Can I get a refund?

I recently went to an Islamic Conference, like all conferences they had a bazaar. It was a very small bazaar, one vendor for books, one vendor for hijabs/clothes, one for jewelry and the last one was a new one that I have never seen before, it was 2 brothers representing an organization by the name of Global Deaf Muslims. They had pamphlets containing information about their organization. They were also selling shirts, it had the word 'Salaam' on it as well as the notion of saying Salaam in sign language. The shirt was $15 for long sleeves and $10 for half sleeves, which is typically how much shirts cost at these sorts of events. I decided to go ahead and purchase a shirt from them, the way I was communicating with them was through writing notes. As I was writing, I noticed and couldn't help but read what the previous note said. The previous person wrote, "Brother, can I get a refund for the shirt?". Reading that absolutely broke my heart, how heartless and insensitive can our people be? Even if you didn't like the shirt or changed your mind later on, was it absolutely necessary to return it? Don't people know that the $10-$15 they spent went to a good cause? This isn't just your every day vendor, this is an organization that puts money towards our brothers and sisters who have a disability. Helping them by educating Imams and creating events and lectures that help these individuals increase their iman and further educating them on how to be faithful to Allah swt.

This incident got me thinking about our "Muslim" countries. In Pakistan, there is a center that houses down syndrome children/adults. Parents choose to just leave their children at these centers and SOME will visit their children, while others don't even turn back around. Doctors have even claimed that many parents from America/Canada come and leave their children in this center. I understand a child with down syndrome requires a lot of work and time, however it is YOUR child that Allah swt has given to you.

Similarly, I knew of a boy who could not speak or hear. He used to live in a Muslim country and was treated horribly. He would not be able to leave his home, he had no life nor any sort of program he could engage himself in. Why is it that in most "Muslim" countries, people with a handicap or medical condition are in solitude and shut away from the world? Yet, in the U.S.A they have programs, treatments, support groups, and most importantly a life they can enjoy and live. Most university campuses have centers for disabled in which they can go hang out, have games/activities and basically live a normal life like everyone else.

It made me think back to Yasir Qadhi's lecture on 'Social Work', and the lack of Muslim involvement. Why is it we're on top of our Masjid fundraising or sending money back "home" and yet when it comes to helping the needy here we turn our backs? Money is not the only way to give charity but rather your time and participation are essential as well. Why aren't we at soup kitchens passing out food to the less fortunate? Why don't our masjids host food or clothing drives for organizations or people here in the U.S? Why can't we support groups such as Global Deaf Muslims? Aren't all of these important? Aren't all these things an obligation on us as Muslims?

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon Him) once said “The Muslim Ummah is like one body. If the eye is in pain then the whole body is in pain and if the head is in pain then the whole body is in pain”, the issue is that we don't feel the pain of the whole body. Our responsibilities are all over the place, some are right (such as fundraising at a Masjid which is VERY important) but most of our responsibilities end up neglected.

If we choose to neglect the handicaps or less fortunate individuals of our Ummah, then we risk losing them. I know of a girl who has a disability but she hates going to Muslim events because she feels out casted. She likes to go to school and feels much more comfortable at non Muslim gatherings. She is losing interest in Islam, due to her interactions with Muslims. Sadly, she is not seeing true Muslims, she is witnessing sheer insensitivity that strongly goes against our beautiful deen.

Sadly, in our Ummah spending $15 on a hijab or $60 on an abayah is much more significant then donating $15 to an organization that will benefit many Muslims.