M ERCY M ISSION ’ S S ISTERS R EFUGE C ENTRE

D ID YOU K NOW ? There are over 60* sisters each month who find themselves kicked out of their homes or in serious financial, emotional and/or physical distress because of their choice of religion. They are ridiculed, ostracised by their family, friends, neighbours, communities and left to find their way with a new set of beliefs but no direction. Many of these sisters will revert back to their previous religion, commit suicide or resort to prostitution to make ends meet. Some even 'working' from their homes in which their own children live with them. Other sisters and their families seeking refuge in the UK or finding themselves in unexpectedly bad circumstances live for days without food, shelter or heating. Many face domestic abuse behind closed doors. *solace

These are someone's wives, MOTHERS, sisters, NEIGHBOURS, relatives, FRIENDS. WHAT IF THEY WERE YOURS? But more importantly......THEY ARE ALL OF OUR SISTERS IN ISLAM. How much do we turn a blind eye to? Most of us are unaware of what, and to what extent, is going on in our own neighbourhoods.

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T HE S ISTER ’ S R EFUGE C ENTRE In light of this need, Mercy Mission, after amazing results and success in the pilot scheme in India and driven by the need they have now found in our local communities here in the UK, are seeking to open the first 'Sister's Refuge Centre' in Birmingham. This will be the first branch of an InshaAllah global chain of centres, the first of their kind, dedicated to this single cause of providing love, aid, assistance, a home, a family, an education (both Islamic and otherwise), protection and support of Muslim women in all their needs: emotional, physical, spiritual and financial. These will all be given by trained, fully qualified professionals including doctors, nurses, teachers and councilors amongst others. Right now, Mercy Mission is aiming to raise £200, 000 before Ramadhan to have the project started and sisters moving in by Eid, InshaAllah. Five more are planned for the UK once the Birmingham branch is running so there is a huge need for your support.

B REAKDOWN OF THE C OSTS … Operating Cost: 30, Advice Bureau - Islamic Advocacy - Revert Support Program - Respite Program Rent (For center and accommodation) 28, 000 Setup for Support Services: 7, 000 Bills: 5, 000 Relief Fund: 30, Emergency Accommodation Solutions 6, Counseling 12, Food Bank 12, 000

W HAT CAN YOU DO ? 1. Give your zakat 2. Give as much sadaqah as possible 3. Spread the word -to EVERYONE you know! 4. Make Du’a for the sister’s in need and for the project to be a success This is an amazing opportunity for you to not only benefit your locality but also earn some sadaqah jaariya, the good deed that keeps on giving and giving.

Z AKAT The obligation of Zakat upon every Muslim: "Take alms from their goods (wealth), in order to purify and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower." [Al-Tawbah:103] The consequence of not paying Zakat: “O you who believe! Verily, there are many of the (Jewish) rabbis and the (Christian) monks who devour the wealth of mankind in falsehood, and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. And those who hoard up gold and silver (Al ‑ Kanz: the money, the Zakat of which has not been paid) and spend them not in the way of Allah, announce unto them a painful torment. On the Day when that (Al ‑ Kanz: money, gold and silver, the Zakat of which has not been paid) will be heated in the fire of Hell and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, (and it will be said unto them ‘This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard.” [Al-Tawbah 9:34-35]

According to the blessed Sunnah of Rasulullah (saw) and the practice of his companions, Zakat should be distributed among the deserving people in the region or country where it is collected. Ordinarily transferring Zakat to other places is makruh (disliked). In the hadith that talks about the Messenger's instructions to his companion Muadh when he was sent to Yemen we are told that he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "O Muadh! You are going to a community who are of the People of the Book. So, first invite them to bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If they accept this, then inform them that Allah makes five prayers in a day and night obligatory for them. If they accept this, then inform them that Allah makes charity (i.e., Zakat) obligatory for them. (It is) to be taken from their rich and given to their poor. " [Bukhari] Based on the last part of this hadith, all the four schools of jurisprudence ( madhabs ) establish that as a rule Zakat should be distributed locally and not transferred elsewhere.

