This generous Pakistani is winning hearts

Kazi Mannan, a Pakistani born restaurant owner in Washington D.C. opened a halal restaurant to cater to the poor.

The restaurant, Sakina Halal Grill, is a buffet-style halal restaurant just blocks away from the White House. Mannan named the restaurant after his mother, who he lost 26 years ago.

“It’s a tribute to all the mothers around the world,” he told DC Eater.

Mannan comes from a small village in Pakistan that didn’t have electricity or plumbing.

Going to a school that was outdoors, he always dreamed of defeating poverty and owning a restaurant. In 1996 he landed in America without his family and with only three dollars (Rs 300) in his pocket, to build a better life for his family.

Mannan has a policy for every homeless person that walks into his restaurant –  they will always eat for free.

At Sakina Halal Grill, the poor, homeless, and hungry eat for free in the dining area – as if they are full paying customers. Mannan claims that he has given away about 6,000 free meals in 2016.

“I’m a Muslim-American. And I like to believe that when I’m giving to the poor and hungry, God sees that.”

He went on to say, “Just the act of giving a smile to someone can be a blessing. Just think about what food has the power to do,” Mannan told DC Eater. How inspiring!

We should all learn from Mannan and help this world become a better place.

 


cover image source: dc.eater.com