Posted on December 21, 2021March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

First Charity NFT Islamic Art Gallery Opens December 26 in Chicago

Chicago, December 21, 2021 – Four Muslim artists are featured in the Giving is Beautiful charity art gallery opening on December 26, 2021, at the MAS-ICNA convention being held at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Artists Ruby Jaffrey, Shayma Al-Shiri, Qasim Arif and Mustafa Horton each contributed three original artworks ranging in style from Arabic calligraphy, calligraphy-themed art, abstract realism and abstract art. Each artist minted non-fungible tokens for their artwork on the popular NFT marketplace OpenSea and are donating all royalties to Baitulmaal, the charity behind the art project.

Visitors to the art gallery can bid on prints of the digital art and a portion of the proceeds from the auctions will also be donated to Baitulmaal.

“We’ve been wanting to launch a project that supports the creative community while also benefiting people in need around the world,” said John Janney, Baitulmaal communications director and chief curator for the Giving is Beautiful initiative. “With art as the vehicle, donors can enjoy the beauty of their contributions on their walls, in their digital collections and in their hearts.”

Two other pieces will be shown during the convention. One is an immersive video art installation by videographer Chance Issa that features footage from humanitarian aid deliveries funded by Baitulmaal donors as well as clips of popular social influencers like Khaled Beydoun and Linda Sarsour talking about how they engage with beauty in the world and how they foster inner beauty through giving and other charitable acts.

The other art piece is an interactive art installation featuring a custom-built vending machine that offers charity opportunities instead of snacks and sodas. Visitors can select from 30 different giving options, such as supporting winter relief, water access, orphan support or education. Artist and Baitulmaal graphic designer Mustafa Horton designed the colorful mosaic-themed art that covers the inside and outside of the vending machine.

Art enthusiasts outside of Chicago wanting to see or purchase selections can visit givingisbeautiful.org. The site also offers an application for artists interested in joining the collection.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

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See the Art on givingisbeautiful.org

Posted on April 24, 2020March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Delivers 125 Food Boxes in Chicago

CHICAGO, April 23, 2020 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based humanitarian organization, teamed up with the Islamic Community Center of Illinois and MAS Youth Chicago for a drive-through food pantry and delivered 125 food packages to more than 80 families impacted by the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The drive-through food pantry took place at 6425 W Belmont Avenue in Chicago on Thursday, April 23, 2020, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Local residents in need of food assistance drove through and received food box donations. Volunteers wore masks and gloves to protect beneficiaries as they drove through the line.

Baitulmaal Midwest Region Coordinator Saad Hassan said he hopes the food assistance helps people get through these difficult times.

“You can see on their faces that these boxes meant so much more than food,” said Hassan. “Each food package was a box of hope, a lifeline in a time when everyone feels they are drowning.”

Hassan said they packed 100 boxes but ran out one hour early. His group of volunteers put together an additional 25 boxes and distributed those before concluding the program.

Hassan’s organization raised more than $100,000 earlier this month to help people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We continue to raise money so we can help more people,” Hassan continued. “We want to do more of these drive-through food pantries because they are urgently needed.”

For more information about Baitulmaal or to contribute to its COVID-19 relief fund, please visit https://johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Dallas, the charity has offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and New Jersey as well as international offices in Jordan, Kenya, Somalia and Pakistan.

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Posted on April 18, 2020March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

100 Families Receive Food Assistance at Drive-Through Food Pantry in Loma Linda

LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA, April 18, 2020 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based humanitarian organization, teamed up with the Islamic Community Center of Redlands for a drive-through food pantry and delivered food packages to 100 families impacted by the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The drive-through food pantry took place at 24769 Redlands Blvd in Loma Linda, California, on Saturday, April 18, 2020, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Local residents in need of food assistance drove through and received food box donations. Volunteers wore masks and gloves to protect beneficiaries as they drove through the line.

