Times of difficulty in life are keystones of the human experience. It is during these times that charity matters most.
Indeed, God says to the believers in the Holy Quran: “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.” [2:155]
We all experience tragedy and difficulty and loss, albeit in varying degrees of intensity. Just as we are blessed in different ways, we are tested in different ways as well. Whether it’s the flu for a couple of nights, years of financial strain or the passing of a loved one; one thing is clear: none of us are immune to difficulty.
In these vulnerable moments of difficulty- perhaps you can think back to a personal experience or perhaps you’re in the midst of difficulty right now- we become painfully aware of our dependence on God and our dependence on the providence and support He sends us through His creation. You see, in difficult moments we become more aware of those that show up for us. Suddenly, a simple hug or a smile or an invitation to coffee become the very gestures that keep us swimming until we reach the shore.
So what of those around the world experiencing difficulties significantly more excruciating than ours? Mothers who lose their children to hunger, children who lose their fathers to war, limbs lost to bombshells, homes lost to demolition, and security lost for fear. Who will show up for them?
Zakat Foundation works directly with people daily who have undergone these traumatic experiences and in their healing, they have found. They fled and found a home in Zakat Foundation’s global family. They fell ill and found charity and healing in the clinics we built. They lost hope then found some in the gentle hand-hold of a friend willing to help them rebuild.
In those moments, when everything seems dark for a person at their lowest point, a reassuring smile is all it takes to transform the shadows into light. These are the moments when charity matters most.
The experiences of refugees and vulnerable children and impoverished families often feel foreign to us. We cannot comprehend the horror of being bombed or worrying about our next meal or being deprived of education or walking on foot to a country we know nothing about. But the truth is, their experiences are so close to ours. In the same way we seek out a confidante or a solution when nothing seems to be going right, all they need for breakthrough is one opportunity.
When you donate to sustainable programs around the world, you are investing in a whole person- telling them, “you are capable and I believe in you. Here is a chance. Here is a home. Here is an education. Here is healing. Here is friendship.”
We must constantly remember what Prophet Muhammed, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.”
When we see the suffering of our brethren around the world, the question that comes to mind should not be “who will help them?” or “will they be helped?” Rather, the question we consider should be: “Will God answer their prayers through me?”
When we reflect on these experiences, we realize that it is our pain, not our happiness, that unites and equalizes humanity. It is through it that we are reminded of our vulnerability. And it is through our ability to help with charity that we are reminded how much in need we are and how blessed an opportunity it is to be the light in another person’s darkness.
Your gift can be the light in someone’s darkness. Consider making a gift to Zakat Foundation today.
