CCNY Muslim Students Raise Close to $92,000 For Charity

“I wanted to donate money simply because it brings me closer to Allah,” Arifa Begum said. She was one of hundreds of Muslim students at The City College of New York (CCNY) who helped raise close to $92,000 in three weeks for the annual Charity Week.  

Four groups at CCNY took the lead in raising the money: Muslim Student Organization & Women In Islam (MSOWII), Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Muslims Giving Back (MGB) and Doctors with Deen (DWD). They all held events that ranged from cultural, to games, to entertainment and educational that charged fees and brought in the money. 

The president of MSO (Muslim Student Organization) at CCNY, Abdullah Khan, explained, “My favorite highlight from Charity Week was the annual dinner where all the MSAs (Muslim Student Associations) came together to see and celebrate the national total: the culmination of everyone’s hard work, no matter how much one organization raised. And it was a sobering moment to see what we can accomplish if we come together with sincere intentions.”

Students felt inspired to give. Marzan Amir, a sophomore, said “I donated because I feel it is a true testament to being human. It is important that people have compassion and empathy for those who may not be as fortunate. When I donate, it reminds me to be thankful of the things I have and to be considerate of those around me.” 

Giving is part of the Islamic tradition. Araby Shehatta Al-Bastawisy Hussain, who teaches Islamic education, explained, “Whatever a person gives in charity of his wealth is his true wealth that will abide for him and benefit him. Charity is a big and honorable deed in Islam.”

Mashud Choudhury, a CCNY junior and treasurer of MSO, said, “it was fulfilling seeing the total increase. Knowing that with every donation, we are changing someone’s life and understanding the impact we are making in the world was immensely rewarding.”

The money CCNY students raised will go to support orphanages, schools, education projects and for emergency aid in Muslim countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Yemen, and Zanzibar. 

Everyone had a clear motivation for why they donated. Religion was at the heart of their generosity. “To be a Muslim means to unite together as if we’re one. If a brother or sister of mine is hungry or struggling, it is my duty to do the best I can to alleviate some of that tension” said CCNY junior Owaish Khan.

Others said similar things. “It serves as a reminder for myself to spend the money that Allah gave me in a way that is most pleasing to Him and to help my brothers and sisters in need,” said sophomore Nabeeha Alam.