IR DINNER WARMS HEARTS

IR dinner warms hearts

“Look at these kids. Look in the eyes of these orphans, brothers and sisters. If we cannot feel the pain and agony of these orphans, then brothers and sisters there must be something wrong with us..." These were the impassioned words of Habib Malik, as he stood in front of guests with tears in his eyes, holding the hands of orphans at the Islamic Relief ‘World in Need’ dinner held at Islamia High in Lansdowne on Friday. Standing in his traditional purple-check Scottish kilt, Malick from Islamic Relief (IR) in Scotland, addressed the Cape Town community, in a bid to increase funds to the humanitarian relief agency. Malik took guests through video footage throughout the evening of the agency's worldwide disaster projects leaving many in tears.
“I have a message to deliver and that is why I have come here today. I want you to witness the exile, the hunger and pain in these children eyes and those who are suffering around the world. These are the people who are with no food, no homes and not even a drop of water.  I will never force you to put something down, but all I am asking you today brothers and sisters, is to just consider these children and to ask ourselves what can we do to make a difference,” he urged.
According to the global relief worker, who has been to many countries before, it was sad and heartsore to see orphans suffering in the worst conditions one can witness. “I witnessed an eight year old child in Somalia holding her six month old brother. She didn’t know where her mother was. I asked her where her father was and she said he had died of hunger, and when I asked her where her mother was, she said that her mother had gone out to look for food and never returned to them since...

Hunger

"Ya Allah, when she showed me the food that they had to eat and fill their bellies with, my tears just rolled continuously. Now brothers and sisters you tell me, how do we watch children eat dry grass? Dried out grass mixed with water to get it down their little throat..." he described. Malik pleaded on guests to assist IR in making a difference in the lives of not only orphans but all those suffering in disadvantaged countries. With all the IR projects taking place around the world and the dedicated and hardworking team on board, many impoverished communities have been able to benefit from the donations raised.
The inspiring aid worker successfully managed to raise funds from guests on the night when he started a bid of R20 000  towards IR. The bid sustained itself as the crowd placed envelopes with donations inside blue decorated boxes placed in the middle of each table. Guests pledging their donations included Sheikh Ebrahim Gabriels and Maulana Abdul Khaliq Allie from the Muslim Judicial Council.  “IR will never judge you by your donations. Whether it is a R10 or R1, we thank you for your contribution, for your contribution is a million charities to this good cause Inshallah.”
Mallik said that he was amazed to see the Muslim community in South Africa and that he will be leaving the country with lots of memories from both IR and the community itself. “I am very much inspired to see hundreds of masajid and Islamic centres in SA. My brothers and sisters in Cape Town, you are all knowledgeable people and inspiring Alhamdulilah,” he said.

Contribute

Amongst the guest speakers at the event were Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor, who attended dressed in a black abaya. She implored the community to make a contribution saying it would put a smile on the orphans' faces. “Now that we are a free South Africa, we are not afraid to be free and make a contribution to the society. It’s one of the duties we have to do and this contribution will go towards the achievements of our country, for we are committed to make an attempt to better the society," she said.
“I believe that IR and its values are reflected in a very practical way in the way the Muslim community conduct itself. We in SA understand the challenges that confront the entire country, the continent and the world at large and those who we can make a difference to. Therefore we all need to have a belief...a belief that we can make the world better and by doing what each individual can achieve and believe Inshallah,” said Pandor, adding that she was willingly ready to make an effort to support the IR relief drive in Johannesburg.      
As guest speakers and entertainment lined up throughout the evening, orphans from a children home in Tafelsig dressed up in blue and black IR sweaters, treated guests to a beautiful qasida item leaving the crowd teary eyed as they sang ‘My Mom is amazing’. “When we listen to the qaasidas on radio, we don’t really ponder about it. But what made the event so special tonight is that it was done by the orphans itself and this really brought tears to my eyes, especially when the international speaker came back on stage with them to give another applaud to the orphans," said VOC presenter Ayesha Laatoe who also attended the event.
Guest where treated to a five course lavish meal with various entertainment items throughout the evening. Amongst the artists lined up throughout the event, were Zayne Adams and Gavin Roman, who got the crowd hyped when they performed on stage. “The entertainment they had after the speakers where great and the orphans themselves were really amazing when they took the stage. I came out today to support IR but I must say not only have I learned new things about the organisation, but I surely had a great time as well - Alhamdullilah," said Shaheed Adams, one of the guests who attended.
IR country director Ismat Muhamed said the tour nationally has been excellent and the response from people all over has been very fantastic. "It was very motivating for the team of IR in South Africa. Alhamdulillah, may Allah reward all those people who helped out and contributed to this worthy cause.” Muhamed added that with the support of the community and people all over the world who assisted, they are hopefully one step ahead of making a difference in the lives of orphan’s around the world. VOC (Aishah Cassiem)