I am an occasional customer at a grocery store operated by devout Muslims from Bangladesh. They treat me with great respect because, among other things, I frequently stop in just to make a small donation to their charity box, to help build an Islamic school for girls in Bangladesh.
Some years ago, the brother in law of one of the employees, (a cartage driver), told me where his truck was parked in Regent Park. It contained the belongings of a woman who had died, and I was told to take anything I wanted, and he would take whatever I didn't want to the dump. The contents were mainly 'old woman's clothing', books, and small knickknacks, but the clothes were high end, as the woman had been the wife of a Jewish doctor. I helped him out by taking everything from the truck, so he wouldn't have to pay the dumping expenses. I had a great time giving away all of the clothing at Margaret's Place and The Good Shepherd, and at least 30 different people were given a specific item that I thought would appeal to them.
The only items with true cash value were two silver candlestick holders, probable worth about $120. I gave them to the grocery store for their donation box, but the gentleman at the cash register said that 'he could not have silver in the store'. I told him that, in my culture, it's considered very rude to request that a gift be returned, once given. He didn't know whom the truck driver was, but would ask around. I told him that if the store could not accept the silver as a charitable donation, my request was that they be given to the truck driver. Under the circumstances in which I acquired the candlestick holders, I felt it would be bad karma to sell them at a pawn shop.
Question: Why would devout Muslims not want to receive a silver donation, and are there any other precious metals that would be anathema to them?
Thanks!
Some years ago, the brother in law of one of the employees, (a cartage driver), told me where his truck was parked in Regent Park. It contained the belongings of a woman who had died, and I was told to take anything I wanted, and he would take whatever I didn't want to the dump. The contents were mainly 'old woman's clothing', books, and small knickknacks, but the clothes were high end, as the woman had been the wife of a Jewish doctor. I helped him out by taking everything from the truck, so he wouldn't have to pay the dumping expenses. I had a great time giving away all of the clothing at Margaret's Place and The Good Shepherd, and at least 30 different people were given a specific item that I thought would appeal to them.
The only items with true cash value were two silver candlestick holders, probable worth about $120. I gave them to the grocery store for their donation box, but the gentleman at the cash register said that 'he could not have silver in the store'. I told him that, in my culture, it's considered very rude to request that a gift be returned, once given. He didn't know whom the truck driver was, but would ask around. I told him that if the store could not accept the silver as a charitable donation, my request was that they be given to the truck driver. Under the circumstances in which I acquired the candlestick holders, I felt it would be bad karma to sell them at a pawn shop.
Question: Why would devout Muslims not want to receive a silver donation, and are there any other precious metals that would be anathema to them?
Thanks!
