FIMA Year Book 2010-2011 - Federation of Islamic Medical ...

EDITORIAL Editorial
Dear FIMA members
Assalamu Alaykum
Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim
Praise be to Allah the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent. May Allah shower His blessings and
peace on His Prophet and Messenger Muhammad (PBUH).
I begin by thanking the FIMA Executive Committee for honoring me with the responsibility to be
the Editor-in Chief again for this yearbook. I thank Allah (SWT) for giving me this opportunity and
enabling me to accomplish this task. I pray to Allah (SWT) to accept my effort in His way and to
reward all who participated in this effort.
The FIMA Executive Council concurred that the theme of this yearbook be Relief Work because
such an endeavor had been a significant aspect of FIMA’s accomplishments throughout the last two
decades. In this yearbook there are several articles each addressing one aspect of the multiple
programs and activities of FIMA in the field of relief.. The yearbook is thus more voluminous.
Instead of decreasing the number of or the length of the articles , the Editorial Board decided to
have this yearbook cover both 2010 and 2011
Relief encompasses many aspects but is mainly meant for helping communities in distress whether it
is economic, physical or both. It is usually caused by natural disasters but it can also be man-made.
Although FIMA was not established as a relief organization, it nevertheless took it upon itself to
actively participate in relief work whenever it was needed and wherever it was possible considering
its relatively meager financial resources.
The founders of FIMA in 1981 captured the essence of humanitarian relief when it listed it as one
of FIMA’s aims and objectives, “To mobilize professional and economic resources in order to
provide medical care and relief to affected areas and communities.” This objective was further
elaborated at FIMA’s eighth Council meeting held in Amman, Jordan in July 1991. It was confirmed
in the following FIMA Council meeting in Malaysia, September 1992. In September 1994, in Paris, a
master plan was drawn whereby all Islamic Medical Associations (IMAs) and partner relief Non-
Governmental Organizations (NGOs) would undertake relief activities in coordination with an IMA
located in or adjacent to the disaster- stricken area or country. Dr Aly Mishal was appointed as the
coordinator between FIMA and the other collaborating relief organizations / NGOs.
The involvement of FIMA in relief is based on the conviction that relief work is rewarding in this
life but more importantly is greatly rewarded by Allah (SWT). Drs Hafeez Ur Rahman and Aly
Mishal expanded on this theme in the opening chapter entitled Relief: Volunteerism or Obligation.
They emphasize the deep rooted tradition of charity / relief in all religions citing examples from
the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic scriptures and religious writings.
Dr Jeddar chronicles the relief wok that FIMA has been involved within various areas of the
World, from Moluccas islands in the Far East to Haiti in the West. He also reported that FIMA
depended on coordinating its relief work with other Islamic relief organizations based in other
countries especially in the countries where relief work was needed. The first major FIMA
FIMA YearBook 2010-2011
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