On August 19, 2012, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community came together to donate blood as part of the nationwide campaign of the Muslims for Life blood drive. This day had several different significances, one being that less than one month from now will be the eleventh anniversary of the horrific tragedy in New York that we all know as 9/11. This national campaign, Muslims for Life, began last year as an initiative to bring a message of peace and togetherness as a way of helping people of all walks of life to live. Muslims everywhere are working together to preserve the sanctity of life. Muslims for Life collectively worked with blood centers and the Red Cross in America to donate over 11,000 quarts of blood. This year being the 11th Anniversary, Muslims for Life is working to not only meet this goal but to beat it.

August 19th also had another significance in that was the holy Muslim day of Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated at the end of the ninth month of the lunar calendar in which Muslim fast during the daylight hours, known as the month of Rahmadan. This month is believed to be the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed to the Muslim Prophet, Mohammed (peace be upon him). Worldwide, Muslims use this month as a time of self-reflection and a way to become closer to God.

After the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers, members of the New Orleans Chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community commenced the blood drive in front of the Kenner, Louisiana Mission House. Around 50 members participated of which 38 were successful in donating blood. The New Orleans Blood Center with all their equipment and personnel were on hand to manage the extraction of the blood. There were 3 ladies and 35 men who donated.
With this great success, this annual event will hopefully be one more way that Muslims and Americans can work together to unite and further the message of peace and hope.

To find out more about Muslims for Life, visit www.muslimsforlife.org. To find out more about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community visit www.alislam.org.