August 1, 2006

Making a Difference: One Donation at a Time

by Sherry Harbert

As the images of blood flowing from the recent fighting in the Middle East display the death toll in graphic detail each day, another image of blood flowing in Portland, July 29, highlighted the humanity that Kashif Zafar and the Portland Rizwan Mosque have for their community. Though quiet and much less sensational than the constant death scenes emerging from Lebanon, Israel and Iraq, Zafar hosted the second blood drive at his mosque to contribute to the American Red Cross. He affirms his efforts portray a true sense of Islam.

“Nothing pisses me off more than seeing the kidnappings, the beheadings and the suicide bomers,” said Zafar. “We as Muslims seriously condemn those acts. There is absolutely no room for that in Islam.” Zafar’s sentiments reflect those of his Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and other Muslim sects in the Portland area. But, they are often drowned out by the constant images of violence shown in the Middle East. It is concern that has compelled area Muslim groups to counter the impression left by an extremist minority.

The Rizwan Mosque has been at the forefront of organizing numerous public forums to address Islam, terrorism and mutual understanding between Islam and the West. Since September 11, its members have worked diligently to communicate their support for the community with many outreach events. The last forum, held at Portland State University in February, included members of the Muslim community, Portland City Police, the Portland Division of the FBI and other community members to discuss coexistence and international events. More recently, The Rizwan Mosque Lajna (Women’s Auxiliary) hosted an interfaith conference in June to discuss the commonalities and differences of the various religions.

Zafar’s timing for the July 29 blood drive was one of many demonstrations of his mosque’s sensitivity to events around the world and their implications for Muslims throughout the Portland area. “The blood drive is a great excuse for people to come experience a mosque,” said Zafar. “They are a bit apprehensive at first, but we give them a tour and they enjoy it.” Zafar says he enlists friends and co-workers at Oregon Health Sciences University to contribute. “They say this is good work.”

The timing also helped meet emergency requests of blood donations for the Pacific Northwest Regional Blood Services (PNWRBS). Consisting of all but five counties in Oregon, 60 percent of Washington and the southern region of Alaska, the PNWRBS must collect at least 5,000 units each week to meet demand for 81 hospitals. On July 28, there was only a half-day’s supply for half the blood types (O-, A-, B- and AB-). The largest supply was for the AB+ type, but with only five days to store the platelets, the component to aid in clotting, supplies are tenuous. (The other components are red blood cells that transport oxygen and white blood cells that fight against infection.) Summer is notoriously slow for donations, but the need remains high. According to the Pacific Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross, blood donations serve cancer patients, premature babies, accident victims and other injuries. A new Donor Care and Response Center opened last month to consolidate blood donation services. (Call 1-800-737-0902 weekdays from 7a.m. to 8p.m. for more information.)

The recent demand was one reason Zafar decided to host a second blood drive. The first, held three months ago was the largest he had organized. When Zafar took over the community services role four years ago at his mosque, the blood drives only happened once a year and at a much smaller scale. When 30 donors contributed during the April drive, Zafar was confident the numbers could be repeated. He enlisted friends and co-workers who came from as far away as Scappoose, Salem and Vancouver, Wash., to participate.

Zafar said the blood drives are just one facet of his mosque’s contribution to the local community. The mosque has adopted a section of Hwy. 217 for litter patrols twice a year and hosts numerous food and back-to-school drives, as well as raising money for victims of the 2004 South Asian Tsumami and Hurricane Katrina.

“The responsibility of every Muslim is to treat people humanely, help the needy and poor, and community service,” said Zafar. “My emphasis is to lead by example and to do one’s part.” For Zafar and the Rizwan Mosque, those responsibilities are daily callings, along with being accessable to the community. For that, the mosque is open to the public for tours and questions. For more information, contact the Portland Rizwan Mosque at 503-246-0813. To learn more about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, go to www.alislam.org.

© 2006, Foreign Interest