Help our Afghan refugees

With the recent crisis in Afghanistan, we are seeing an increase in new refugees in San Diego. How can you help?

  • Temporary housing – If you have a dwelling unit that you would like to make available for our Afghan refugee brothers and sisters, please contact us [info@mccsd.org | 619-696-9267].  Refer to IRC’s guide on how to get involved using AirBnb Charity towards hosting a family
  • Furniture and kitchen items – Clean, gently used furniture and other household use items for kitchen and toiletries
  • Toys for kids
  • TV, Computers
  • Donate to MCS so we can provide groceries and personal items
  • Volunteer as a driver to deliver furniture and other items. Join our volunteer group

Alhamdulillah MCS has been welcoming and assisting refugees for the last 15 years in San Diego on your behalf. If you have any questions or ideas, or know of anyone who needs help, please contact us.

 

 

2020 Tax Receipt Preference

Please fill out this form to let us know how you would like to receive your 2020 tax receipts, and update your mailing and email address.

 

Why to give Zakat locally?

It is preferred to give Zakat locally for as long as the social phenomenon of Islam and Muslims exist in a particular area. Scripture points to it, intuition points to it – likewise our normative tradition demonstrates this over the 1,400 years.

The purpose of Zakat is for Islam to flourish as a commitment to Allah that inspires believers to strive for prosperity, harmony, and justice. The result will be a faithful, successful community of Muslims, contributing to society for the benefit of all.

Our responsibility is locally. Local distribution strengthens the sense of belonging to a community. Those within a society know best and most effective ways to cultivate the necessary socio-economic environment for Islam and Muslims to flourish.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم advised his companions to do so.

Abdullah Ibn`Abbas رضي الله عنه‎  narrates (as part of a longer Hadith):

“The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sent Muadh رضي الله عنه‎ to Yemen and said,

“Invite the people to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah ﷻ and I am Allah’s Messenger, and if they obey you to do so, then teach them that Allah ﷻ has enjoined on them five prayers in every day and night (in twenty-four hours), and if they obey you to do so, then teach them that Allah ﷻ has made it obligatory for them to pay the Zakat from their property and it is to be taken from the wealthy among them and given to the poor.”

(Bukhari)

The Companions understood Zakat to be local.

Umar b. al-Khattab رضي الله عنه‎ admonished his governor in Yemen, Muadh b. Jabal رضي الله عنه after he had sent him one-third of the Zakat of Yemen:

 “I have not sent you as a tax-collector, but to take from the rich and give to the poor.”

All 4 Madhabs agreed on local distribution.

The Hanbali school stipulates:

“It is preferred to disburse all of the Zakat to the poor in his area unless there are no valid recipients in the land, in which he distributes it in the land closest to him.” —(Al-Hajjawi, Zad al-Mustaqni’, p.78)

The Shafi’i school stipulates:

“If the categories of Zakat distribution are found in the place where Zakat is collected, it is prohibited and invalid to transfer the Zakat elsewhere.” —(Reliance of the Traveller, p.272)

The Maliki school stipulates:

“Transferring Zakat (outside the locality) is impermissible, expect if there is a pressing need to do so.”  —(Tawdih al-Ahkam min Bulugh Al-Maram 3:27)

The Hanafi school stipulates:

“It is disapproved to transfer the Zakat of one land to another; unless he transfers it to his poor relatives, or to a people needier than his own.” —(Al-Zayla’i, Nasab al-Rayah 2:423)

Reference: National Zakat Foundation

Responding To Coronavirus

foodassistancemcssdv4-2

The local economic fallout of the COVID-19 situation has placed severe financial hardship on many families in our community, some of whom were struggling even before the crisis.

To alleviate at least some of the hardship, MCS has launched a groceries voucher program that will serve families in need while also supporting grocers in the community. Vouchers will enable families to get much needed groceries for Ramadan.

This is an opportunity to be among those whom Allah has mentioned in the Quran:

“And they give food, out of love for Him, to the poor and the orphan and the captive, [saying] “We feed you, for Allah’s pleasure only — We desire from you neither reward nor thanks.” – (Qur’an 76 : 8-9)

give-now

MCS is on the ground already helping out the most vulnerable in our community.

  1. Financial assistance to help pay for food, utilities, rent and other basic necessities
  2. Educating our clients on safe practices to keep our clients and their families healthy and safe from contracting and propagating the virus
  3. Educating our clients on rapidly evolving relief measures taken by federal, state and local agencies so they are able to utilize all available resources to help them get through this

MCS needs your support so we can continue help our community during this troubling time. Please donate your sadaqa or Zakat to MCS.