Amal Al-Sibai
Saudi Gazette
“The believer is like rain; wherever they go they bring goodness.”
That is what Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said.
Have you heard of another metaphor that the Prophet (peace be upon him) drew that describes Muslims?
Muslims are likened to a date palm tree.
In an authentic Hadith narrated by Abdullah, the son of Umar bin Al-Khattab, he said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked his companions, “Tell me about a tree which has resemblance with a believer.”
The people began to mention different trees. Abdullah bin Umar knew the right answer, but out of respect for the elderly present in the gathering, he did not speak up. When there was a hush amongst them, after they had expressed their views, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “It is the date palm tree.”
How is a believing man or woman to be like a date palm tree?
As Sara Chaudhry commented in Virtual Mosque, “When it begins to grow dates, it continues to benefit its environment for generations into the future. Date palm trees do not need a forest in which to grow. They are resourceful in and of themselves. Allah has given each and every one of us limitless potential, and we should never underestimate what we can achieve. Whether we are at the local mosque, school, or work, or with our neighbors, friends or family, there is always an opportunity to help support those around us.”
“The date palm tree grows in hot climates with harsh conditions. Nevertheless, it is still able to bring benefit to everything around it, from its nutritious fruits to its comforting shade. The believer embodies this idea of benefit. The believer is versatile, and will keep giving no matter what environment he/she is in. Therefore, like a date palm tree, a Muslim should thrive and be a fountain of benefit to society,” Chaudhry said.
Unfortunately, Muslims in the media are not portrayed as the intelligent, hardworking, and creative contributors, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs that they really are! The images that we see in mass media do not represent us.
Chris Abdur-Rahman Blauvelt became Muslim twelve years ago, and he is turning the story of Muslims around, he is highlighting what good and benefit Muslims are bringing and can bring to the world.
Blauvelt said, “Too often we are constantly telling others who Muslims are not, that we rarely can tell them who are. We are proud of our heritage as pioneers, inventors, entrepreneurs and bearers of all things good. We believe in Muslims doing great work that benefits everyone, not just Muslims.”
With the idea of Muslims being like replenishing rain and like a fruit giving palm tree, Blauvelt started something called LaunchGood.
“I know how many great and amazing things Muslims are doing. We’re building inner city community centers, leading global humanitarian relief efforts, writing children’s books, and even producing award winning films. There are a lot of people doing awesome work, but a lot of it is not free. It could be as simple as putting on a community dinner to something as complex as making a movie. In both cases, it requires funds,” said Blauvelt.
That is where LaunchGood comes in.
LaunchGood is an award winning global crowdfunding platform to support Muslims launching good all across the world by helping them raise funds for their projects.
Crowdfunding is a relatively new idea but it is rapidly catching on. It is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.
If you have a unique idea of value to the society, you could explain on LaunchGood what your project is about. LaunchGood provides you with a project coach to offer feedback on your campaign and share strategies for success. You state your goal of how much money you want to raise, and a deadline. You reach out to friends, family, and fans, and ask them to help fund your project. You can offer incentives or rewards for people who support your project. The word gets out and the donations start to flow in.
LaunchGood is a site to support great ideas in the community and also challenge ourselves to think bigger. It is a showroom to the world of all the great things Muslims are capable of.
Check out the site, take a look at the projects, and support the ones that touch your heart. There are many inspiring projects. You could support a project that is creating more Islamic literature in Braille, or the project designing entertaining Islamic children’s books, or a campaign collecting funds to send dates to Syria during Ramadan, or support a halal foods store planning to open in Los Angeles, or support a widow and her two children.
“Together we can change our communities, our countries, our world – one project at a time,” said Blauvelt.