Baitulmaal West Coast Coordinator Abdullah Azab said working with interfaith partners in the community was vital to getting the word out about the food pantry.

“We had a lot of help from volunteers from different faith communities,” said Azad. “It’s really beautiful to see people coming together, even as we all need to keep social distancing.”

Azad’s organization raised more than $100,000 earlier this month to help people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We continue to raise money so we can help more people,” Azab continued. “It’s tough trying to get through this crisis, and it looks like it’s going to get harder before it gets better.”

For more information about COVID-19, please see the Center for Disease Control COVID-19 website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.

For more information about Baitulmaal or to contribute to its COVID-19 relief fund, please visit https://johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Dallas, the charity has offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and New Jersey as well as international offices in Jordan, Kenya, Somalia and Pakistan.

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Posted on March 19, 2020March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Launches COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund

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COVID-19 IS HITTING THOSE WITH THE LEAST THE HARDEST

Assalaamu alaikum

Healthcare officials and government authorities are advising people to stay home, restaurants to only offer take-out and delivery, theaters to close and public events to cancel.

But there are many people who can’t afford to stay home, who can’t afford to not work. Many in America and around the world are getting sick and having to self-quarantine, which means they lose one, two or more paychecks. COVID-19 is hitting those with the least the hardest.

Baitulmaal has started a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to help people suffering during this pandemic. This includes your neighbors who can’t work but still need to make ends meet. This includes refugees who are suffering because aid deliveries are becoming more difficult. This includes immigrants who depend on hourly wages to feed their families. This includes the elderly who can’t leave their homes to get basic necessities like food, medicine and soap.

Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while the neighbor to his side goes hungry.” (al-Sunan al-Kubra 19049)

In the spirit of our faith, we are asking you to give generously to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. So many people are in urgent need, and so many people can benefit from the assistance you provide during these difficult times.

And let’s remember that giving charity is as much for ourselves as for others.

Allah (swt) says in the Quran:

But he has not broken through the difficult pass. And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? It is the freeing of a slave, Or feeding on a day of severe hunger, An orphan of near relationship, Or a needy person in misery, And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. Those are the companions of the right.
(Surah Al-Balad, Ayah 11-18)

Can they count on you to give your most generous gift today?

May Allah protect you and your family. May Allah heal those who are sick. May Allah protect us from poverty and calamity.

Thank you for your generosity. May Allah continue to bless you and your loved ones.

With compassion,
Mazen Mokhtar
Executive Director

P.S. Please act urgently because the need is urgent.

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Baitulmaal is a 501(c)(3) charity. Donations to Baitulmaal are tax-deductible and zakat-eligible (IRS Tax ID: 20-0942434).

Posted on March 14, 2020March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

Let’s Keep Compassion Flowing During COVID-19

We will continue providing aid and implement safeguards in response to this pandemic, and we urgently need your help today!

Assalaamu alaikum.

DALLAS, March 14, 2020 — On March 11, the UN World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus COVID-19 a pandemic. On March 13, the U.S. government declared the pandemic a national emergency.

At Baitulmaal, we are monitoring the situation and developing plans to deal with how COVID-19 impacts our work and the people we serve. This includes monitoring news reports, communicating with our field representatives and responding to needs in the safest way possible.

Like many nonprofit organizations in our sector, we rely on the compassion and generosity of our community members, and we receive much of this support at local community events around the country.

Out of concern for the safety of our community, we are canceling all public events starting today until March 30, 2020. As this date approaches, we will reassess the situation and make a decision regarding events moving forward.

During this time, we urgently need your donations to help those in need around the world.

Palestinians in Gaza will still have virtually no access to uncontaminated water unless we continue providing clean drinking water to the 300 water tanks we service each week.
Syrians in make-shift camps inside their country and refugee camps in neighboring countries still need food and water to survive unless we continue providing emergency aid to Syrian refugees.
Internally displaced Yemenis are still struggling in near-famine conditions, many with no access to food or medicine unless we continue to provide emergency aid in Yemen.
People struggling with poverty and hunger are facing Ramadan fasts without knowing where their next iftar or suhor is coming from unless we act now.
People in other parts of the world still need our help, especially now that providing humanitarian aid is becoming more challenging.

