"Our mosque is open to all as a place of refuge," said Imam Makram El-Amin of Masjid An Nur in North Minneapolis. Imam El-Amin has been a busy man since the tornado struck this past Sunday. With the devastation wreaked by the tornado a few blocks away from the mosque, Imam El-Amin and his congregation found themselves at the forefront of providing relief to North Minneapolis residents. Utilizing the services of the recently launched Al Maa'unn, the Neighborly Needs Community Outreach program at Masjid An Nur, Imam Makram and his team have arranged for over 1500 meals for North Minneapolis residents since Monday. This was done in partnership with several local organizations such as El-Amin's Fish House, the Holy Land Bakery, Marina Deli, Safari Restaurant, and several mosques. The Al Maa'unn Neighborly Needs Community Outreach program plans to feed at least 500 people a day in the next few days.
The Twin Cities Muslim community has stepped up to the occasion and is mobilizing help and support for North Minneapolis residents affected by the tornado. Several Twin Cities mosques have designated this Friday as a fundraising day for relief work and will be collecting cash donations, bottled water, personal hygiene items and more. Many mosques will also pray for the people who were affected by this natural calamity.
Imam El-Amin summed up the relief efforts as follows, "We are here for anyone who needs help regardless of their color, ethnicity, or religious affiliation. Islam calls us to help our neighbors without any qualifiers attached."
The recent tornado disrupted a few lives, but it also paved a way to connect hearts and bring out the best of the human spirit.
