We are now in our third week of lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Activities we’d usually be running have moved online and my first session at the Sisters’ Weekly Qur’an and Tajweed class has truly helped me to rekindle my love and friendship with the words of our Lord and Creator, the Holy Qur’an. Alhamdulillah.
At times like these no companion is greater than the Qur’an and no people more beloved than those dedicating their time and investing in our sisterhood, like Sister Dhuha with the wonderful support of Sisters Hasna and Wafa. May Allah SWT elevate them in His rankings and grant them the best of this life and the hereafter. Ameen.
Now that we are approaching Ramadhan, I couldn’t recommend these sessions enough as a way to boost our spiritual health and wellbeing. Join our WhatsApp group to find out how to join the sessions or email Shoomi@ciccentre.org to get more info.
Our community has thrived by staying connected regularly,
whether that was through weekly Qur’an and Arabic classes, monthly coffee
mornings, lecture series or our annual meet ups over Ramadhan, the AGM and the
Sisters’ Conference. We are now living in a completely different reality, one
that has added so many restrictions on the way we, as a community stay
connected and in touch.
In sha’ Allah the current situation is temporary and Allah
swt will keep us all protected in our health, wealth, wellbeing and families.
Ameen.
One way CICC is trying to keep us connected is through our
Sisters’ and Brothers’ Sunday Meet Ups over Zoom. Our weekly sisters’ sessions
are taking place at 11am with the brothers’ sessions, hosted by Imam Habib
Ahmad, starting later at 2pm.
After just one session, we can see how much it benefits our
community to meet up and stay in touch. Our first sisters’ session was a great
chance to check in and see how we were all coping with this new and extraordinary
way of life. We discussed everything from our worries around working in the
NHS, having loved ones working in the NHS, the impact of working from home,
being out of work, having children home, and the things we were doing for our
own wellbeing to stay safe and healthy in mind, body and spirit.
We discussed how we were able to make time for the things
that mattered like concentrating in Salah more, reciting the Qur’an more often,
with our kids and keeping extra fasts in order to prepare for Ramadhan and make
our food shops last longer. We also discussed supermarket anxiety and how scary
it was to queue up and stand too close to others. This was a chance to signpost
to CICC’s COVID-19 Support, who can help with getting your shopping if you’re
alone, anxious and/ or vulnerable. We as a community are always here for you
and we hope we can all become closer through this massive test from Allah SWT.
Please take a moment to see the dua that was requested in
the session and add your own dua in the comments below. May Allah SWT accept it
from us. Ameen.
Don’t forget to sign up for next week’s meet ups for sisters and brothers.
CICC is proud to be made up of some of our regions most courageous key workers who are not only keeping our communities going during these unprecedented times but saving lives and livelihoods.
Our membership is a diverse and vibrant one, made up of Muslims from many backgrounds. We are extremely grateful to over 70% of our membership who make up the key workers keeping our local NHS services thriving, keeping their local grocery and food businesses running and keeping schools and day cares open to take care of the children of key workers.
From all of us at CICC, we want to say a massive thank you to all the people working on the frontlines, who are risking their own health and safety to keep us going during this global pandemic.
May Allah SWT reward you in abundance for all the good you do and keep you and your loved ones safe, healthy and prospering. Ameen.
We hope we can all do our part to make sure your jobs are not stretched anymore than they already are and that together we can #StayHome #ProtectTheNHS #SaveLives #FlattenTheCurve
In response to the recent “lockdown” measures announced by the Prime Minister to contain coronavirus, we have launched a programme to help our elderly and vulnerable members who may be affected.
Our helpline is over 7-days a week from 10 am to 2pm
CICC COVID19 SUPPORT HELPLINE: 0759 8941828
The helpline provides;
1. CHAT SERVICE for CICC members who are lonely or isolated and provide support.
2. SIGNPOSTING members to services they require or help them access those services.
3. DELIVERY SERVICE to buy essential groceries, pick up medicines for members who do not have any means or are having to self isolate.
We would like to encourage everyone reading this, to reach out to anyone they may know who might be living on their own or isolating, and see if they need any help.
This may be a very anxious time for some and at CICC we have a fantastic group of volunteers who are ready to help support our fellow Muslims. We offer help with shopping for those who cannot get out themselves, a chat service for those feeling isolated and signposting, to other services.
Please call our helpline, any day of the week! We are here to help.
This service will be provided by a volunteer group who will use a dedicated CICC WhatsApp group to coordinate this noble effort.
You can help by:
1. Let us know any member who you feel may be vulnerable and could benefit (with their permission) or ask them to contact us.
2. Donating money to purchase groceries for those in need
On the 13th March 2020, CICC Trustees took the important and timely decision to postpone and cancel all CICC events in order to safeguard our members and the public.
We understand this has been disappointing but we felt that we all have to play our part in flattening the curve and curb the spread of this virus in order to stop it being passed on to those who are vulnerable and protect our NHS services from hitting capacity.
We thank our members for their support and encouragement over the last few weeks. With the country on lockdown, we can see that the right decision was made.
Despite these exceptional circumstances, CICC organisers have shown fantastic commitment in keep some of our events going.
We are delighted to announce our Sisters and Brothers Sunday Meet Ups over Zoom. These sessions will continue until June 7th in order to keep us connected during lockdown InshaaAllah.
We are all excited that our Learn to read and write Arabic course and our Sisters’ Weekly Qur’an and Tajweed classes are now taking place online via Zoom. Please contact Sheikh Ismael for information on Arabic classes and Sister Shoomi for information on Sisters’ Qur’an and Tajweed classes.
Follow our Updates on Whatsapp| Twitter | Facebook For more information on the coronavirus please visit the NHS website. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
