End of Year Sadaqah & Zakat Campaign

The Mauritania Foundation is hoping to raise funds through its Sadaqah & Zakat Campaign, to be distributed directly by Shaykh Salek bin Siddina during his return to Mauritania. The beneficiaries of these funds will be poor families in and around the city of Kiffa, as well as children and families in the mountain region of Tagnat—which includes the villages of Murabit al-Hajj (Rahimahullah) and Shaykh Haddamin, Murabit Ahmad Fal, and other great scholars of Mauritania. Notable Muslims in the U.S. have studied and benefited from scholars in this region, including Hamza Maqbul and Yahya Rhodus. 

Families in the foregoing regions have come to depend on Shaykh Salek’s return each year to purchase basic items like food, medicine, and clothing.
While there are many worthy causes in the Muslim world today, we cannot
forget to support those who are committed to preserving knowledge of our
 religion—in the face of drought, famine, and, in many cases, starvation. It goes without saying that funds donated to the Mauritania Foundation’s Sadaqah & Zakat Campaign will be safeguarded and, insha’Allah, well-spent.

While Mauritania is rich in Islamic tradition and history it is an
extremely impoverished nation and over 20% of Mauritanians live on less
than $2 USD per day.  The overwhelming majority of Mauritanians depend
on livestock and agriculture for a livelihood.

Significance of Sadaqah & Zakat

We all know the importance that Allah places on giving Sadaqah & Zakat as they are mentioned over and over in the Qur'an and in prophetic traditions. 
While Muslims are constantly giving much needed Sadaqah and Zakat to impoverished and war-torn areas such as Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, places like Sub-Saharan Africa in general and West Africa in particular often
don't receive the same attention and as a result don't receive much of our Sadaqah nor Zakat. 

We seek to change this dynamic so that all areas of the Muslim Ummah receive their due and we believe Mauritania is the perfect example of an impoverished Muslim nation that needs to be brought to the attention of the believers. Mauritania consistently experiences droughts and water shortages and most villages struggle with sustainable light sources and electricity.  For a land so religiously and spiritually rich it is our obligation as an Ummah to try an enrich those in Mauritania that are afflicted with poverty and extreme economic hardship.  Allah Says in the Qur'an:

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرّاً وَعَلاَنِيَةً
فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Those who spend their wealth [in Allah 's way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly - they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.

وآت ذا القربى حقه والمسكين وابن السبيل ولا تبذر تبذيرا

And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ
أَنْ يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خُلَّةٌ وَلَا شَفَاعَةٌ ۗ
وَالْكَافِرُونَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you before there comes a Day in which there is no exchange and no friendship and no intercession. And the disbelievers - they are the wrongdoers.

لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِي
 الْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَاهُمْ لَا يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا وَمَا
تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ

[Charity is] for the poor who have been restricted for the cause of Allah, unable to move about in the land. An ignorant [person] would think them self-sufficient because of their restraint, but you will know them by their [characteristic] sign. They do not ask people persistently [or at all]. And whatever you spend of good - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.

The Funds Raised

The funds, once received, will go directly to the Mauritania Foundation and will be distributed to the poor, indigent, and needy throughout Mauritania by Shaykh Salek himself. The goal is to raise $15,000 USD by December 31st.

How You Can Help

We pray that you will be able to donate and encourage others to donate to this noble cause. There is tremendous barakah in assisting the poor and needy as conveyed in the above Quranic verses. Insha’Allah by donating to this initiative you will receive your reward from Allah that he has promised you. We recommend to everyone that can afford to donate a large amount to do so. All Sadaqah donations and Zakat are welcomed and appreciated. We pray Allah blesses this initiative and increases our awareness to the lesser known impoverished parts of our Ummah such as Mauritania. If you are unable to donate then you can assist by spreading the word via social media and word of mouth.