S ADAQAH Islam guides the muslims to earn their paradise by the belief that all wealth is the creation of Allah and Allah owns it. “Believe in Allâh and His Messenger, and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees. And such of you as believe and spend (in Allâh’s way), theirs will be a great reward.” (al-Hadeed 57:7) To give from ones wealth in charity is from one of the greatest actions that Allâh has blessed the Muslim Nation with. ALWAYS REMEMBER: GIVING CHARITY BENEFITS YOU THE MOST

1. It will prove your religion, faith, and ‘sidq’ (truthfulness and sincerity) with Allah. The Prophet (saw) said, "Sadaqah is a proof" (muslim). 2. It is a means of forgiveness for you. “And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous. Who spend [in the cause of Allah ] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allah loves the doers of good.” (3: ) 3. It is guaranteed to increase your wealth, It will never diminish it. “The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.” (2:261) - Prophet (saw) said: "Wealth is never diminished by giving sadaqah." (Bukhari). - "Say, 'Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts (it) for him. But whatever thing you spend (in His cause) – He will compensate i t; and He is the best of Providers." (Saba', 34:39) - "Whoever gives the amount of a date in sadaqah from good halal earnings- and know that Allah does not accept but that which is good Allah will accept it with His Right Hand and will nurture the Sadaqah for its giver as you nurture your young colts, until the Sadaqah becomes like the Mount of Uhud."(Bukhari & Muslim)

The Prophet (saw) once said, ”…Prayer is an offering (to Allâh), Fasting is a shield, and Sadaqah extinguishes sins as water extinguishes fire..." (Abu Y’la with a sahih isnad). The Prophet (saw) said, " The Muslim says, 'All my wealth, all my wealth!' whereas he only really has three parts to his wealth: That which is eaten, and so it is consumed. That which is worn, and so it wears out. And that which is given in charity, for this is stored for him. Anything other than that will whither away to be left for the people behind him.” (Muslim) The Messenger of Allâh (saw) said, "There is no day in which the slaves of Allâh arise except that two angels descend, one saying, "O Allâh, replace the charity for the one who spends!" whilst the other says, "O Allâh, destroy the wealth of the one who holds back (from giving in charity)". (Bukhari & Muslim)

C ARE AS BELIEVERS C ARE The Prophet (saw) said: “poverty, in all probability, leads to disbelief.” (Tabrani). Are we happy to leave the poor and needy amongst our communities to the dangers of their circumstance, when Rasulullah (saw) has ore-warned us of the dangers? A real story : A muslim family came to the UK as refugees. They had no money, no access to benefits, and were given no help from the community. Their situation become more desperate especially since the father was disabled so could not go out to work. As a result the mother was forced to sell the only thing she had- her body- whilst her husband would take care of their child in the next room. This is happening in Birmingham right now.

A RE YOU SUFFERING FROM ‘C HARITY FATIGUE ’? We in the richer countries are being hit with less work but higher living costs, increased mouths to feed, and a never- ending amount of requests for donations for all types of Islamic charity needs, establishments, mosques, madrasahs and on and on. One senses that people are getting tired of giving, something termed 'Charity Fatigue'... Islam doesn't recognize such a concept. We cannot become fatigued from giving from that which we have been given as a trust i.e. our wealth. Islam doesn't allow Muslims to force themselves into poverty but that does not apply to 99% of us here in the Western countries. One of the greatest responsibilities of life is to ensure that we do the right thing with the money we earn – giving it away as charity is clearly the greatest continual action one can do with it until we enter a grave where that money will be of no avail.

I N CONCLUSION … To give Sadaqah will be a : proof of ones faith and commitment to Allah. It is the expiator of our mistakes, and a very small amount can bring unimaginable spiritual and material rewards, both in this life and in the Hereafter. It protects one from the Fire of Hell and extinguishes our sins. It leads to blessings in the wealth one has in this world as well as the best possible investment in the Hereafter, personally managed by the best of advisors, Allâh the Almighty, the Most Merciful. Don't you think then that giving Charity should start right here and now?