CHICAGO—The Muslim community across the globe took part in its annual time of spiritual reflection and self-improvement known as Ramadan.
During this time, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset for 30 days, read the Holy Qur’an daily and focus even more on doing good deeds, like feeding those in need. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam donated 1,000 meals to be freely given to Chicago residents throughout the city.
Helping the Minister in his mission to feed those in need was owner and operator of The Foodies Spot restaurant, Sister Carmella Muhammad, along with numerous Muslims from the Nation of Islam’s Mosque Maryam. She has been feeding the homeless regularly since her business opened in August 2018 and has been feeding the less fortunate since May 2013.
The meals were distributed May 9 by directly placing the quality food in the hands of people and by delivering food to a women’s shelter to feed residents. Five teams struck out across the city, striking in particular the West Side and South Side neighborhoods whose needs are often ignored.
Sister Carmella explained that the meals were to be distributed over two weeks, May 9 and May 23, at 500 meals per weekend.
Armed with The Final Call newspaper, bottled water, and meals consisting of vegetarian and chicken options, volunteers enthusiastically offered the day’s gifts to those in a homeless shelter and those living in a tent city near downtown.
Sister Katrina Muhammad stated, “The love of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is tremendous. To do something like this during Ramadan and to do it all the time is just beautiful, I had to be a part of it. As a Muslim, this is something that we should be doing for our faith and for humanity, so I had to participate in this expression of love, it’s absolutely beautiful.”
“I was motivated to volunteer today because it’s the holy month of Ramadan and I wanted to give back and Ramadan really puts us in a space of you are hungry and you know what it feels like to deal with hunger but it’s temporary, but for our brothers and sisters who are homeless, they don’t have the means to break their fast, they’re just hungry. I just felt obligated to assist in some way, shape or form,” added Sister Saaudiah Muhammad.
Those who received the donations were thankful with one person offering a prayer for the Muslim volunteers in a show of gratitude.
Volunteer Margaret Mahdi stated, “Blessed Ramadan, we thank Allah to be able to serve on behalf of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, all praise is due to Allah. You can’t serve enough. There’s no excuse as to why we can’t do more.”
“We’re out here sharing love and food,” added Sister Adeelah Muhammad. “Being shut in during Covid-19, I’m used to being a worker, behind the scenes, especially during Ramadan, it helps to get blessings for ourselves and for our people.”
“I felt the need to be of service to our people,” Sister Aamilah Muhammad explained. “Of course the fact that Minister Farrakhan asked for us to come out and feed the people on his behalf, I absolutely had to make it a reality. I always think that this could be me, this could be my family, so anytime I’m able to be of service to our people, to the beloved Minister, I’m going to be there, and I thank him for giving me the opportunity to be of service.”
(Shawntell Muhammad can be contacted at [email protected].)
Muslims deliver free meals donated by Min. Farrakhan during Ramadan. 
Troy 5X speaks to a brother in community as Muslims gave away delicious meals paid for by Min. Farrakhan. 
Chicago Muslims offered city residents spiritual and physical food during Ramadan. 
Student Minister Shahid Muhammad helped serve quality meals donated by Min. Farrakhan to residents on the city’s South Side. 
10The Final Call newspaper was given among Ramadan gifts distributed by Muslims from Mosque Maryam in Chicago 
The Final Call newspaper was given away free as part of Ramadan physical and spiritual meal 
Sister Carmella Muhammad serves a man with a wonderful Ramadan meal 
Those who received free meals sponsored by Min. Farrakhan as part of Ramadan observance were touched by the act of kindness. 
A man reads a copy of The Final Call newspaper which was given away free as part of Ramadan physical and spiritual meal. 
Meals sponsored by Min Farrakhan were shared with residents at a tent city in downtown Chicago 
Muslims welcomed the opportunity to distribute free food as an act of charity for the month of Ramadan
Photos: Haroon Rajaee and Troy 5X
