Crisis

According to credible sources and the Health Department the epidemic may not be ending soon and could continue through the next few months. COVID-19 has had an impact globally and is continuing to spread throughout the United States. There have been over 229,000 cases confirmed of the COVID-19 virus in the world, over 9,000 cases in the United States, and 77 cases in the state of Minnesota. 

The World Health Organization is recommending taking the following measures and steps to prevent catching the virus and spreading it.

• ​Wash your hands frequently

• Maintain social distancing

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

• Practice Respiratory Hygiene

• Stay at home if you feel unwell

• Stay informed on COVID-19

Campaign

Despite the social distancing, working from home, school closures, and many other preventative measures that are being taken to avoid the virus people are still being affected by this in many other ways. Especially, individuals that are restaurant workers, hourly workers, bus drivers, janitors and or families with low income jobs that don't have the luxury of working from. This campaign has been organized in the loving memory of Dr. Shabaz Hussain to provide relief to the people with lost wages, in need of essentials, assistance for rent, and anyone battling the current state of the pandemic in Minnesota. 

​We would like to provide a helping hand to those who are in need. It is one of the principles of our faith to help our fellow human beings. Every one of us will at some point in our lives experience some type of hardship or pain that hurts us. It is therefore, important to explore the importance of helping others from an Islamic context. Helping each other is a way to overcome grief that we may experience, and it can empower us in our worship to Allah. One of the greatest human beings to walk the earth and who was also the best example of compassion and kindness in human form, was the Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam). He said:

“Whoever relieves a believer’s distress of the distressful aspects of this world, Allah will rescue him from a difficulty of the difficulties of the Hereafter. Whoever alleviates [the situation of] one in dire straits who cannot repay his debt, Allah will alleviate his lot in both this world and in the Hereafter. Whoever conceals [the faults of] a Muslim, Allah will conceal [his faults] in this life and the Hereafter." (Muslim)

Apply for Funding

This is a Muslim led campaign, but we would like to request and encourage people from all faiths and backgrounds to donate to the cause. Donations collected through this campaign will be distributed to those individuals and families that have been impacted economically by the pandemic in Minnesota.

​Anyone affected by COVID-19 can apply for the grant by clicking on the Ummah Relief Grant link below. Our goal is to respond back to the grant applicants within 3-5 days. The grants will be distributed based on the criteria provided and will be on a first come first serve basis. We will continue to distribute to those in need until the funds have been completely utilized.

​Part of the donations will go towards creating essentials kits to be distributed once a week at the location provided in the updates on this page. The kits will be given out on a first come first serve basis and we will continue to provide until the funds have been depleted.

Grants & Resources

Apply for Ummah Relief Grant

https://teamhussain007.wixsite.com/ummahrelief/apply-for-funding

Apply for Unemployment

https://www.uimn.org/applicants/howapply/index.jsp

Free online Screening

https://oncare.org/

About

Dr. Shabaz Charities Group

This campaign was created by Dr. Shabaz Charities Group in the loving memory of Dr. Shabaz Hussain. 

Shabaz Hussain was a beautiful soul who put others before himself.  A compassionate son, brother, and friend who brightened every room he entered.  If you ask anyone they'll refer to him as a sweet, kind, and caring person who had a unique ability to make anybody laugh.  If you walked into a room with Shabaz you would see the room light up with smiles and laughter.

After his tragic and sudden death, many people remembered him by the constant smile he wore and spread, which got people through this hardship and time of grief. He had the dream of becoming a doctor and did everything he could to accomplish it. He valued and aspired to always help others before he helped himself, and being a doctor was the path to the value.