To mark the 10th anniversary of Charity Week, we'll be sharing 10 inspirational stories from across the years. These are the kind of hidden stories that go behind the numbers and the efforts. They are the kind of stories that open our eyes to the beautiful people who made this all possible.
Trying to arrange a suitable time for an interview for positions in the Charity Week team, I called a sister who had sent in an impressive application. She said she was unable to talk as she was just leaving hospital. When I called back, I apologised for disturbing her at work- assuming she was a medic. Why else would she be at a hospital on a weekend evening?
“I'm not a doctor. I was visiting my father in ICU”, she replied. ICU – the Intensive Care Unit, where only the most unwell patients who are clinging to life by the slimmest of threads go. I started apologising for disturbing her at such a difficult time for her when she cut me off. “Don't apologise” she said. She then told me a story that left me on the verge of tears.
The eldest of 3 siblings, she was a student at a University several hundred miles away from home. She was one of the main organisers of Charity Week on campus. She had spent a lot of time organising the week of unity and fundraising. Right in the middle of the week she got a call telling her that her dad was extremely unwell. She went to London to find that her father had been admitted to the ICU. In the hours that followed, her father remained critical but stable.
After spending some time with her family she decided to go back to University to oversee the remainder of Charity Week on campus. I was taken aback. How could she possibly leave the side of her ill father to go back to University simply to organise a charity event?! She could practically hear the incredulity in my voice so she quickly justified her actions. “You see, I know the only one who could truly help my father was Allah. I also felt very strongly that as long as I am working in His path then I have hope that Allah will look upon me and my family favourably and answer our duaas.”
Her father improved and here we were, months later, and the doctors were saying that despite all the odds – he was still pulling through. “So you see, I cannot stop doing this work for the sake of Allah, because it is only through Allah that I have anything at all. The rewards are too great.”
“They are those who spend in charity during ease and hardship and who restrain their anger and pardon the people, for Allah loves those who are good.” [Qur'an 3:134]
I couldn't help be astounded by the iman of this sister. I always knew in my heart that the work we did was for the afterlife, but she had taught me that there was nothing to stop Allah from giving us rewards in this life either. All we need to do is ask for it… and then get to work.
If you are interested in becoming part of the Charity Week team or starting the project in your school, college, University or city – get in touch. info@onecharityweek.com
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