Despite fasting, Muslim American donates blood for Orlando survivors

Orlando - Speaking with Khaleej Times, Mahmoud ElAwadi, an Egyptian American based in Orlando explains how UAE can help in empowering Islam as a religion of peace.

The horrific shooting that claimed 50 lives in Orlando, Florida, has given news outlets and Donald Trump another opportunity to sing the anti-Muslim hatred across the US. 
The White House hopeful has redoubled calls for temporarily banning Muslims, saying they would only be allowed in the US if they were "properly and perfectly" screened.
But one Orlando local has taken it upon himself to ensure that his religion doesn't bear the brunt of the heinous crime committed by a radical. Despite fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, 36-year-old Mahmoud ElAwadi donated blood to the injured, along with hundreds of others from the Muslim community.
He told Khaleej Times, "There were humans who got hurt and shot at during our holy month of Ramadan. As a Muslim, the least I could do was to donate my blood to them. At the end of the day they are human beings. And Ramadan is all about giving. It's all about helping the needy. And what better cause than saving someone's life."
Another reason for his noble gesture, Mahmoud added, "My 12-year-son was diagnosed with leukaemia three years ago.  For six months, random strangers donated blood to him to save his life. I don't know who they were, what was their religion, their nationality or skin colour, or their sexual orientation. Quite frankly it didn't matter. My son survived, thanks to them. I am in debt to all of those people."
A picture posted by him on Facebook as he donated blood -- has been shared more than 150,000 times - as Muslims across the world echoed his thoughts. In another post, he called upon Muslims to unite against terror and donate blood.


Mahmoud, who leads a local Muslim community group in Orlando, moved from Egypt to the United States 14 years ago. Throughout these years he said the media has been portraying Islam in a negative light which is untrue. 
"We are Muslims. Our own religion has been hijacked from us. And sadly we let it go, we didn't fight, we didn't do anything to show the world our true peaceful religion. We didn't actually go on the ground and get in touch with our local community. And that's why I want Muslims to come out in large numbers and donate blood."
'UAE can play a significant role'
Earlier this year in May, Mahmoud hosted a delegation from Dubai that visited Orlando to explain Dubai's ambitious growth plans to US investors and businesses. "UAE is blessed with visionary leaders. What UAE can do is support and empower the organisations of Muslim and Arab communities in American cities. They can help us protect the dignity of our religion and change stereotypes. They can fund and provide educational material to us. They can also establish a UAE TV channel in the US to show everyone what Islam truly is."
Mahmoud also called upon UAE residents to proactively donate for the survivors of Orlando shooting. "It's being human. We must have the ability to help another human. Following my post, hundreds of members of the Muslim community are coming forward to donate blood, even after the city of Orlando went out of blood supply."

Mahmoud has a message for the shooter or anyone who decides to pick up a weapon to end another person's life, "Read the holy Quran. It clearly states: Whoever kills a person [unjustly]. it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he has saved all mankind."
"The word is mankind. Not Muslims. Not believers. But mankind." 
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