ASSALAM RAMADAN 1440 (4)

“The generous person is nearer to Allah, nearer to Paradise, nearer to people and far from hellfire. The miser is far from Allah, far from Paradise, far from people and nearer to hellfire.” -Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) Actually, the title of our Column today should be ‘BISSALAM RAMADAN’ as we bid bye to […]

“The generous person is nearer to Allah, nearer to Paradise, nearer to people and far from hellfire. The miser is far from Allah, far from Paradise, far from people and nearer to hellfire.” -Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Actually, the title of our Column today should be ‘BISSALAM RAMADAN’ as we bid bye to the Month of Rahma, Afwa and Maghfira, and conclude our series on charity and giving where we highlight NGOs making a difference in the lives of the poor in this blessed month. In the past three weeks, philanthropic persons have made donations to some of the charities highlighted on this page – some directly via the contacts provided, and some through the Columnist. Two of the latter were a donation by a Good Samaritan of some funds to help free prisoners languishing in jail because they were not able to pay relatively minor fines imposed by courts of as little as Two Thousand Naira (and we have been assured these prisoners are NOT criminals – their incarcerations are mostly as a result of debt- or business-related litigations). The other intervention is a handsome sum to purchase school supplies for a certain village school recently highlighted on this page.

A Bedouin (desert Arab) asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “What alleviates the wrath of Allah in this life and in the Hereafter?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “Concealed charity and kindness to relatives.”

Going forward, this Column shall continue monitoring the Charity Industry to see whether our call for SUSTAINABILITY beyond Ramadan has been possible. As mentioned earlier also, UNIQUENESS is also encouraged, as in targeting VVF patients (highlighted below today). As the intent of this series has been to link up philanthropists with causes that they may want to support fisabililLah, there may therefore have been limitations to the scope and geography of how many NGOs the Columnist can personally vet and ensure are above board. Similarly, the NGOs covered in this series should appreciate the Column’s reluctance to publish their Account Numbers on this page, for obvious reasons.

“The food of two is enough for three, and the food of three is enough for four.” -Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

May Allah reward the Good-Doers (founders of the Charities), their Helpers and all of us who participated one way or the other in making this Ramadan a little better for the poor and the deprived. May Allah elongate our lives to see many more Ramadans and give us the opportunity to serve, amin.

“When you see someone who has been given more than you…look and see those who have been given less.” – Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

The fourth and last set of entries of the series on Ramadan Charities are presented below:

ORPHANS AND WOMEN SUPPORT FOUNDATION, KALTUME HOUSE, MAIDUGURI ROAD (OPPOSITE ALIKO FILLING STATION), KANO: This NGO (which was established in 2010) specialises in assisting orphans and widows in the provision of sustenance, shelter and education. During Ramadan, it undertakes a Food Donation Drive and feeds many people especially less-privileged patients and their carers at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano. Beyond Ramadan, they pay hospital bills for indigent patients and also pay school fees for orphans. Significantly, they also provide housing to widows with children who would otherwise be exposed to the elements for lack of shelter. The NGO raises its funds principally from monthly donations by members, and secondly by donations from other philanthropists. Set up by educated young ladies who witness poverty and deprivation around them daily, the Founders are also assisted by their own parents who want to partake in the ‘ajr. For more information, contact AISHA ABUBAKAR DATTI on 08034529262 or HAFSAT SADIQ on 07039715080.

According to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “I and the caretaker of an orphan will enter Paradise [shoulder to shoulder] like this,” (and he held his two fingers together).

MU-FARKA-MATA WOMEN DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY, E8 EMIR’S DRIVE BAUCHI: This NGO (whose slogan is ‘A Kind Gesture Can Reach A Wound Only Compassion Can Heal’) does a Ramadan Food Drive every year during the blessed month. It collects raw food such as rice, spaghetti, sugar, milk and similar items and donates same to orphans, widows, the destitute and other needy persons in and around Bauchi (and they also have a branch in Kaduna). This Ramadan, they have done the same and have provided much-needed food assistance to these categories of persons. ‘Mu-Farka-Mata’ promises to continue this philanthropic activity beyond Ramadan. For more information, contact FATIMA FAROUK on 08062254961 or 07081238601.

“He who is deprived of kindness is deprived of goodness.” – Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

VVF AID FOUNDATION, KANO: This NGO specialises in assisting women who suffer from Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF), that unfortunate ailment which is so difficult to cure. Many of these young VVF sufferers are confined to hospitals – such as the VVF Unit at Murtala Muhammad Hospital in Kano where this NGO regularly visits. The Foundation collects donations, mostly in kind (such as clothing, sanitary materials, soaps and detergents) and distributes same to these pitiable patients who more often than not are abandoned by their families and even the ‘wicked’ husband who may be the root cause of the ailment. The NGO also pays for the surgery of some of the patients whom the hospital decides may need extra help. The VVF Foundation also participates in Murtala Muhammad Hospital’s intellectually-stimulating periodic Hospital Lecture Series. The Foundation recently invited its members to a Lecture titled “VVF AS AN OBSTETRIC DISEASE” organised by the hospital so that people can have a better understanding of the condition and how to take precaution. During Ramadan, the NGO contributes in providing supplementary feeding to the patients (noting that they are in-patients taken care of by public funds). For more information, contact HIDAYA AHMAD on 07063871261.

“Riches are not from an abundance of worldly good, but from a contented mind.” – Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

RAMADAN FEED THE NEEDY FOUNDATION, C/O THE CAPITAL HUB, ABUJA: This NGO, whose slogan is ‘…charity inspired by Ramadan’, was established in 2013 and carries out its activities during the blessed month. It specialises in feeding the needy during the fasting month in Abuja and other places. During the six years of its existence, the Foundation has brought succour to many a poor family and individual. In the Foundation’s calculations, One Thousand Naira can feed a person (adequately and nutritiously) for a day but, because of economics of scale, N40,000 can feed a family of six for a whole month. For more information, contact HADIZA SADIQ AZARE on 08033400738.

“The greatest of richness is the richness of the soul  – Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

May we have witnessed Lailatul Qadr, amin.