Kenyans in Canada giving back to Muslim community

A small group of Muslim immigrants from Mombasa and other parts of East Africa has got together for purposes of uplifting the lives of their brothers and sisters back home by donating foodstuff especially during the month of Ramadhan.

Going by the name “Mjadala” which is Swahili for conversation, the outfit pools members from Canada as well as USA and Europe.

Their annual iftaar commitment, which has fortunately been largely unaffected by the Covid-19 pandemic, has been a blessing to the needy Muslims of Kibokoni.

For the past two decades the group has been sending donations to their brethren back in Africa.

The group, made up entirely of professionals in the diaspora, has this year managed to disburse nearly a quarter-million shillings which bought foodstuff and distributed to the needy in the Kibokoni area of Mombasa and other areas.

According to the chair of the group, many among members who reside in Canada and refer to themselves as “Canadian Waswahili” are professionals and career businesspeople who are committed to their group’s ideals on account of the Islamic faith.

“Majority of the Mjadala members reside in Canada, making Toronto a city many members associate with,” said the chair, who requested anonymity to comply with Islamic guidelines on the etiquette of giving fi sabiili llah (in the cause of Allah).

According to hadith of the prophet, “Charity paid in secret extinguishes the anger of Allah.” 

What makes this year’s donation special is not the fact that the group behind the anonymous Iftaar food parcels has finally been identified but the fact that the donations from the men and women behind the initiative have surpassed previous figures.

According to information from the group, members doubled their efforts in the previous years and are upbeat about the development, “Of course hoping that Allah will accept their sadaqa,” says a source from Mjadala.

But being a month when enjoining good and forbidding evil is especially rewarded by Allah, the group has chosen to lift the lid on their noble activities not because they want recognition or praise but because they want to encourage other people living in Canada, Europe and the USA to follow their example and participate in remembering brethren back home as suitable recipients of their zakat and sadaqah.

“While our Toronto born children were first generation Canadians, today a number of us are grandmothers and grandfathers of second generation Canadian grandchildren. Alhamdulillah,” says the chair of the group.

“Those of us who are East African-Canadians and East African-Americans, our love and admiration for East Africa and its people is as solid as ever!

“Time and place has never diminished the somewhat symbiotic relationship between us over here and our loved ones over there.”

A local community based organisation by the name Kibokoni Self Help Society helps the group distribute food among the needy in Mombasa.