Blog Action Day is an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters, to post about the same issue on the same day. Their aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion.

Their aim (and our aim) is to raise awareness of poverty. We would like to focus on poverty on a macroscale and on a microscale. Here are some examples of how YOU can contribute to reduce poverty.

Poverty on a macroscale

We previously posted about the Global Food Crisis. Read that post and help to feed the poor. Also, the Washington Post has a good platform discussing the food crisis.

Consider joining the Muslim team on Kiva: http://www.kiva.org/community/viewTeam/?team_id=890.

Kiva Muslims (Updated as of Oct 15, 2008 11:02 am)

Number of Team Members : 34

Number of Loans : 67

Number of Loans per Member : 1.97

Total Amount Loaned : $2,375.00

“Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.

Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.

The people you see on Kiva’s site are real individuals in need of funding – not marketing material.”

For more info about the poverty on a worldwide scale, please visit: http://site.blogactionday.org/resources/

Poverty on a microscale

This is where YOU can really make a difference. Seek local organizations that provide relief to the impoverished in your region. Have some extra wealth? Donate with a good intention. Other ways to help besides finances? Volunteer! Work for the sake of our Creator, make the right intention and reap the rewards.

For Muslims, we know (or can easily find) the teachings of the benefits of charity. An eternal reward? Indeed.

For us in the San Francisco Bay Area, we are blessed with the Rahima Foundation, who handle the following:

• Monthly Food Distribution (basic non-perishable foods)
• Zakat and Fitra Distribution
• Meat Distribution (from Eid-ul-Adha / Festival of the Sacrifice & other occasions)
• Used Car Distribution
• Scholarship Assistance (limited)
• Referrals for family counseling & employment (limited)

How you can make a difference

Sout Ilaahi Productions is a Singapore-based independent label that produces spiritual music for the modern society today. Our aim is to create love, peace and tolerance in this universal world – reviving the spirit of spirituality and humanity.

The joy of loving the Beloved Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) will rekindle our faith and encourage us to love others too.

Sout Ilaahi is influenced by traditional Islamic spirituality and therefore, we are always on the edge with different types of majalis (spiritual gatherings) such as mawlid, dalailul khairat, qasidah burdah, and the Diwan of many Musilm saints. Our intention in producing these quality products is to enhance the understanding of and also to revive spirituality which is devoid at the present moment. http://soutilaahi.blogspot.com/

IslamCrunch’s recommendations:

Finally, the CD of Mawlid Dhiyaull Lam (The Glittering Illumination) composed by Habib Umar bin Hafiz is out now released by Sout Ilaahi Productions. For more enquiries or information, please email Khalid Ajmain at khalid_ajmain@yahoo.com.sg.

The "Invocation of the Souls" Ratib al Haddad CD by Yayasan Nurul Ummah is out now. This is the reading of the Famous Ratib al Haddad by Yayasan Nurul Ummah from Solo, also known as "Congregation of Ratib al Haddad lead by the direct descendant of Imam Abdullah al Haddad, that is Habib Nuh al Haddad.

They have been spreading messages of love and peace throughout their events in central Java. This CD will definitely tranquilize our hearts and souls upon hearing it with the midas touch of Nusantara. A great soothing voice accompany by enchanting chorus.

A must for those who are seeking spirituality in their life. Ratib al Haddad is compiled by the Great Scholar and Qutb of his time al Allamah, al Shaykh al Imam al Habib Abdullah al Haddad during the night of Layl latur Qadr. Ratib consist of various Surah from Quran and hadith.

Sample clips are available on the site.

Our Twitter friend, ismaild, sent us message informing us of a new blog showcasing the Ramadan experience.

"Ramadan 2008 creates a space for Muslims in South Africa and around the world, to come together and share their Ramadan experiences and thoughts on one platform. Ismail Dhorat coordinated a wide spectrum of young writers from across the globe to blog individually on the site. The bloggers write under different categories and update the site regularly.

