HalfDate Blog

Sometimes we get urgent requests like this.

As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu…I am Sister Rajaa Kareemah Matthews of Laurel, Maryland and I am married with 5 children and my husband has been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and is without therapy and without medication and often goes into sparatic rages causing myself and the children to leave the house abruptly or call the authorities due to him being out of control and causing us emotional and physical harm. When he is in this state his awareness or concern for our wellbeing and finances is non-existent. So this time the police had to be called and our rent is past due $1400 and the landlord is calling and the internet bill is due to be cut off on March 15, 2010 and we use that for homeschooling and that is about $184.00. I have food stamps currently so I am not in need of food alhamdulillah but the state does not give me cash assistance and I was not a working woman outside of the home, I only worked inside taking care of my home and children maashaa allah. Sister Nadia MacIntosh referred me to this resource and I am praying that you are able to assist me as soon as possible inshaa allah ta ala.

That’s why we will create a rainy day fund.

We keep getting more requests than we can feature on a monthly DateDrive.

Okay, we are using this blog to list pre-drives (proposals for drives). If we get enough supports we will list it officially on halfdate.com main page, inshaAllah (God willing).

So, we got this email from a Native brother and we are interested to help them.

How can we tell if there are supports for this drive? Well, if this proposal gets 30 support comments and $300, we will list them. $300 basically to cover HalfDate costs to run a drive. If by July, we don’t get enough support, whatever money is collected will be sent to them.

As-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah.

My cousin is a board member of the Black Hills Pow-Wow committe which holds an annual pow-wow in Rapid City in October. They honor the native american youth by having a youth day during this weekend event. I am providing you the website for you to look at. I am eager to make something happen for the native american youth in this area. The Pow-wow is the largest gathering for native peoples here in South Dakota and is held during Columbus Day weekend to observe Native American Day.

South Dakota is the only state in the union that recognizes Native American Day rather than Columbus Day in honor of past efforts to estabish reconciliation between the Lakota tribes and the State so the pow-wow is held during this weekend and is attended by many people from from across the state as well as across the nation (indians and non-indians). Please take the time to check out the events held during the pow-wow weekend and let me know what you think about this insha Allah.

http://www.blackhillspowwow.com/youthday.html – you can click on any of the images to see and gather information.

Louis B

We use this blog to list some smaller or urgent drives.

Muslim students in University of Iowa (Iowa City) is organizing Islamic Spring Retreat 2010, and they are short in money.

By the way, HalfDate requested to speak at this event and they turned us down (LOL), because their schedule was full. However, they will be helping to spread the word about HalfDate and the Deen Show DVD project.

The event is March 12th weekend. Please HELP NOW!!!

This is the result of Warm Winter DateDrive.

Alhamduillah, was seemed to be impossible, now it’s accomplished. All thanks and praise are due to Allah.

May Allah reward all those who helped and may Allah thank you for your efforts.

As salaamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.

In the Name of Allah The Most Gracious, The Most Beneficent

AlhamdulliAllah Rabil Alamin. We have reached our goal. Again we cannot express our gratitude with words of how we are thankful of your support. We pray to Allah SubhaanAllah wa ta’Allah that each and everyday that we are making progress each and every nail, sweat, purchases, and payment to the workers to complete the renovation of the home and when completed that Allah, He The Almighty Sovereign Lord give you all the good of this life and the hereafter and expiate one of your sins for each day a family is housed and assisted because of your Duaas and support.

Ameen Make Duaa that another home from another city, state, country is build or set up for helping homeless families or homeless women or men insha’Allah.

There are other problems in our community such as substance Abuse, Alcolhol,Mental Health, and Domestic violence. This is something we face each and everday operating a shelter for those in need in our community it is reality that the community at large have to accept and do something about it insha’Allah Again JazakAllahu Khayr for everything.

Should you still want to make a contribution on a monthly bases please visit our website at http://www.almumtahinahhome.org/ and place you donations online or you can mail in your contributions.

Nadia Auxila McIntosh

Alhamduillah with HalfDate your $3 can do wonders! How?

Because each month we focus on one project, and you pool your half a date (small contribution) with others until the amount is enough to accomplish the project of that month.

But that’s not it.

With HalfDate, your $3 can thrive and grow. How?

Let’s take the Dawah DVD Drive as an example.

• You give $3 to the DeenShow.
• They make a DVD and gave it to HalfDate.
• HalfDate gives it to a masjid that has needy families.
• The masjid sells it at $5.
• Now your DVD is out there (hopefully doing Dawah on your behalf).
• The needy family gets $2 (a masjid can sell 100 DVDs after a Jummah so $200).
• The DeenShow gets back $3 of the DVD cost.
• Now, the DeenShow uses the $3 and sends a new DVD to another masjid that needs to buy a property.
• The masjid sells the DVD for $10.
• Again, your DVD is out there (hopefully doing Dawah on your behalf).
• The masjid gets $7.
• The DeenShow gets $3 back and the cycle goes on.

