Don't Forget The Prisoners This Ramadhan

On the eve of the month of Ramadhan, Cageprisoners requests all concerned individuals to remember the detainees and their families.

This will be the eighth Ramadhan many of the detainees will spend in captivity, subject to abuse, not knowing the charges or evidence against them, often having neither access to a lawyer nor their families.

Some will be fasting despite having been on hunger strike; others whilst facing the threat of deportation and torture; some whilst being tortured themselves.

It will be the eighth Ramadhan that the families will spend isolated from their husband, father or son, being felt acutely now. Having lost their main breadwinner, and shunned by their communities, many are struggling to cope, sometimes with up to five children, alone, left abandoned without any support.

What could be better at a time when the reward of deeds are multiplied manifold, than performing "one of the greatest compulsory deeds and one of the greatest ways to come close to Allah", namely in fulfilling our obligations to the Muslim prisoners.

1. DONATE

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that "the best charity is one given during Ramadhan" (2) and he himself was the best example of this, as was narrated, "the Messenger of Allaah, was the most generous of people and he used to be most generous in Ramadhan" (3).

Click here for details on how you can donate to Cageprisoners: http://www.cageprisoners.com/campaigns.php?id=378

Please also see our campaigns section for information on donating to specific prisoners like Aafia Siddiqui or other US inmates.

2. PRAY FOR THEM

"...and we do not ask from you except to seek for my brothers the hours when prayers are answered, and let all...the Muslims pray for us." (extracted from the letter by Guantanamo detainee, Abdullah Hamid al-Muslih al-Qahtani)

Muslims should take note of the times we believe supplications are more likely to be answered:
• During the fast
• At the time of breaking the fast (iftar)
• In the night prayer
• Between the adhan and iqamah
• The last hour of a Friday (Jum'ah, before Maghrib)
• In your prostrations
• During the last third of the night
• Throughout the last ten nights of Ramadhan, when seeking Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power)
• If performing 'umrah (the lesser pilgrimage) in Ramadhan

3. WRITE TO THEM. While Muslims will mark the joyous occasion of Eid with their families, the prisoners will be spending this day alone behind bars. Help us to make this Ramadhan and Eid a little special for the prisoners and their families by inundating them with letters, Eid cards and gift vouchers. Remind them they are not forgotten and strengthen them with words of support.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said "that the most beloved of actions to Allah is when you make another Muslim happy, removing a hardship that has befallen him." (4).

For a list of the detainees and their families that you can write to, click here: http://www.cageprisoners.com/page.php?id=9

4. KEEP THEIR PLIGHT ALIVE. Forward our newsletters or email at least one item from our site about the prisoners to keep this issue alive.

Cageprisoners
30th Sha'ban 1427
12th September 2007

Notes

1. Ibn Taymiyyah - Al-Fatawa 28/635
2. At Tirmidhi
3. Al-Bukhari and Muslim
4. Al Tabaraani

Date: 30/09/2008 (1429 AH)

Source: http://www.cageprisoners.com/campaigns.php?id=794