Believing that it is of the essence of Islamic faith to help each other, Auckland’s first and largest Islamic institution has opened all its affiliated mosques before the people affected by recurrent natural crises during January floods and Cyclone Gabrielle that have recently taken place. Mosques provide separate areas for men and women for staying and volunteers perform many activities such as cleaning the toilets and the kitchen and getting ready for whoever comes through doors. People are encouraged to bring sleeping bags, canned meals and drinks to serve a large number of people.
While Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism (AOCE) commends such steps that make use of all Muslim resources, especially human ones, to effectively integrate with one’s own society or bigger homelands, it calls upon other Muslim communities to integrate and coexist peacefully in their bigger societies. This call has been repeatedly underlined by Al-Azhar and the Grand Imam. It is through these activities and behavior that Muslims become the true, optimal ambassadors of Islam.