German Muslims Are Organizing Aid

The Germans have already donated more than € 300 million for the victims of the tsunami in Asia. Muslims in Germany too are busily collecting money for the survivors of the catastrophe in many mosques. Vedat Acikgöz reports.

Collecting for the victims of the tsunami at the Red Crescent in Malaysia (photo: AP)
Collecting for the victims of the tsunami at the Red Crescent in Malaysia

​​More than one hundred of the faithful, most of whom come from Arab countries, have gathered for midday prayers in the Al-Muhajirin mosque in Bonn. As in many other mosques around the country, money is being collected for the victims of the tsunami in Asia. Helping the poor and needy is one of the five pillars of Islam. This explains the willingness of Muslims in Germany to donate.

“We Muslims are a very generous people and we donate in all kinds of ways,” says one of the men in the mosque. “I, for example, have made a donation by bank transfer and in the mosque. We have also set up accounts from where the money is transferred directly to South-East Asia. Islam requires this of us. The Koran tells us that we must give to needy people.”

But some of the faithful in the mosque have been disappointed by the Arab and Muslim states, which were initially very reserved as far as donations were concerned and were even criticised by the UN. A student from Libya points out that most of the people who lost their possessions were Muslims; Muslims in Indonesia: “Arab and Muslim countries should really do more; donate and give more. After all, that is part of our religion, our faith.”

Feast of the Sacrifice offerings for victims of the tsunami

The Muslims in Germany, on the other hand, have a lot in the pipeline. The Feast of the Sacrifice, one of the most important feasts in the Islamic world, falls on 20 January. Many have decided to donate their Feast of the Sacrifice offerings to the people in Asia.

The Turkish-Islamic Union of the Institute for Religion (DITIB) is also launching an appeal in its 870 mosques in Germany. The plan is to organise collections for the victims in Asia in every DITIB mosque at least once between now and 2 February.

Similarly, the imam of the Bonn DITIB mosque, Fehmi Güler, is calling on his community to give money for the victims in Asia rather than for the construction of a mosque in another city or its own mosque.

Says Güler: “Dear community, as you all know, an unbelievable catastrophe has struck in South Asia. Hundreds of thousands have lost their lives; millions of people have been made destitute and have to fight epidemics. They need help. Today, we would like to give our donations to these people. In the name of Allah, let us join together and help these people!”

Two young people pass quickly along the rows and collect money in a cardboard dish for the victims in Asia. Mustafa Akyül, the mosque chairman, is pleased with the result: a total of € 860 was collected.

More than for the construction of the mosque

“Normally we get between € 500 and € 600 when we collect for our mosque. The sum of € 860 shows that the earthquake in Asia is important to people here,” explains Akyül.

Imam Fehmi Güler is also pleased with the collection. He is quick to point out that people should not only donate for Muslim victims of the flood, but for everyone in need:

“Islam does not differentiate between race or religion when it comes to helping needy people,” says Güler. “We will soon be celebrating the Feast of the Sacrifice. And even if my neighbour is not a Muslim, Islam tells me that I must give him part of the meat from the slaughtered animal. It is the person that counts and nothing else. My neighbour was also created by God, even if he has different beliefs. It is important to help all people in the same way.”

Mehmet Yildirim, secretary general of the DITIB, hopes that this appeal will gather several hundred thousand euros for the victims of the Asian flood. Turks in particular are very aware since Turkey was hit by an earthquake in which over 15,000 people lost their lives five years ago in August 1999.

Many lost members of their family or relations in the quake. It was a very painful experience and many still remember the aid and assistance they received. “The people that were personally affected back then, and the others too, they learned from this terrible tragedy and should give even more,” emphasises Yildirim.

Vedat Acikgöz

Translation from German: Aingeal Flanagan

© DEUTSCHE WELLE/DW-WORLD.DE 2005