Discriminating with our Dollars
by Deanna Othman
As a minority community living in the United States, most, if not all, Muslim organizations depend on the charity and good will of the community to support them. There is never a dearth of causes; Muslims are constantly beckoned to donate their wealth in the way of Allah. Whether it be to the mosques and schools we worship and learn in, or the myriad organizations founded to defend the causes of Muslims in America, our institutions are constantly in need. In addition to local organizations, Muslims often allocate a significant portion of their charitable giving to relief groups dedicated to alleviating the suffering of Muslims all over the globe—Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia; the list is endless.
The recent calamity that has befallen the people of Haiti, the catastrophic earthquake, which decimated the infrastructure of the entire impoverished Caribbean nation, has given us all cause to reflect. The devastation endured by the people of Haiti should not only lead us to ponder on the staggering and omnipotent power of Allah (SWT), but should also remind us of the incalculable blessings He has bestowed upon us all. Every natural disaster, every occurrence of suffering in the world must be a sign for us to reflect.
Obviously, any nation that undergoes a tragedy of this magnitude would be in need of financial assistance, and the need is ever more urgent and vital for a nation such as Haiti. As Muslims, we are often so focused on giving 
to “our own” causes, that we forget that we, too, are members of humanity. We, too, suffer when mankind suffers. As Muslims, we should not discriminate with our sympathy and attempt to find reasons for why the wrath of God strikes certain people and not others. Do we truly want to be among the ranks of such people like Pat Robertson?
Alhamdulillah, our masjid has proven its dedication to serving the community at large—not limiting its services to Muslims. The Mosque Foundation Food Pantry serves a majority of non-Muslim clients on a weekly basis. However, as individuals, we need to do a better job in ensuring that we contribute not only to those causes that affect us directly, but to others as well.
My mother, who manages the Food Pantry, recently mentioned to me a conversation that she had with a non-Muslim volunteer at the Chicago Food Depository, who often donates his community service hours toward paying a portion of the masjid’s bill for food expenses incurred at the Depository. He approached her one day, and said, “Can I just ask you one question?” She replied, “Of course.” He proceeded to inquire whether it was against our faith to contribute money to non-Muslims. She assured him that Muslims are encouraged to give to all who are in need. He then explained to her that he had worked collecting money for Autism research, and in the six hours he spent on the street soliciting donations, not one of the dozens of Muslims who passed by contributed anything.
Although he may have had a negative experience, in the past few days following the earthquake, many Muslims have been munificently donating and calling on others to donate for the relief efforts in Haiti. We must remember that sometimes when we donate it is not even a matter of money alone, but it also affects the way others perceive us.
The Prophet said, "Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity." With the proper intention, our dollars will not only allay the affliction of others, support institutions or enhance the perception of Muslims in the eyes of the public, but they will also protect us, in this life and the next.
Whether we are called on to give by our masajid, relief organizations, or our neighbor selling chocolate bars for his soccer team, we should never hesitate to give from that which Allah has blessed us with.