Services
Your Islamic Social Services of South Jersey Resource Center
Every day Islamic Social Services supports people in finding the vision, the hope, and the strength to achieve a better life. Your investment expands our reach in the community and improves outcomes for children and families. Our efforts would not be possible without your support! We recognize we don’t have every answer. We work closely with area agencies and professionals to ensure our clients and families have access to the help they need. As a direct social service agency serving the South Jersey and surrounding communities, we receive referrals from multiple, Masajid, agencies and organizations; we strive to advocate for families for productive and healthy outcomes. We honor the collaborations and working relationships we have in the community as we seek out positive strategies to empower families to lead stable and secure lives.
Zakat Collection and Distribution
Zakat is an act of worship and the third pillar of Islam. Zakat purifies your income. Allah Almighty mentioned in Quran: “Take from their wealth so that you might purify and sanctify them” (Quran 9:103). It has been mentioned in Quran in more than 30 verses. Its significance before Allah can be determined by the fact that its order has been placed everywhere in the Quran where the order of offering prayer has been passed. It's obligatory for every capable Muslim to pay Zakat. By giving Zakat, a Muslim accepts that everything we have is given by Allah and we do not own it, and we should use it to remember Allah and help those who are in need. It is an act to help learn self-discipline, humility, and honesty.
Zakatul Mal is 2.5% of reserved income.
Zakatul Fitr is estimated at $18 per household member.
Fidya Collection & Distribution
Fidya is a donation type within the Islamic tradition paid by individuals who cannot fulfill the obligation of fasting due to illness, difficulty in pregnancy, or old age. Fidya payments are meant to feed a miskeen (person in need) for each of the fasting days missed.
The estimated cost, on guidance from the Fiqh Council of North America, is $18 for each day missed or $540 for all of Ramadan.
Udhiya/Qurbani Collection and Distribution
Every year Islamic Social Services of South Jersey carries out the collection and distribution of Qurbani meat on behalf of donors. ISSSJ distributes the meat to vulnerable families in the South Jersey area. Many of these families look forward to enjoying this special meat once a year at the time of Eid ul Adha.
Each year we distribute 3,100 pounds of meat or more to over 100 families and aim to reach more each year. ISSSJ takes great care to perform Qurbani on your behalf in accordance with the Sunnah, providing up to four pounds of excellent quality meat per family.
Resource Referrals
ISSSJ offers referrals to agencies that may be of assistance to our community members. Referrals are routinely made for health care, legal services, employment, utility assistance, counseling, housing, and childcare. Every effort is made to assist each client with available resources. ISSSJ provides information on how to apply for government assistance such as TANF, Medicaid, WIC, & SNAPS.
Emergency Assistance
There are many reasons we are called upon to assist families and individuals as they face rebuilding a life: major life changes, new arrivals to our community, refugees, asylees, coming out of homelessness, restored citizens. ISSSJ also provides emergency care packages containing food, personal hygiene products, clothing & shoes. We currently do not have the funding to offer shelter. However, we have resources that may be able to help with rent and utilities. Further assistance is considered on a case-by-case basis. Assistance is contingent upon the participant meeting the eligibility requirements of the program and the availability of funds or resources.
Needs Assessments
As South Jersey's only functioning Islamic faith-based social services organization, we work directly with the local Masajid to help ensure community needs are met. Islamic Social Services of South Jersey conducts needs assessments with those seeking assistance to best fit them with resources they qualify for. We see every challenge as an opportunity, and this initiative helps us ensure that our partners are better prepared to manage unique situations. We are invested in an innovative approach that empowers our community and delivers the support they need when they need it.
The Blessed Month of Ramadan
In the blessed month of Ramadan we embark upon fasting, prayer and charity and strive to embody utmost perseverance and empathy. Islamic Social Services has several ensures our community has food in this holy month, and that children are gifted with a celebratory toy on Eid, InshaAllah. Your support has sustained these programs for more than a decade.
Ramadan Food Boxes: Your monetary contribution allows for the distribution of a large tote box of supplies so that a family can prepare their preferred dishes throughout the month. If you are facing any food insecurity, please reach out to us for a box. In addition, we continue to have our weekly distribution of fruits and vegetables throughout the month.
Eid Toy Drive: Collection locations will be announced soon, InshaAllah! There are times this may be the only gift a child may receive in celebration of Eid and we appreciate the long-standing support this program has received in the community.
Zakat: We know many of us prefer to calculate our Zakat for the year in Ramadan and, as always, we are honored by the very trust you place in us to distribute your zakat obligation to those in need in our community. The need is critical. We serve families in our community across New Jersey, with dignity and confidentiality, embracing the client with our services designed to render not a handout, but an empowering hand up.
Connect with Islamic Social Services of South Jersey.
The Importance of Zakat
Zakat has many benefits some of them are listed below:
It brings a servant close to his Lord and increases his faith. This is the case with all of the acts of worship.
Paying Zakat results in great reward from Allah Almighty. The Prophet (SAW) said:
“Whoever gives away charity the size of a date, which is earned lawfully, since Allah only accepts the good lawful things, Allah will indeed take it with His right Hand and cause it to grow for its owner, just as one of you raises up his colt, to the point that the charity will become like the size of a mountain.” [Al-Bukhari]
Allah removes the (minor) sins by giving Zakat, as the Prophet (SAW) said: “Giving charity wipes away sins just as water extinguishes the fire.”
It helps Muslims to follow the honorable path.
It helps in purification of the heart.
It helps in reducing the poverty from society.
Most important benefit of Zakat is the purification of the halal money.
It cleans one’s character from being a miser.
It is proof of the truthfulness of the faith of he who gives Zakat.
It makes one reach the rank of the perfect believer. The Prophet (SAW) said: “None of you truly believes until he loves his brother what he loves himself.” [Muslim]
It makes an Islamic society a single family in which the rich helps the poor.
Redemption from the intense heat on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Every man will be in the shade of his charity on the Day of Resurrection.” [Ahmad]
Calculating Zakat helps to demolish poverty.
While paying Zakat reduces the chances of deflation in the country or in a society.
Zakat removes the grudges and deceased feelings found in the hearts of the poor and needy people.
Rely on Your Resources!
Maximize financial supports. Many low-income individuals may be entitled to financial assistance from various government agencies. The United States Department of Agriculture provides assistance to low-income families through housing, food and nutrition. For example, the USDA offers assistance to Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) through food vouchers for the purchase of nutritional food, formula, and breastfeeding educational support. Affordable Housing is available in every county. Most families qualify for SNAP benefit (food stamps). Apply for free or low cost health coverage. Etc.
Budget Friendly Entertainment!
Visit your community Masajid for family events & programs. Find alternate things to do for entertainment. For example, rather than paying admission at a movie theater or theme park, look for creative ways to have fun for free or for very little money. Make popcorn at home and pick a family DVD movie to watch. Take the kids to the park and enjoy the outdoors. Organize a potluck ladies night in with your friends. Cooking a romantic date night dinner can be even more enjoyable than an expensive meal in a restaurant.
Save While Shopping!
Scan newspapers and flyers for food coupons. Stock up on items when they are on sell. Buy larger-sized containers when possible; they cost less per serving. Shop from a grocery list to reduce impulse buying. Cook large pot meals to feed the whole family. Keep rice, pasta, oatmeal, beans and canned fish stocked. Drink more water! No need to spend extra money on beverages. Buy large bags of apples, oranges & bundles of bananas to eat as snacks. Processed packaged snacks can add up and are not very healthy. Purchase large bags of frozen vegetables. Get a meat package from a halaal meat market and plan meals according to what you have purchased.
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