So your $3 + HalfDate + DeenShow + Masjid/School = Dawah, service, more DVDs and more importantly rewards from Allah (inshaAllah).

Want to do Sadaqah in a creative way?

Go to HalfDate.com.

What do you think? Post a comment and share your thoughts.

If your masjid or school wants to participate in this project, contact us.

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Assalamualaikumwarahmatullahiwabarakatuhu.

A’udhubillahiminashaitanirajeem.Bismillahirahmaniraheem.

((May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be with you).

(I seek protection in Allah swt from the accursed shaitan/devil/satan).

(In the name of God, the Most Kind, the Most Merciful)).

Hello everyone. This post was sent by a sister. Please read her story, what she went through. There are many of our brothers and sisters out there, who have no shelter. We should try to help them Inshallah. Stories like this really make you think. Inshallah, make dua, that this doesn’t happen to anyone you know, Inshallah and whoever it does happen to, that some way Allah will help them Inshallah, Ameen.

Also, her story removes the misconception that homeless people are losers. She was a victim but not a loser and eventually she found her way out of poverty.

——————–
Subject: Shelter

As salaamu alaikum,

“so how did you get out from the shelter?”

Brother, I could write a book on this whole ordeal!  It began when my ex-husband (who married me when I had three children from a previous marriage) got us evicted from not paying rent, unbeknownst to me!  He admitted to me at that time that he had also been using several kinds of drugs as well as alcohol–This was shocking for me, as I was raised Muslim and had never been around ppl using drugs or alcohol.  That’s probably why I didn’t recognize the signs earlier.

With five children now, I eventually wound up in a shelter (not sister Nadia’s).  My youngest was only a couple of months old.  I stayed there for a month, but circumstances there became difficult, and my little sister insisted I come stay with her. Ironically, I raised that little sister from the time she was 10 until she married at 20 and never dreamed I’d impose upon her like that. We stayed in her family’s two bedroom apartment for about 8 months.

When I was at the shelter, I exhausted all means looking for housing.  I was blessed to be referred to a housing program (similar to section 8, but not the same, as they help with credit and eventually with home ownership) where I was accepted and just had to wait for my name to reach the top of the list.

Working a traditional job didn’t fit, because I could not afford childcare for my two little ones (both were under 2 then). So I worked from home doing what I could (I had previously done customer service from home, but with no home of my own and with smaller kids, I couldn’t have my own phone line or a quiet place to work in the home).  I helped a lawyer prepare legal documents, I edited college papers, websites, and even a book by a college professor; I braided hair, and I even sold dinners!

Well, Alhamdulillah, my name was called, and my kids and I are now nestled in a nice, accommodating home outside of Baltimore.  I continue to do small editing jobs ( I have 2 years towards a degree, and I’m an English major) and I am thinking of returning to freelance writing.

Sister Jamila

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Asalaamu Alaiakum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatu

With a two week deadline can a community raise $42, 000 to save their Masjid from foreclosure?

Yes, they can! And they have! A community did just this recently. Which community? The Ummah of Muhammad Salalahu Alayhi wa Salaam.

Muslims from all over donated to help save Bronx Muslim Center, USA, Inc from foreclosure. Using mediums such as Facebook, Youtube and email to raise awareness, volunteers were able to rally Muslims to donate over $20,000 just online and another $22,000 offline.

On Feburary 12th, 2010 the House which will be the future Masjid was purchased.

Alhamdulilah! All with the Help and Permission of Allah (SWT).

Background Info:

Bronx Muslim Center USA, Inc. is a non-profit, independent organization located at 2531 Davidson Avenue, Bronx, NY 10468. BMCUI’s ultimate mission is to create an Islamic environment for the Muslim community in the Fordham Road area by providing religious, educational, and recreational activities for its members and the members of the public at large. Among the primary goals of Bronx Muslim Center USA, Inc. is the outreach to the non-Muslims in the community and educate the public about Islam.

Please Visit For More Info: http://www.BronxMuslimCenter.Org

You can visit the recent Facebook event in which hundreds of Muslims ‘attended’ and gave for the sake of Allah to save the Masjid:

http://tinyurl.com/BronxMasjidCampaign

Some of the Donation Statistics:

USA: 67.4%
UK: 15.3%
Canada: 12.5%
Australia: 2.1%
Singapore: 0.7%
Malaysia: 1.4%
Switzerland: 0.7%

You can also read an article published in a local newspaper about the efforts of Volunteers, amongst them HalfDate.com:

http://bronxink.org/2010/02/12/bronx-mosque-buys-home-on-verge-of-foreclosure/

We ask Allah to reward everyone who helped to save this Masjid. May Allah build for you a beautiful House in Jannah, ameen

However, in the process of saving the Masjid, the community had to borrow an interest free loan of $253,000 which they must repay in a short period of time. Therefore, the Masjid committee is appealing to you to donate generously so that this loan can be paid on its due time in order to make the House of Allah debt free.

