By Wa'il Shihab, IOL Staff

DUBLIN, Ireland, June 24 (IslamOnline.net) - The Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI) here urged Tuesday, June 24, the Muslim community in Ireland to actively participate in voluntary acts of the 11th Special Olympics World Summer Games which opened Sunday, June 22, along with 30,000 volunteers, from different world countries, to help in ensuring the success of the Games.

"We are part and parcel of the Irish society. In one of my Khutbahs (Friday sermons), I called on Muslims to be among the volunteers in the 2003 Special Olympics," Sheikh Hussain Halawa of the ICCI, told IslamOnline.net.

"Islam calls Muslims to be faithful and cooperative. Muslims should help and serve their society as long as there is no violation to the rules of the Islamic Law. Therefore, we seize every opportunity to prove to people that Islam is a religion of peace, kindness, tolerance, and morality. We actively participate in all national occasions that serve the welfare of the Irish society," he added.

For his part, Dr. Nooh Al-Kaddo, the Executive Director of the ICCI said that the council encouraged the Muslim community in Ireland to participate in the volunteerism activities because "this maintains their integrity."

Winners

"Volunteers always are winners," said Mrs. Rawaa Al-Abde, a Muslim woman living in Dublin and one of the volunteers in the 2003 Special Olympics.

She continued: "Both in this world, by pleasing others and helping those who are in need of others’ help and in the Hereafter, by gaining Allah’s pleasure.

"I went to participate in the volunteerism activities in the 2003 Special Olympics so as to find opportunity to present the true Islam, by setting a good example for others in morality, cooperation, and faithfulness."

Dr. Sano Koutoub Moustapha, professor of Jurisprudence & Its Principles at the International Islamic University, Malaysia, asserts that volunteerism is, as far as Islam is concerned, strongly recommended.

"Volunteerism does refer to doing an activity voluntarily and without being paid for it or without expecting any material reward from it. As for Muslims, they are strongly recommended to do many volunteerism and they should do so for the sake of Allah and with hope of getting His rewards in Hereafter," Dr. Moustapha said.

The Games includes Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cycling, Equestrian, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Power lifting, Roller-skating, Sailing, Table Tennis, Tennis, Team Handball, and Volleyball.

Up to 166 sports delegation are vying in the nine-day Games.

The ICCI invited all Arab and Muslim teams to visit the center and to have a lunch at its wonderful restaurant that offers distinguished Halal meals.

The ICCI is the leading Islamic Centre throughout the island of Ireland, which also houses the headquarters of the well-reputed European Council for Fatwa and Research

Source : http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2003-06/24/article14.shtml