Can we count on you to make your most generous donation today?

We are asking our donors to give generously today because we must continue providing aid in a safe manner during this crisis.

Here is what we need from you today:

Make dua ask Allah to keep us healthy in body, mind and faith.
Bookmark the CDC COVID-19 website to stay informed about this pandemic and learn what you can do to help stop the spread of this virus.
Make a tax-deductible, zakat-eligible donation to Baitulmaal today so we can continue providing humanitarian aid to those in need during this crisis.
Share this message with all your friends and family members (social, email, text).
Ask all your friends and family members to join you in donating to Baitulmaal.

We have a duty to work together to prevent the spread of this virus while still providing for those who are in desperate need around the world. We will get through this together, insha’Allah.

With compassion,
Mazen Mokhtar
Executive Director

P.S. Here are some helpful resources about COVID-19.

Baitulmaal is a 501(c)(3) charity. Donations to Baitulmaal are tax-deductible and zakat-eligible.

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Posted on March 12, 2020March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Board Member on COVID-19 Medical Response Team in Pakistan

LAHORE, PAKISTAN, March 11, 2020 — The Punjab government selected Baitulmaal board vice chair Iqbal Hussain, MD, along with the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute in Lahore as one of the area’s COVID-19 medical teams leading the response to the novel coronavirus outbreak that started in China.

The Institute, where Dr. Iqbal is the Chairman of Critical Care Medicine, will serve as a COVID-19 response center in Lahore, Pakistan. While Lahore has so far had no reported cases of COVID-19, establishing medical response teams is part of the country’s strategic plan to prevent an outbreak in Pakistan.

“Prevention is vital to preventing the spread of Covid-19,” said Dr. Iqbal. “It’s a good time for good hygiene practices like washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or hand shakes.”

Baitulmaal executive director Mazen Mokhtar said having leaders in areas from healthcare to logistics serving on the charity’s board is an advantage few organizations enjoy.

“Having access to this level of talent truly helps the organization excel in delivering quality services to under-served populations around the world,” said Mokhtar.

For more information about COVID-19, please see the Center for Disease Control COVID-19 website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.

For more information about Baitulmaal, please visit https://johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Dallas, the charity has offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and New Jersey as well as international offices in Jordan, Kenya, Somalia and Pakistan.

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Posted on February 26, 2020March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

930 Rohingya Refugees Receive Emergency Winter Relief

COX’S BAZAR, BANGLADESH, February 25, 2020 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently completed an emergency winter aid for Rohingya refugees who fled the ethnic cleansing campaign carried out by Myanmar military forces.

Field workers distributed donor-funded winter packages and food packages to 930 individuals struggling with hunger and cold conditions inside camps in the state of Cox’s Bazar along the southeastern border of Bangladesh.

“Camp tents and shelters just don’t provide adequate protection from the cold during the winter months,” said Elizabeth Sohail, Programs Manager for Baitulmaal. “The assistance our donors enable us to provide gives survivors hope as they struggle to put their lives back together.”

More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled what the United Nations has called a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” At least 354 Rohingya villages inside Myanmar have been burned to the ground or partially destroyed by the Myanmar military in their attempt to rid the country of all Muslims in the guide of national security.

Prior to this recent aid delivery, Baitulmaal provided more than 590,000 meals, funding for shelters and winter assistance for over 15,000 Rohingya refugees.

If you would like to learn more or to contribute to the emergency relief programs at Baitulmaal, please visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Dallas, the charity has offices in Los Angeles, Chicago and Detroit as well as international offices in Jordan, Kenya and Pakistan.

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