With trembling fingers, An Junming, a Muslim woman in her 70s, unwrapped two pieces of paper and took out 20 yuan (US$2.4) yesterday at a charitable-giving site organized by her neighborhood committee.

"I want to do something for people suffering from the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami. I have no income now. The money, though very little, represents my heart." said An, who lives in a predominantly Muslim community in southwestern Beijing.

On the inner piece of wrapping paper, a poem was penned by An. It read: "Despite the freezing weather, people's hearts are warm. When one place is in trouble, assistance comes from all eight directions. If every one offers heartfelt help, victims of the calamity can surely tide over their hardships."

Including An, more than 100 residents of the community came to the event yesterday and opened their wallets.

Lu Chaoliang, a 71-year-old Muslim who donated 200 yuan (US$24) at the community site, said: "I pray for the tsunami victims at a nearby mosque everyday after the disaster happened, as do other Muslims."

The site where Lu prays -- the Niujie Mosque -- is the oldest and largest in Beijing. It was built in 996 during the Liao Dynasty (916-1125).

"The Holy Koran says calamity has appeared in the land and the sea on account of what the hands of men have wrought, and that Allah may make them taste a part of that which they have done, so that they may return. The Koran tells us to do good deeds and help others," said Lu.

His 70-year-old wife, Zhang Shuying, said she is deeply concerned about the living conditions of people in South and Southeast Asian countries.

"Five seconds before, the place was heaven, but five seconds later, it turned to hell. The people there need our help," she said.

Tong Cuiyun, a clerk at the neighborhood committee, said in the past four days, local residents have donated more than 7,700 yuan (US$931).

The oldest donor is a 104-year-old woman named Shang Fenggang. She asked her daughter to donate 10 yuan (US$1.2) on Monday, on her behalf.

And the youngest is a five-year-old boy named Shi Ruize. Upon hearing of the tragedy, he decided to save his regular taxi fare and take a bus to the kindergarten yesterday morning, and donated his savings of 10 yuan (US$1.2), said Tong.

"Every penny counts," said Tong, adding that most of the donors there refuse to leave their names.

The community is one of the largest in Niujie, or Ox Street, which is a famous Muslim residential area. Most of the residents in Niujie belong to the Muslim Hui minority.

(China Daily January 5, 2005)