Our responsibilities in Sri Lanka today

-by Omer Mukhtar-

         We as Muslim community believe that everything in this world happens with will of Almighty Allah. This flood disaster has taken place with  His wisdom.  Allah gives trails to people in different ways and methods. We all should take this flood disaster as a test from Allah for all of us.  As a minority community we should act swiftly with extra care and vigilance. We should act with great social responsibilities in response to this disaster.  I think that proportionately Muslim community is largely affected with this disaster in Colombo areas. It is a social responsibility of each and every Muslim in Sri Lanka to help out our Muslim brothers and sisters who are affected in this disaster.

       It gives us a sense of hope and confidence to see that many Islamic groups and organizations have been working day and night to help out flood victims without any racial discrimination. We noticed that some Buddhist monks openly say that Islamic mosques have provided more helps than any other groups. Even before politicians come to disaster areas Muslim organizations have been there and have been helping flood victims. Mosques have been used to cook meals for flood victims. We as a Muslim community we have demonstrated our compassion and kindness for humanity. This is a good example and precedent to all communities in Sri Lanka. In short term these emergency measures are timely needed and Muslim community acted swiftly in response to this disaster and yet, we should also immediately consider what we need to do in long terms to help these flood victims in our community. It is long term help and support is more important and long lasting. 

    Our community in these flood affected areas live in small houses with extended family members. Most of them have lost almost all house hold items. Some of them have lost their business. Some grocery shops are completely wiped out. Some restaurants are inundated with full of water.   Some of our brothers do odd jobs to make a living in Colombo. Therefore, Sri Lanka Muslim community has got social and religious responsibilities to help out these flood victims in long terms. Long term relief measure should be taken to support these people to rebuild their lives. To start their business and trade. That is very important. 

  Of course, it is the responsibility of government to expedite relief works and rebuild houses of flood victims and yet, as a minority community we should act swiftly and plan well to help out our community. It is a religious duty of Muslim community in Sri Lanka Muslim to contribute and help. 

      More than 20 Islamic groups have gathered at ACJU headquarter to plan and discuss relief program today. (20-05-2016). This is a collective collaborative effort between different Islamic groups under guidance of NSC and ACJU. This is first time in Sri Lankan Muslim history such a large number of Muslim organization come under one leadership to help out people.  This was indeed, a timely needed action plan. We hope and pray that Allah blesses them to carry out this relief program systematically and methodologically.  Different teams have been appointed to deal with different aspects of flood disaster relief and rehabilitation programmes. Mashallah well thought out agendas and measures are taken to help these flood victims. If these measures are implemented meticulously I think that flood victims can be rehabilitated swiftly. Different teams appointed are as follow. 

1) Team appointed for lobbying

2) Team appointed for data collection 

3) Team appointed for coordinating hub

I think that such a working mechanism is a brilliant idea to coordinate relief work. We need to do it collectively with a systemization and organization so that all affected people can benefit equally from relief programs.  I think that without any favouritism each flood victim should benefit from this relief program. What normally happens in third world countries is that influential people with support of politicians get government aids and poor and weak in our community are missing out from getting help. Sometime political bias or group bias plays a role on this discriminative attitude in distributing aids. This should not happen in this time. That is why need a centralised team with a good and pious leadership.

I think that it is the responsibility of Sri Lankan government to look after these victims and rehabilitate them. it is the duty of our Muslim MPs to urge and persuade government to expedite relief works without any discrimination and to compensate flood victims. Unlike western countries third world countries do not have insurance policies to compensate natural disaster victims. Therefore, it is the duty of government to compensate them and provide them relief. I think that lobbying team should encourage Muslim MPs to act swiftly and make sure compensation goes equally to all communities. It is thorough government departments that international aids come into Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is imperative that Muslim politicians involve actively on this matter to help out victims of our community.

Moreover, these lobbying and coordinating teams should encourage Sri Lanka expatriate communities in EU and ME countries to send all their donation and support systematically. Moreover, it is the responsibilities of Muslim clerics in Sri Lanka to urge Muslim community to help out flood victims of our community. Our rich people can allocate a large portion of their Zakath money for food victims, Muslim rich people who go on optional Ummra in Ramadan could give that money to flood victims. Moreover, we can reduce our expenses in our weddings and parties in order to help flood victims.  These are some of measures we need to do collectively to help these people. It is a good mechanism that will make a difference in this case. I’m sure a lot of money will be collected locally and internationally by Muslim community. Today Sri Lankan Muslims who live in major international cities collect money and if we do not have any system or mechanism these collected money would not be used in systematic way to its maximum benefit. That is why we need a good mechanism to collect and distribute aids on this occasion. 

  We may have collected millions of rupees but if we do not have a good system how to help these people. It will lead to chaos in our distribution. Some people may get support two times or more. Some people will be left out without any support at all. Therefore. Data collection team should work hard to get all statistics accurately. Moreover, we need to have an honest and dedicated team to supervise and monitor all this relief program until it is fully completed.  

 Failure to do this relief work may lead to many social problems in our community and we all will be sinful in front of Allah if we do not act at this time of hardship. People who are not affected with this flood should come forward and help affected people with all means.