Allah, the Exalted said: “And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s cause), He will replace it.” (34:39)

We would also like to remind our brothers and sisters that Prophet Muhammad (Saw) said: “When man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things; Sadaqa-e-Jariah, a knowledge which Beneficial to others or a virtuous descendent who pray for him.” (Muslim)

Please Visit To Donate: http://www.BronxMuslimCenter.Org

Donating money to build a Masjid for the sake of Allah is a Sadaqa-e-Jariah (continuous charity), meaning the reward will continue to reach the donor even after death. This is also mentioned by Prophet Muhammad (Saw) in an authentic hadith.

Please encourage others to be part of this Noble Cause because Prophet Muhammad (Saw) said: “”Whoever guides someone to virtue will be rewarded equivalent to him who practices that good action.” (Muslim)

“Whoever builds a mosque for the sake of Allaah, like a sparrow’s nest or even smaller, Allaah will build for him a house in Paradise.”

Please Visit To Donate: http://www.BronxMuslimCenter.Org

If you cannot, please keep the Masjid and Community in your duaas.

May Allah reward you with the sweetest date in Jannah, ameen!

Wa’alaykum Asalaam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatu

This is the result of Warm Winter DateDrive.

The following is an email from Sister Nadia of Women Affairs of AMH, Inc regarding this family.

As salaamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.

May this message reach you in the best of Iman. We have taken the remaining balance of the donations to her and took pictures of her and her children Boy 5 months and Girl 2 or 3 years?

Her husband was in school at ITT Tech and he is doing fine we believe he won an honored scholarship from ITT and they are making sure that he finds a good job insha’Allah (God willing).

Sister Jasirah is very grateful and expressed the negative she had gone through with the Ummah locally when seeking assistance. We had to reassure her, not everyone is negative and what everyone has done for you with the help of Allah is what we as Muslims do for one another.

This is our duty for one another. So have no worries pray, do the best you can, be the best Muslimah that you can be and be patient and all kind of doors will be open for you and your family. Allah has just given you a sign when you thought you had no help.

She did call and left a message insha’Allah you had received it.

Salaam.

Nadia A.McIntosh

Voice Message from Sister Jasirah:

(Sister Jasirah With Her Children)

This is a comment from a sister about our Warm Winter Drive to help Homeless Muslims:

“Thank you so much for this link [http://bit.ly/saveourfamilies].  I actually spent the past 6 months in a homeless shelter because when I converted, me and my two children were kicked out of my mother’s home.  This place was horrible for me,  they were horrible to me because I was a Muslim.  A convert I know also spent time at the shelter there because he was kicked out of his mother’s house as well.  Before that I spent another 3 months in a Domestic violence shelter because of an abusive marriage.  I wish there was a homeless shelter for Muslims during my time on the streets with my children.  I am in college now and Alhumdilah I am in a stable apartment, I still do not have my kids with me.  Inshallah things will change soon.  I donated some of my zakat to them.”

Salamualaikum,

Sister J

Please also contribute to this drive with donations or a pleasant word so our Muslim Brothers and Sisters have a warm winter this year.

May Allah (SWT) reward you with the sweetest date in Jannah, ameen!

Some of you wondered who was the Brother Abu Samah mentioned in DateDrive: Warm Winter in Memory of Abu Samah..

Well, Abu Samah (the father of Samah) is Brother Sayed/Raymond Johnson, a revert brother who passed away on Tuesday Jan 26, 2010 in Arizona, USA.

SubhanaAllah, it was unbelievable (in the west) to be able to follow the Sunnah and complete the burial within the same day. All the hospice staff said that it was impossible, but Allah has made it easy for Sayed and his family. Many Muslims attended the Janaza prayer and funeral on a short notice, Alhamduillah.

According to his family, Sayed passed away after saying the Shahadah, Alhamduillah.

Sister Samah:

“It was in the morning
I woke up to get ready for work
and mama was reading Surat Yaseen* with him
and I went to tell him good morning
and gave him hug
and we tell him Shahada always after we tell him everything so that its the last thing he says
and then I went to pray sub7 [Fajr]
and then when i was doing Shahada
I heard mama saying inna lilah wa inna elyh raje3un
and i finished n went to see him and he was not breathing anymore
…
everything went so easily mashA’allah
and with me at home
I was supposed to leave to work in like 20 mins.”

HalfDate didn’t inform Samah that we were going to mention her dad in the drive, because usually HalfDate volunteers don’t like to be acknowledged.

Sister Samah:

“wait
WAIT
abu samah my dad!!!
how
when
HOW
abu samah is my dad
wow
am speechless
jazakum allahu khyran.”

She appreciates all the your duaa for her dad.

On behalf of Abu Samah’s family, HalfDate would like to thank all of you for your kindness and support for your HalfDate family members.

And on behalf of all HalfDaters, we ask Allah the most high (Subhanahu wa taa’ala) to forgive Brother Sayed/Raymond Johnson and grant him the sweetest date in Jannah. Ameen.

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*Editor’s Note: according to some scholars, the meanings of Yaseen is suitable to be read for someone who is expected to pass away.