Re: Doing an Iftaar at the masjid vs donating to the needy
Do what ever is in your capacity. If you want to have an Iftar party at a mosque do that, and if you want to donate money, do that. and if you want to do the both, do that. cuz the fact is its only in ALLAH SWT's hand to provide food to his creatures, not in ours, but he chose few of us to become the "zariya" of others. Even in mosques of US, and Canada there are many needy people come to mosques (both muslims and non-muslims).
and whether there is a flood or not we shouldn't throw lavish Iftar parties anyways. We shouldn't eat more than our stomach can hold. and its a mistake of our parents who didnt teach us "Kinat-pasandi"
Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab government has banned Iftar and Eid ceremonies owing to prevailing flood devastations in the province
Re: Doing an Iftaar at the masjid vs donating to the needy
Our masjid yesteraday announced that there wont be any lavish aftaars (they were really lavish), rather all money will be donated to Flood relief. I'm glad they made this decision.
Though as again Iftar is necessary but a couple of eatables should do it.
Re: Doing an Iftaar at the masjid vs donating to the needy
I agree to you Niksik. If the Iftaar is sponsored/catered the whole town comes to it and if it is potluck the crowd is not that big. I agree to others that it is a community building effort but that community building can be done during other months too why just in Ramazan only ?
Re: Doing an Iftaar at the masjid vs donating to the needy
unless it is some extremely expensive catered event its a wash, what you spend on iftar means someone else is not spending on iftar that day
basically think of it this way, 30 people live in dorm rooms, they can each have their own iftar each day
or
one person has iftar for everyone on day 1, and then does not have to do anything.
so, unless there is massive waste or the cost are not just multiples but exponential then u have an issue
I would say community events are the best to raise awareness..
have the iftaris but leave pledge boxes for people to donate something and then use that for charity.