen the history of their concrete practical work is very much visible on ground in different areas of human services.”
Chairman of Khubaib Foundation, Nadeem Ahmed Khan, thanked the dignitaries for their time and support for a noble cause. He briefly presented the report of welfare activities of Zakat Foundation of America which were implemented by Khubaib Foundation in Pakistan. He said that each deserving family will get a ration bag containing rice, sugar, lentils, floor, oil and tea which is sufficient for one month’s needs and will be distributed among more than 150 women. He said each woman would also be given new clothes and shoes while school bags and stationery items would be given to more than 400 children in connection with Christmas. He encouraged the children to learn more and focus their attention to their studies and to learn the skills which can bring a vital change in their lives and social structure. He said it is everybody’s responsibility to take care of his neighbors.
Muhammad Ijaz Ul Haq, Federal Minister of Religious Affairs, said “We are planning to set up a special fund for immediate assistance of needy people belonging to religious minorities the constitution of Pakistan protects rights of every citizen and all the minorities have equal rights and enjoying complete religious freedom.” He thanked the organizers of gift distribution ceremony and giving him a chance to come and share his feelings with the gathering. He offered complete support to The Zakat Foundation of America Khubaib Foundation and to achieve the goals of social welfare and uplift of depressed and deprived communities.
Both the Ministers along with the chairman of Khubaib Foundation started the distribution of gifts among widows and orphans which was covered by television and print media with a special attention as it was rarely seen to have a Muslim and Christian Minister helping Christians in cooperation. All of this was on the invitation of Khubaib Foundation and Zakat Foundation of America. Due to the large number of beneficiaries, other Ministers and VIPs assisted with the distribution. The guests were then offered refreshment at the end and they showed their pleasure and thanked both the Foundations on providing this opportunity to interact with a much neglected community.
