A Helping Hand

One of the biggest characteristics that a Muslim is supposed to embody is kindness. Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alaihi was-sallam said, "Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever is not kind has no faith." (Muslim). We are taught from a young age through the Qur’an and Sunnah to how to treat people, plants, animals, ourselves, families and friends. One thing we often neglect in being kind to are strangers. We do this unintentionally or intentionally but regardless, we won’t smile at the next person that walks by, or give up a seat for someone else on the bus ride home.

Why are we prescribed to treat everyone with kindness? Many times Allah mentions in the qur’an that there are hardships that everyone goes through that we are unaware of and therefore by acknowledging this fact, one's behaviour changes in the way they treat others. Now it is our job to help others, or guide them towards help. That one person you gave up your seat to on the bus ride home could be financially struggling and has no food, the person you smiled at earlier in the day might be in need of a home or shelter, and countless other scenarios walk by us everyday without us realizing.

"Be kind, for whenever kindness becomes part of something, it beautifies it. Whenever it is taken from something, it leaves it tarnished." - Muhammad SAW

NZF deals with many such scenarios that come through our applications such as a person being evicted from their homes with their kids because they can't decide between paying their bills or putting food in their kids mouths. Refugees from abroad that come from a war zone in need of sustenance but instead are heavily burdened with a debt of their own plane tickets and no status in the country grants them no job, food, or shelter. A domestic violence victim that escapes from the abuse of her abusive husband and goes into hiding in the streets for fear of her life with no food or support.

SubhanAllah the list goes on and on, and the fact of the matter is, these things are happening every minute right under our noses in our very own neighbourhoods.  Why are these things happening to our own brothers and sisters when there are so many of us to help? If you know anyone that needs help or support you can contact NZF, and continue to support by making donations or paying your zakat for the local needs of local Muslims that are living near you.

Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa prescribed a way to prevent poverty, and sickness and told us ways to help each other through paying what's due from us to those entitled to it - zakat, the third pillar of Islam. Don’t let it be the forgotten pillar, take action, give local. Help NZF to aid others through your hands.