Shukr

You know time is such an interesting thing. One second, one minute, one hour, one day, one week, one year-they all go by so fast and we can never get any of it back. So this break I learned the importance of time and how we need to spend our time wisely. In the beginning of December I posted about the Muslims Against Hunger project. I heard about it before but couldn’t go, yesterday was the second time they fed people and I am so happy that I took part in such a project. Hamdulillah there was a total of 41 volunteers that prepared and served hot meals to 330 working poor, senior citizens, and other needy guests. When I first got there I was so happy to see that there were so many Muslims ready to help- and even happier to see some familiar faces I signed in, was a bit confused at first with what to do, after all this was my first time volunteering at a soup kitchen, but Br. Zamir (the brother in charge of all of this) helped us out,told us what to do, and got us to work. As I began to cover the tables I looked out the doors and was pretty shocked at what I saw. I grew up on Long Island, but my parents would always take me back to the city, I’ve seen people who don’t have much or anything, but still for some reason yesterday it just really hit me. I looked at the line outside, the people waiting on line shivering outside in the cold, waiting for food. I guess looking at the line of people, realizing that these people are only about 30 minutes away from where I live and they don’t have the luxury of being able to chose what they want to eat, or of being able to go the fridge any time and get what they want to eat kind of hit me hard when I saw families come in with kids. I mean if I’m ever hungry I can go to the fridge, or the numerous cupboards, or the basement which is FULL of food and get what I want without trouble.

Hamdulillah it was juss such a productive day. As I walked to my car with a big goofy smile on my face I was so happy with what I did. It’s juss an experience that can’t really be explained, it’s a great feeling to know that you have juss done something that has helped out another. I think volunteering at a soup kitchen is something that everyone should try. InshaAllah I think there will be another opportunity coming up around March, inshaAllah I’ll post it again. Until then try to to go out and volunteer for a bit it’s a great experience and sadaqah I used to volunteer a lot more in high school, I think I’m going to start doing that again. Just look around at all the blessings that Allah has provided us with. The house we live in, the food we have stocked, on the table, and in our bellies are all blessings that we need to always have in mind and always need to give thanks for. We have so many ‘extra’s,’ thing’s that we don’t need, you know things that we want, but hamdulillah we have it anyway. Try to always remember Allah, and always give thanks- when I was little I was told, a little thanks can go a long way and it’s true. Make good niyyah and inshaAllah we will all be rewarded in the akhirah.

Take care inshaAllah.

-radf