In the wake of the recent string of fires that have destroyed predominantly black churches across the South, a number of Muslim organizations have come together in an effort to help rebuild.
According to Al Jazeera America, the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, the Arab American Association of New York and the digital startup Ummah Wide are the principal organizations spearheading the effort to raise money for the benefit of the destroyed Christian churches by using the crowdfunding website LaunchGood.
Its Ramadan, and we are experiencing firsthand the beauty and sanctity of our mosques during this holy month, the three organizations said in a statement on LaunchGood. All houses of worship are sanctuaries, a place where all should feel safe, a place we can seek refuge when the world is too much to bear. We are calling on you to help add our support to faith communities across the country pooling their resources to rebuild these churches.
According to LaunchGood, the three organizations have raised over $30,000 since the page first launched on July 2.
As Muslims we know the importance of protecting the vulnerable and respecting people who call on God in their various tongues, the statement continued. We want for others what we want for ourselves: the right to worship without intimidation, the right to safety and the right to property.
According to Al Jazeera, eight churches have reportedly been lost to fires in the South, but as Religion News Service reported earlier this month, only three are believed to be due to arson.
Still, as The Huffington Posts Carol Kuruvilla reported, the image of predominantly black churches burning has been especially painful for many in the black community in light of the recent shooting in South Carolina.
"It doesn't matter to us how or why these churches burned down, we want to help our black sisters and brothers get back in to their houses of worship as soon as they can," Linda Sarsour, executive director of AAANY, told The Huffington Post.
"Ramadan is a time of giving and what better cause to give to than one that rebuilds houses of worship where God's name is constantly called, remembered and loved," Sarsour said.
According to Al Jazeera America, the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, the Arab American Association of New York and the digital startup Ummah Wide are the principal organizations spearheading the effort to raise money for the benefit of the destroyed Christian churches by using the crowdfunding website LaunchGood.
Its Ramadan, and we are experiencing firsthand the beauty and sanctity of our mosques during this holy month, the three organizations said in a statement on LaunchGood. All houses of worship are sanctuaries, a place where all should feel safe, a place we can seek refuge when the world is too much to bear. We are calling on you to help add our support to faith communities across the country pooling their resources to rebuild these churches.
According to LaunchGood, the three organizations have raised over $30,000 since the page first launched on July 2.
As Muslims we know the importance of protecting the vulnerable and respecting people who call on God in their various tongues, the statement continued. We want for others what we want for ourselves: the right to worship without intimidation, the right to safety and the right to property.
According to Al Jazeera, eight churches have reportedly been lost to fires in the South, but as Religion News Service reported earlier this month, only three are believed to be due to arson.
Still, as The Huffington Posts Carol Kuruvilla reported, the image of predominantly black churches burning has been especially painful for many in the black community in light of the recent shooting in South Carolina.
"It doesn't matter to us how or why these churches burned down, we want to help our black sisters and brothers get back in to their houses of worship as soon as they can," Linda Sarsour, executive director of AAANY, told The Huffington Post.
"Ramadan is a time of giving and what better cause to give to than one that rebuilds houses of worship where God's name is constantly called, remembered and loved," Sarsour said.