In Ramadan Experiences, users can take little peeks into the daily Ramadan experience of Muslims in other countries. Meanwhile, daily updates in the Recipe category will make it easier for users to prepare the most delectable treats every day. Since charity is also extremely important during this holy month, an entire category is dedicated to charities looking for support from fellow Muslims. For inspiration and spiritual growth, users can turn to the Islam and Hadeeth category (where writers focus on different aspects of the Islamic faith) or the Spiritual Awakening Boot Camp (a follow-at-home boot camp to help Muslims have a spiritually uplifting Ramadan). The site also features a Ramadan Stream*, which brings together content related to Ramadan from all over the Internet into a single page."

Read our friend Rias Sherzad’s blog on the Ramadan site (Rias is the CEO from Salam Business Club)

Also check out (IslamCrunch supporter) Jamaaludeen Khan’s blog, he has some Ramadan secrets to share.

* Great way to get your Ramadan fix. See Ramadan blog posts, tweets, articles from all across the globe.

Photo credit: http://flickr.com/photos/44452545@N00/45540389

For Bloggers Unite for Human Rights Day, we decided to give a little spin on the event. Here is our perspective on what we can do to be aware about Human Rights.

There is no doubt that we need to be concerned about others who are suffering and who are less fortunate than us. We should definitely educate ourselves and make ourselves aware of the human rights situation in Darfur, Guantanamo, China and elsewhere. We need to start with ourselves. Therefore, we would like to offer these suggestions:

1. Return to your original state (known as fitrah in Islam). Return to your state before there was greed, jealousy, hatred, anger, prejudice and malice. You did not come into this world with blackness in your heart. Somehow, somewhere, the little spots of blackness were introduced into your heart. By removing the blackness, we can learn to have concern for others, we can learn to care and love others regardless of status, race, religion, wealth, etc.

2. Follow your role model. If you are Muslim, follow the exemplary qualities of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). Do not disregard the sunnah of the Prophet. Learn about his characteristics at home, at work, in the community and throughout society. Learn how he dealt with others from different faith communities. Be a reflection of the Best of Creation.

If you are a Christian, embody the qualities and characteristics of Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him). Coming from a Catholic background before I converted, I learned the qualities of Jesus. He was kind, gentle, patient and caring. He had concern for everyone in his environment. He worked hard for his parents, there was no Hallmark or purple roses to ‘show’ his feelings. He didn’t hate. His parents did not avoid or exclude any of the 3 wise men who visited their baby (the 3 wise men were from different regions, thus of different races). 

If you are Jewish, look to Moses for inspiration. Look at how he withstood trials and tribulations. May you all live to 120.

And so forth. Whatever your belief system or lifestyle is, follow the true, beneficial teachings within that system. 

God taught us in the Quran:

O humankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other, not that you may despise (each other). Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). 

Chapter 49, verse 13

We should compete to do righteous acts. We should all strive to help the people suffering. We should all do our part to raise awareness of human rights for everyone.

Check out our BlogCatalog profile here: http://www.blogcatalog.com/user/islamcrunch

Peace.

Here is a new bookmark to add to your list: http://muslim.alltop.com

Alltop News is a new project spearheaded by Guy Kawasaki that showcases news from different topics and categories. Each topic showcases the top sites/blogs on one page, what they call ‘single-page aggregation’. You can find out more about Alltop here.

Muslim.Alltop.com delivers news from different sites that are either authored by Muslims or sites that posts news about Muslims and Islam. This is a great resource to find out what the pulse is on the minds of Muslims across the world.

After sending a tweet to Guy, he graciously added IslamCrunch to Muslim page. Plus, he placed us in the #2 position of the page! Thanks Guy! This is a case of: “Tweet, and you shall receive.”

Also check out Guy’s book, Art of the Start. A good read to start any project, business or partnership. I am currently reading this book, a gift from our friend, Khadija O’Connell of Barakah Life.