“You will never achieve righteousness until you donate some of what you cherish.” [Quran 3:92]

The Islamic Dawah Society (IDS) is a ratified undergraduate club that started just this year. The club stands for the mission of creating altruistic leaders committed to inciting positive changes for humanity. The IDS has four key beliefs consisting of transformation, activism, collaboration and humanitarianism. 

The club hopes to inspire the campus community through the teachings of holistic Islam and works to decolonize the narrative of Muslims. They hope to empower Muslim students to positively impact the world, enhance their skills in public dialogue, instill unity and engage in community service.

The Homeless Support Initiative has become an annual occurrence through a variety of clubs, fostering a culture of collaboration and student leadership. This is a pilot project that was initiated in 2021 by student Abd Fateh Alras, the vice-president and co-founder of the IDS.  

On January 20th 2024, the IDS was able to prepare a hundred winter survival packages and hundred warm meals to distribute at the intersection of 20th Street West.  

From conducting a door-to-door clothing and bottle drive throughout the Stonebridge neighborhood, ensuring the proper sanitation of the items donated, the procurement and preparation of the kits, preparing the meals and then distributing everything to those in need, the project required weeks of effort from dedicated volunteers and could not be possible without their initiative. 

The packages included hygiene products, band-aids, toques, gloves, scarves, menstrual products, donated jackets, clothing and pamphlets highlighting available resources. Additionally, a fresh sandwich,  juice, fruit and a granola bar for a balanced meal. 

This project could not have been possible without the collaboration of Islamic Relief Usask, Terry Fox Usask and the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan who provided financial and logistical assistance. Also, a special thank you for the donations and support provided by Saskatoon Health Authority, Giant Tiger, Affinity Credit Union, CBC Saskatchewan and the generous donors from the Stonebridge neighborhood. 

The presence of homelessness, addictions, gentrification and food insecurity is a reality of our society. As such, the homelessness crisis is continuously rising throughout Canada with an ever increasing cost of living. These realities are making basic survival difficult for even the most fortunate of us and at the same time it is pushing already vulnerable communities further below the poverty line. Saskatchewan is not far from being at the forefront of this crisis, with many critical resources constantly experiencing closures and loss of funding. 

“During winter, the hardships faced by the less fortunate individuals intensify due to harsh weather conditions, making it a critical time for additional support,” said Sami Rahman, President and co-founder of the IDS. 

A tenet of being the “change makers” of tomorrow is to analyze the world around us, and acknowledge the reality that the world is in fact flawed. A goal of the Islamic Dawah Society is to create a better world, and as the club is entrenched in Islamic teachings, charity is an emphasized endeavor.

Initiatives that provide meals, clothes and essentials to the less fortunate resonate deeply with the Islamic values of compassion and servitude towards humanity.  Such actions are viewed as a practical manifestation of the Islamic teachings about empathy and social responsibility. There are numerous verses in the Holy Quran as well as traditions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) wherein the Muslims are encouraged to engage in acts of service towards the rest of the society whether it is by taking actions such as feeding and sheltering those in need. 

It was narrated from a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, Ibn ‘Abbas, that he informed another companion, Ibn az-Zubayr, of the following statement of the Prophet: “I heard the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while his neighbor goes hungry.’”

“This statement alone is sufficient to inspire us with the dedication and enthusiasm to prepare meals, care packages, and many clothing items for our less fortunate community,” said Rahman. 

“We can confidently say that our work will certainly not stop here, and our faith both encourages and motivates us to continue giving back to people so long as we tread the earth […] as Muslims, it is forbidden for us to enjoy the luxuries of the world while humanity suffers, and for that we will continue to strive to be ambassadors of God serving our community,” emphasized Rahman. 

The Homeless Support Initiative stands as a testament to the profound impact of collaborative and compassionate endeavors. Grounded in the principles of Islamic teachings that emphasize empathy and social responsibility, the initiative not only distributed crucial winter survival packages and meals but also cultivated a sense of community and dedication to positive societal change. 

For students who are interested in getting involved in Islamic Dawah Society or its events, the best way is to reach out to the club through their Instagram page: @ids.usask.