Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Sister, thanks a lot for your question, which emanates from a thoughtful heart that aspires to gain Allah’s pleasure by adhering to His ordinances.
In times of crises, all individuals, organizations, and governments should hasten to help and aid the victims by all possible halah (lawful) means. Religious organizations should precede others in collecting funds for the victims or in encouraging people to donate to relief organizations.
Responding to your question, Dr. Sano Koutoub Moustapha, professor of fiqh and its principles, International Islamic University, Malaysia, states:
Thank you for your question.
The religious organizations have multiple duties in this crisis:
First, in their sermons they should call upon individuals and governments to come forward to the assistance of the victims.
Second, they should organize lectures and forums to explain to the people the necessity and obligation of assisting our fellow Muslims who are suffering.
Third, they should conduct salat al-gha’ib (funeral prayer in abstentia) for those who have died in this disaster and pray that Allah accept them among the martyrs in the Hereafter.
Fourth, they should coordinate all efforts aiming at contributing or donating to NGOs that are working in the fields.
Read also:
Paying Zakah to South Asian Quake Victims
Why There Are So Many Earthquakes?
Helping Disaster Victims (Special File)
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