Zakat Foundation Center Updates and Current Events

Asalamualaikum, my name is Khizr Kazmi, and I am an often volunteer at the Zakat Foundation Center in North Carolina. Our center is open from 11 AM-1 PM every day of the week  We currently do many events for the youth, and more. We have tutoring on Mondays from 6:30-8 PM, all ages are welcome! On Wednesdays, we have a play session with toddlers. We have puzzles, tic tac toe, and many more games! On Thursdays, we will be having Women's Fitness classes in the morning, stay tuned to the blog for more information. On Sundays, we have Tae-Kwon-Do to teach kids self-defense, and following that, we have our weekly 99 Orphan Meeting. As you read, our center is very busy and we would love if you were a part of keeping it open or being a part of our team.

Thanks
-Khizr Kazmi 
ZF Volunteer
LEGEND

The Importance of Fasting During the month of Ramadan

As we are approaching Ramadan in a few weeks, I would like to talk about the importance of fasting. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is commonly practiced during the Holy month of Ramadan. Many people fast during Ramadan because it gives them an opportunity to cleanse their souls from impurities and sins they have committed in the past. In Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 183, the Quran states that "Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwaa." This means that fasting is beneficial, and you will be rewarded for fasting during Ramadan.

The New Community Center ( kids night )

the new zakat foundation community center looks great and ready for many fun events for us too plan for. Some of the activities have already started and seem to be very good. One weekly activity that i am part of is the kids night day every Wednesday we get the kids too play with puzzles and books. It is a very good time to get little kids together from the community.

EESA RASHID

An Orphan's Pain

An orphan is a child who suffers great loss and sorrow. Their world has come crashing down as their parents are ripped from them in a matter of seconds. They have no family, no love, no home. Every day is filled with pain and a sense of lacking; they feel this constant void in their chest, one that affection used to fill. Not only do they have to deal with emotional strife, hunger and thirst silently peel away their life, one minute at a time. Without care from an adult, these rundown kids can't sustain themselves. They have no money or sustenance, no hope or future, nothing to look for or forward to.

As we look at these kids and hear their stories, its hard to imagine we could ever help them overcome these towering odds. There is one simple thing any parent, teen, or child can do: donate. Every cent makes a change; donate a dollar, spread the word, and save a child.

Zakat Foundation Community Center

What is a community center? A community center is a place where people from a particular community can meet for social, educational, or recreational activities. Zakat Foundation has acquired a building Alhumdulilah where members of the group can meet up, plan events, and even hold events. The community center is very significant because it gives us a chance to have an area devoted to the cause. This is also a safe and controlled environment for kids, teens, and even adults to hold gatherings. The possibilities are endless. We can have movie nights, gaming tournaments, tutoring, story time, and much more. I hope this center brings many more members, opportunity, and fun. We hope to see you there!

Ramadan & Updates

Salam!

Ramadan is less than 3 weeks away, 18 days to be exact. It is at this time where we should prepare ourselves for this blessed month. Usually Ramadan passes pretty quickly and its over before we know it. We should take advantage of all the blessings and rewards that are open to us during these 30 days. I learned something very interesting in a halaqa recently that I thought was worth sharing. Allah gives us three opportunities in this month to erase ALL of our previous sins. The first one is to fast the entire month with pure intentions. We shouldn't be fasting just because all our friends are or because your parents are telling you too. You should fast purely for the sake of pleasing Allah. The second is standing in prayer during the nights of Ramadan, also known as Taraweeh. The last one is to catch the night of Laylatul Qadr in a state of worship and prayer. I believe every single Muslim, either young or old, has the ability to complete at least one of the following deeds, it only will only take a little effort. 

As a member of the 99 orphan team, I am super excited to continue planning and taking part in events that will lead to raising more money for our orphans. We have already raised enough money for 45 orphans and we are close in finishing our 46th. We are extremely close to being halfway with our goal. Inshallah this Ramadan we will raise much more money for our goal of sponsoring 99 orphans this year. Thanks so much to all of those who donated! Hopefully our group and what we do is an inspiration to everyone to do something big or small to give back to your community. Even a small donation of a dollar is immensely appreciated.

As you might already know, Zakat Foundation has officially opened a community center in NC!! If you haven't checked it out yet, you definitely should. Today's actually exactly one month from when we first opened it. Fatima and I are going to be teaching our 3rd weekly self defense class tomorrow at the center. There are also math tutoring, business sessions and many more helpful and fun activities at the center. Keep your eyes out the next few months for many more fun activities. 

These are some things that are coming up in the following weeks:

• May 17, 2017:  Ramadan Food Package Fundraiser Iftar at Tandoor Restaurant.  Buy your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zakat-foundation-of-america-ramadan-food-package-fundraiser-tickets-45194111805 or come to the Center to pick up your ticket.  Fun Ramadan craft activities will take place 7-8pm.  

• Monthly Friday Ramadan halaqas & potlucks.  Email nayma@zakat.org to sign up.

• Art Classes in Ramadan.  Stay tuned for more details. 

• 99 Orphan Meeting this Sunday April 29 6:30-8:00pm
• Weekly Slime Sessions. More details will be shared soon

Thank You and Early Ramadan Mubarak!

- Huda