[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 72 (Thursday, June 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1085-E1086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SUPPORTING THE MUSLIMS CARE PROGRAM OF COMMUNITY SERVICES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record, my 
heartfelt support for the ``Muslims Care'' campaign, launched by the 
Council on American-Islamic Relations, CAIR, to promote volunteerism in 
the Islamic community. CAIR is asking Muslims across the country to 
volunteer their time for raising health awareness, helping the needy 
and supporting activities for youth. Using verses from the Qur'an and 
Hadith, the ``Muslims Care'' tool kit (available in www.muslims-
care.org) is encouraging local mosques to participate and promote 
volunteering programs such as blood drives, health awareness, student 
tutoring, etc.
  First of all, the ``Muslims Care'' program has a community benefits 
focus, which can potentially bring together people from a multitude of 
backgrounds and interests. Moreover, it offers an opportunity to weave 
Muslims and Islamic identity into the American sociocultural fabric, a 
viable approach to counter the misinformation that is out there about 
Islam and Muslims. Lastly, a recent survey, conducted by CAIR, showed 
that the majority of Americans promised to change their views about 
Islam if Muslims are seen to be concerned about healthcare, education, 
economy, issues that plague the average American. The ``Muslims Care'' 
campaign is an excellent way to overcome this us/them mentality and the 
prejudices about Islam and Muslims.
  I heartily support this undertaking by CAIR, as well as their other 
programs that promote cross-cultural dialogue to enhance the 
understanding of Islam.

            U.S. Muslims Launch Annual Volunteerism Campaign

       Washington, DC., May 25, 2006.--A prominent national 
     Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today called on 
     American Muslims to support its second annual campaign, 
     called ``Muslims Care,'' designed to promote volunteerism in 
     the Islamic community.
       In its summer-long initiative, the Council on American-
     Islamic Relations (CAIR) will offer Muslims the resources and 
     information they need to help improve the communities in 
     which they live. This year, CAIR will again ask Muslims 
     across the country to focus on health awareness, helping the 
     needy and activities for youth.
       Visitors to CAIR's campaign website, www.muslims-care.org, 
     will be able to download a toolkit containing information 
     about how to become a volunteer and suggesting volunteer 
     activities such as blood drives, health awareness fairs and 
     student tutoring. CAIR is suggesting that community members 
     visit the website to submit local volunteer opportunities and 
     see what activities are available in their state.
       The ``Muslims Care'' kit also offers advice to Islamic 
     religious leaders about how they can promote volunteerism in 
     local mosques and suggests partnering with established 
     volunteer groups such as the American Cancer Society and Big 
     Brother/Big Sisters.
       Local Islamic leaders and imams (prayer leaders) are being 
     encouraged to give Friday sermons on the importance of 
     volunteerism. The ``Muslims Care'' toolkit has sample verses 
     from the Quran, Islam's revered text, and hadith (Islamic 
     traditions) to incorporate in the sermons. One tradition 
     quotes

[[Page E1086]]

     Islam's Prophet Muhammad as saying, ``The upper hand (of 
     giving) is better than the lower hand (at receiving),'' as an 
     encouragement to provide for those less fortunate.
       ``As Muslims, we are encouraged to work to improve the 
     communities in which we live,'' said CAIR Communication 
     Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed.
       Ahmed cited a recently-conducted CAIR opinion survey 
     showing that a majority of Americans said they would change 
     their views about Islam and Muslims if they perceived that 
     Muslims were more concerned about issues such as healthcare, 
     education and the economy.
       CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 
     32 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission 
     is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, 
     protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build 
     coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

                          ____________________