A Muslim Response to the Japan Earthquakes + Video On Japanese Muslims

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Muhammad and I were watching the news the other day, just to kill time. The very devastating earthquake that hit Japan was constantly being shown. Thousands of lives have been lost, cars are floating in water like pebbles and nuclear reactors unstable, this truly is a difficult test for the Japanese people. Muhammad couldn't ignore it any longer and said to me:

Muhammad: SubhanAllah! We should do something to help them!
Me:  Hmm yea... are there any Muslims in Japan?
Muhammad: Huh?! Why should that make a difference? What are you trying to say?
Me: Oh no no, its not that!
Muhammad: Listen punk, what did the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) do when the lady that threw garbage at him got sick?
Me: He went to visit her to see if she was ok.
Muhammad: Yea, so if he was so concerned for someone who hated him, how can we even hesitate to be concerned for those who have done us no harm? What if this happened in Pakistan, Egypt or Indonesia? Wouldn't you want all kinds of people of help them out? I don't want to hear anything like this from you again.
Me: Yes sir =[

As I learned the hard way, it doesn't matter who we're dealing with, a Muslim's responsibility to help the less fortunate is the same. Let's make dua (supplication) that Allah guides the people of Japan and makes it easier for them. Allah says, "Spend (in charity) out of the sustenance that We have bestowed on you before that time when death will come to someone, and he shall say: "O my Lord! If only you would grant me reprieve for a little while, then I would give in charity, and be among the righteous" (The Holy Quran, 63:10). We're only here for a limited time my friends, so let's get to work. 


Here's a good place to start

While we're on the subject, here's a really nice video on Japanese Muslims: