The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has announced a new partnership with British-based Muslim Aid, with which it hopes to spend up to $15 million on joint relief projects around the world.
Muslim Aid was founded in the 1980’s with help from former British rock star turned Muslim convert Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam.
UMCOR’s operating budget last year was nearly $90 million, of which $27 million was a grant for Hurricane Katrina relief work from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA). Muslim Aid’s expenditures in 2005 were about $17 million.
Then Chief Cabinet Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms presided over the June marriage announcement in London, "No one should underestimate the potential for good that Christians and Muslims (working together) can do in the UK and in the rest of the world," Timms said, according to United Methodist News Service. "This shows what distinctive faiths can achieve when the focus is on shared values."
It is not clear what exactly the “shared values” are between the liberal Methodist relief agency and the Islamic group. Randy Day, who heads UMCOR’s parent group, the New York-based United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, said that "while we come from different theological positions, we have the same humanitarian values to relieve the suffering of those in need, no matter who they are or what they believe."
What is UMCOR’s theology? It is not clear. UMCOR’s website contains no references to God, Jesus Christ or the Bible. Its “our values” section explains that UMCOR’s mission is to “alleviate human suffering,” to honor “cultural differences,” to appreciate human dignity, always to work with partners, and to avoid “ tying the promise of its relief and development activity to any religious or political viewpoint.”
In contrast, Muslim Aid is more specific. “By the Grace of Allah, the Muslim Aid global partnership now brings together humanitarian organizations in more than 50 countries with the Muslim community of the UK,” its website reports. “By the mercy of Allah and the support of the British Muslim community, Muslim Aid seeks to place a strong emphasis on short and especially long-term development projects.”
One of Muslim Aid’s major initiatives is helping needy Muslims fulfill their Qurbani obligation on the day of Eid-ul-Adha. “All Muslims are required to offer the sacrifice of a small animal such as a goat, or offer jointly with others the sacrifice of a larger animal such as a cow,” the Muslim Aid website explains. “This act of sacrifice signifies the sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) was prepared to make when requested by God to sacrifice his son Ismail.” According to the website, orders for Qurbani are now being taken, and the meat will be distributed in December. Last year, Muslim Aid spent over a million dollars on Qurbani programs in over 59 countries.
Muslim Aid’s website prominently features quotations from the Koran: “Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan? For (Allah) will increase it manifold to his credit, and he will have (besides) a liberal reward (Qur'an 57:11).” The website reports that Muslim Aid is a Muslim charity that is “bound by the guidance of Islam for the disposal of charitable donations received: "Alms are for the poor and for the needy, and for those employed to administer the funds; for those whose hearts have been reconciled to the truth, for those in bondage and in debt; for those in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer." (Holy Qur'an: Surah Al Tawbah, verse 60).”
