The Claremont Main Road Mosque (CMRM) is again taking an active stance towards tackling social issues through an initiative aimed at easing the burden on the more destitute members of the community. The Jihad against Poverty Programme seeks to get members of the mosque involved in projects across the city, including parcel distributions, educational study groups and other outreach activities.

The project, now in its 10th year, aims to show a comprehensive vision of Islam by combing belief and faith with the principle of charity. While it is a year round campaign, efforts are escalated during Ramadan and the year-end festive period.

“It gives members of the masjid an opportunity to express their Islam in a practical way by giving back to the community.
Alghamdullilah it is a consistent programme and it is well managed,” said one of the project’s co-ordinator, Waheed Sku.

One of the programmes earliest projects has seen it partner with an orphanage in Nyanga run by an elderly woman, which caters to around 30 to 40 children.

“The masjid started out partnering there, not only through conventional charity but younger members of the masjid started a little study group, doing homework with the children on a Saturday afternoon.

Although that is no longer a project of the masjid, members of the jamaah still go there every Saturday, consistently,” he stated.

An annual Christmas function is also held for the children of the orphanage.

CMRM also has a longstanding partnership with a mosque in Dunoon, an impoverished area with a high number of foreign nationals. The mosque serves as a regular contributor in the form of food parcel distributions and community outreach.

“We also have a programme where we share imams. Occasionally Dunoon will send somebody to give the Friday khutbah at Claremont, while Claremont sends someone through to Dunoon,” he explained.

In addition, CMRM also distributes food parcels, hygiene packs and stationary packs to the underprivileged in areas like Manenberg and Delft, amongst others.

For more information, or if you would like to contribute towards the mosques charitable initiatives, contact CMRM at 021 683 8384.You may also visit the CMRM website at http://cmrm.co.za VOC