Charity
Interpal: Helping the orphans and Muslims who are suffering
"And they feed, for the love of Allah, the poor, the orphan, and the captive..." [Soorah al-Insaan, 8]
"I and the caretaker of the orphan will enter Paradise together like this, raising (by way of illustration) his forefinger and middle finger jointly, leaving no space in between."
[Saheeh al-Bukhaari]
A part of the registration fee goes towards Interpal's orphan charity.
The Prophet said, "I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this," putting his index and middle fingers together. Bukhari
A man once came to the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam, and complained that he feels hardness in his heart. The Messenger of Allah said, what translated means, "Would you like that your heart becomes soft and that you acquire what you need? Be merciful with the orphan, pat his head and feed him from what you eat. This will soften your heart, and enable you to get what you need."
[At-Tabaraanee & As-Silsilah as-Saheehah]
"One who cares for widows and the poor is like those who fight in the way of Allah or those who spend their days fasting and their nights praying."
[Agreed upon, also in Adab al-Mufrad of Imaam Al-Bukhari in chapter "The Virtue of Those Who Care for Orphans"]
A part of the registration fee for the matrimonial service will go towards charity, helping the orphans inshallah and heping the Muslims in war torn countries. Please feel free to make any extra donations, as a small amount is never too little for the sake of Allah inshallah.
With little money, perhaps what we spend in superfluous things we can make the difference the life of an orphan. Our prophet (pbuh) was an orphan. May Allah give us the wisdom to give with generosity, Insha-Allah.
Interpal is a non-political, non-profit making British charity that works with international funding partners and partners on the ground to provide relief and development aid to Palestinians in need, mainly in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and the refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan.
Interpal is a member of BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development), the Palestine Platform and is registered and regulated with the Charity Commission (Registered No 1040094).
Please click here for Interpal's website
General Inquiry : info@interpal.org
Donations Inquiry : donations@interpal.org
Child Sponsorship Programme : sponsorship@interpal.org
Volunteering : volunteers@interpal.org
Human Resources : hr@interpal.org
Donations Hotline: 0845 45 80808 (Local rate)
Tel: +44 (0)20 8961 9993
Fax: +44 (0)20 8965 6065
"And they feed, for the love of Allah, the poor, the orphan, and the captive..." [Soorah al-Insaan, 8]
Muslims are commanded to behave with courtesy and politeness towards one and all. Kindness to orphans is associated with other segments of society as well,such as parents, relations , needy, neighbours, travellers and others.
Muslims are also urged to treat the orphans with kindness and not harshness.
Allah Ta'ala says: " Therefore, treat not the orphans with harshness." (Qur'an 93: 9)
Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'an: "They ask you as to how they will spend. Say whatever you spend of wealth, let it be for parents and kindred and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, and whatever good you do, surely Allah is the Knower thereof."
(Qur'an 2: 215)
One for my Sister
The hospital I worked in during my stay in
As you can imagine there are many people in the community who are simply too sick or too poor to get to a hospital. This is where home-based care comes in. The home-based care team consists of several nurses who jump into a small truck/van every morning and travel out to the community to tend to the health needs of the truly destitute.
Before I went out with the team I used to buy potatoes and carrots and apples to give to the people we met - because health care in
One day we stopped at one of the 15,000 orphan-led households in
"She wants another one doctor - to give to her little sister."
I said "of course" and gave her another. After we had tended to a man with tuberculosis a bit further down the road, we passed by Tanzile's house to say goodbye. To our surprise she seemed to be holding on to that extra sweet I had given her.
I remember saying to the nurse "this little darling is clever - she has taken two for herself. If I was her I'd probably have asked for the whole bag!" But after the nurse had asked her some more questions this is what we learned:
Tanzile is 7 now. Two years ago when she was five her mum and dad both died of HIV/AIDS like so many have in this country. At the time of her parents tragic death, she was separated from her baby sister who was three at the time. Tanzile has not laid eyes on her since. But ever since that time, whenever Tanzile receives anything from anyone, including food, - she refuses to accept it, unless they give her two. Two carrots, two toys, two sweets - one for her and one for her baby sister (who in all likelihood didn't survive.)
In fact, in the little mud hut where she lives, we found a pile of old things which she has been collecting to give to her sister one day.
My friends, people sometimes look at faces of African children or kids in the developing world and think that they are somehow different than our kids - that somehow they don't feel pain or sadness or love. But that is not true. Their pain is deep. And so is their love.
I can still remember the nurse trying to convince her that "if someone gives you food Tanzile, you must accept it - even if it is only one piece and not two - for your own health and safety." And it was so hard for us to keep the tears from our eyes as she shook her head defiantly. Her hope and her love was all that she had. It mattered more than anything else.
When I returned home that day, I was shocked to find that this was not an isolated story but others in the hospital knew of orphans just like Tanzile - waiting with a little pile of things in their hut, for their sibling or their parent who they haven't seen in so long.
I think of that old saying - "when we're hungry, love will keep us alive." I pray that for Tanzile's sake and the other beautiful children like her that it will.
Written by Maithri
Courtesy: AL-ISLAAH PUBLICATIONS