Workshop participants: Be prepared for disaster, mentally and spiritually

By Tariqah Shakir-Muhammad -Final Call Newspaper- | Last updated: Feb 20, 2019 - 12:24:28 PM

Participants received information on active shooter safely measures. Photos: Tariqah Shakir-Muhammad

CHICAGO—This year’s Saviours’ Day “Disaster Preparedness” workshop emphasized being mentally and spiritually prepared for a natural disaster and emergency situations.

Student National Auditing Coordinator Sister A’ishah Muhammad and staff organized the workshop to prepare guests for the tumultuous weather conditions to come, and how to help family and friends do the same.

“We kind of look at disaster preparedness in terms of a form of entertainment,” panelist Alva Muhammad stated. She was among the many well-informed and helpful instructors during an early-January workshop at Muhammad University of Islam (MUI) and has contributed survival and safety information to The Final Call and online.

Left to right: A’ishah Muhammad, Amin Muhammad and Alva Muhammad present at Disaster Preparedness workshop during Saviours’ Day 2019.

“And so we have to quickly do what we need to do so our people will survive. And so as America falls as it is falling, we have to be ready and we have to be prepared to do what needs to come next,” she continued.

Other topics covered during the workshop included what to do in the case of an active shooting, how to communicate properly during an emergency, maintaining safe temperatures during dangerous weather and much more.

Imam Sultan Rahman Muhammad of Mosque Maryam expanded on handling the loss of a loved one in the case of a disaster while maintaining respect and dignity for the deceased.

“We as Believers in the Nation of Islam know that when we die there’s a period on our life; however, what we leave behind is still present. That includes our remains so there is an aspect of us that is left and now returning to the earth,” he began.

“We are to continue in a repetitious manner to affirm life and that life is the very faith that we have, brothers and sisters. That life is in two phases: ‘to bear witness that there is no God but Allah’ and ‘Muhammad is his Messenger.’ ”

Guests were able to participate in a Q&A session with panelists and see demonstrations such as proper first-aid treatment and what to do during an active shooting. They also received a complementary packet of emergency water by Ark Survival Surplus, a disaster preparedness and survival gear shop.

In closing remarks, Alva Muhammad reminded guests that investing in their safety as soon as possible is one of the best decisions to make in this day and time.

Saviours’ Day Disaster Preparedness workshop was informative

“Through endurance and the encouragement of scripture, we might have hope. The reason we talked about the subjects we talked about today was not to depress us or frighten us or intimidate us but to give us hope so that we can be prepared, and our families can be prepared, and our people can be prepared for what we know is to come,” she stated.

“So please, if you do nothing else, take the information we have provided today and put it to use right away in your homes, in your jobs, in the mosque.”

For more information and for a free disaster preparedness issue of The Final Call, visit finalcall.com.

The Final Call