BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – In a bid to change the wrong narrative on Islam, American Muslim groups will join hands later this week to help the needy in Alabama, volunteering for National Soup Kitchen Day.

“Fighting Islamophobia by words is not as good as doing it by deeds,” Ashfaq Taufique, president of the Birmingham Islamic Society, told Alabama.com on Wednesday, April 27.

“We want to show the true spirit of Islam by taking care of those in need.”

The soup kitchen comes in the middle of increasing anti-Muslim narrative, associated with both presidential elections and extremist attacks.

Trying to correct misconceptions, the Birmingham Islamic Society has hosted free clinics in which its doctors and nurses provided health services.

Muslims have also organized feeding the poor with a Day of Dignity in Linn Park, which was discontinued due to new city restrictions on feeding the poor in public parks.

The Birmingham Islamic Society also cooperates with Greater Birmingham Ministries on food collection and distribution.

“We have been doing it for years, but we have not been publicizing it,” Taufique said. “We want to be fighting hunger in our community. This is our goal.”

This Saturday, about 70 to 80 Muslims in the Birmingham area will participate in the kitchen duty.

Volunteers will serve in the food lines at Community Kitchen at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Southside and Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn for lunch at 11:30 am on Saturday, and dinner at 7:30 pm at the Firehouse Shelter downtown.

“Many Islamic centers in many cities will be taking part,” Taufique said.

“We have joined a national movement. It’s going on all around the country. It’s quite exciting to be part of that.”

Growing Community

Over the past three decades, the Muslim community in Birmingham has grown dramatically from a small group focused on the UAB Muslim Student Association to more than 5,000 Muslims spread throughout the metro area.

“We are slowly but surely getting into the things we should have been doing all along,” Taufique said.

“Hopefully now we’ll make a dent.”

The second generation of Muslim immigrants is playing a prominent role in expanding Muslim social outreach, Taufique said.

“These movements are being started by our younger generation, that does not have baggage like our generation,” Taufique said.

“Our children have a different outlook.”

For those Muslims, national Muslim Soup Kitchen Day marks a turning point and a new strategy.

“It’s a great feeling – do something good, feel good about it and combat the stereotypical views some Americans have of Islam,” Taufique said.

“I’m not going to worry about what they do,” Taufique said, referring to haters of Islam.

“I can only control what we do. We’re going to spread love.”