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Category: Memorials Sub Category: Family |
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Muhammad Musri on Friday leads prayers for the victims of the tsunami disaster. More than 141,000 have died.
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Mus lims share in grief
Stories of tsunami victims inspire Central Floridians' donations, prayers
By Robert Perez | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted January 1, 2005
Aafaq Sheikh made a donation Friday afternoon to the tsunami relief fund at the Islamic Society of Central Florida, but it failed to soothe the sorrow and frustration he feels.
Images of the destruction and the growing death toll have dominated Sheikh's thoughts since Sunday's killer waves swept over South Asia, leaving more than 121,000 dead and millions homeless from Sumatra to Somalia.
"I have sorrow and sadness for the families of the dead and the people who survived," he said. "Most of them didn't have much to begin with."
Sheikh was one of thousands of Florida Muslims who attended Friday prayer services and donated to tsunami relief. Contributions were sought at all seven Central Florida mosques, said Muhammad Musri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida.
The majority of the populations of Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Maldives, each in the area of devastation, are Muslim.
"I wish I had the means to be there, providing medicine," said Sheikh, an Orlando pharmacist. "Every time I talk to my customers they ask me what they can do. They feel the same sorrow. It's nice to see people in the Orlando area are asking me where they can send their donations."
Like Sheikh, Imad Ramadan has felt growing sadness as the magnitude of the catastrophe unfolds. Each day, Ramadan said, he has felt growing tension and emotion.
"It's been very hard," he said. "But I'm amazed by the survival stories like people being in trees for two days."
Central Florida's Muslim community has come together in the past to donate money, Ramadan said.
"We try to help people all around the world, not just Muslims," he said.
During the service at Masjid Al-Rahman on Goldenrod Road, Musri asked people to donate generously.
"After Sept. 11, we saw the good side of the world," he said. "And with this tragedy we will see the same."
Only monetary contributions were solicited because other donations would take too long to get to people who need help now, Musri said.
"If we've got it in cash, we can wire it in no time," he said. "Everything is less expensive over there, as well."
Local donations will be sent to Islamic Relief Worldwide, which is trying to raise $10 million for tsunami relief, Musri said during the service.
He also used the catastrophe to speak about the materialism and the war in Iraq.
"Instead of spending $300 billion a year on war, Allah wants to see us spend that for peace," he said.
To date, hundreds of millions of dollars have been pledged to tsunami relief by governments around the world. But it doesn't begin to address the needs of the world's needy, Musri said. |
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