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THE FREEZING-DEATH PLIGHT OF THE SYRIAN REFUGEES

Vacillating between extreme weather conditions – extreme heat and extreme cold – the hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees are on the doorstep of the freezing winter which commences from about the end of November. The following press report pertaining to last year’s winter suffering, will give just a glimpse of the harsh and heart-breaking conditions our Brothers and Sisters are facing in the open desert. 

“REAL RISK” of REGUGEES FREEZING TO DEATH IN SYRIA

“As temperatures fall, aid workers warn of danger to at least 11,000 people

across Idlib. With storms also battering camps in Lebanon. Damage caused

by  flash floods at Atma refugee camp in Idlib,  in late December –

temperatures there have now dropped below freezing.

At least 11,000 child refugees and their families are facing a weekend of

freezing temperatures with no shelter, after torrential rains across Syria’s

Idlib province swept away tents and belongings.

Aid workers warn there is a real risk people will simply freeze to death as

temperatures have already dropped to  -1C, amid  shortage of blankets and

heating fuel………..Camps in the border town of Asral have been buried in

snow, while settlements in the central and west Bekaa areas,  where there

has been heavy flooding, have experienced even worse damage……

About half of the 2.9 million people living in Idlib and the surrounding areas

are displaced, according to  the UN. Children, who make up half of those

displaced , have often been forced to move up to seven times and are already

in poor health.”

The above report depicted the situation last winter. This winter the misery and hardship have multiplied manifold as a result of another 600,000 (six hundred thousand) refugees, displaced from their destroyed homes by the brutal onslaught of indiscriminate kuffaar bombardment.

The desert where these unfortunate Muslim Brothers and Sisters are stranded will, in a matter of weeks be literally covered and even buried in snow and ice

For us, drowning in luxury, pleasure and waste, the real plight of these refugees is unimaginable. It is for this reason that the hearts of Muslims intoxicated with comforts remain like stone or even harder as Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur’aan Majeed:

“Then their hearts became like stone or even harder, for verily, from some stones (rocks) gush forth rivers, and some stones (rocks) split and water emerges, and some stones roll (from heights) for the fear of Allah.”

THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS

Insha-Allah, we shall again within the next week or two, be proceeding to assist the refugees in whatever little way Allah Ta’ala permits. The immediate need is for more tents, thousands of blankets and other absolutely necessary provisions for survival.

In Allah’s Name we implore Muslims to open their hearts – to understand the urgency and the heart-rending plight of the suffering Muslim Brothers and Sisters. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:

“The Muslimoon are like a single person. If the eye pains, the whole body is affected. If the head pains, the whole body is affected.”

Therefore, if the heart fails to open for this Waajib Cause, then there is most certainly some drastic aberration corroding one’s Imaan. Our Muslim community is basking in opulence. There are those who can easily afford to contribute thousands of blankets and numerous tents. Those who intend squandering tens of thousands of rands on ‘umrah’ holidays, should divert the funds to aid their suffering Brethren and thereby earn the thawaab of hundreds of Maqbool Umrahs. Abstain from squandering in wedding receptions, and think of your suffering Brothers and Sisters stranded in brutal conditions - extreme weather as well as repeated bombings by the kuffaar. The one who can afford even a single blanket will also be well rewarded. Allah Ta’ala looks at the intention embedded in the heart.

We trust that the Muslim community understands fully the import of our Call, and that aiding the suffering Muslims is a WAAJIB obligation on all Muslims.  It is hoped that the hearts will open up to respond generously.

ZAKAAT, LILLAH, SADQAH, ETC. ARE ALL ACCEPTED FOR THIS DIRE AND URGENT PROJECT

Our banking details:

Our Nedbank details are:

Mujlisul Ulama of South Africa

A/c no. 1217 040 145

Standford Quarter Branch (code 198765)

Port Elizabeth

(Sorte Code NEDSZAJJ)

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Our ABSA Bank details are:

Mujlisul Ulama of SA

ABSA Bank

A/c no. 40 8255 6635

Port Elizabeth

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Our Standard Bank details are:

Account:  MUZO  of S.A.

No:    080645240

Branch Code:  050217

Branch: Berry’s Corner, Port Elizabeth

Depositing from overseas

Beneficiary Bank: Standard Bank

Swift Address/ BIC code: SBZAZAJJ

Beneficiary Name: MUZO of S. A.

Beneficiary Account Number: 080 645 240

BIC Code / Sort Code/ Bank Code/ Clearing system: 051001

15 Safar 1441 – 14 October 2023