It was about 2 weeks ago that me, my mum and sister were having a chat in the living room. I announced how I really want to visit Africa one day. There I was, thinking it was some far away dream. 

A week later, I got a message from a friend: ‘Mahv, do you wanna go to Africa and do some charity work in your Dads name?’ Ummm YESS was my immediate thought! Sometimes opportunities come and you just have to take them. I shall be flying out on the 17th April so not long at all to raise £4000! 

And so here we are. It’s going to be Ramadan. It’s going to be hot. Oh well, the bigger the challenge, the sweeter the reward for my Dad, insha’Allah. 

If my Dad were here now, he would probably say ‘you’re going to feed the poor, you hardly even cook!’ Cue his cheeky giggle. He would then reach out and give me a big squeeze. 

Thanks, Papa.

Cooking and feeding people was something my Dad loved to do. He would often be found in the kitchen sprucing up a few speciality dishes. His favourite part would be boxing them all up, feeding (and chatting) to the local shopkeepers.

I can picture his bright face, brimming with pride and joy as he snapped the lids on the plastic containers.

‘Haii oii Dollliyahhh!!!’ he would proclaim energetically at my sister followed by a little dance as she walked in the kitchen. This basically means ‘Oh my Dollyyy!!!’ His eyes beaming with excitement. Dolly was one of my Dad’s nicknames for her. He had nicknames for literally everyone and he would then nickname those nicknames just to make them even more unique to you. Naturally. 

My Dad’s energy was contagious. I would often see people drawn towards him. He was a buzz and he knew it. One time he wore a bright lime green suit to Asda when we were kids. He rocked it. 

But you know, sometimes, people with all that buzz struggle with who they are. What the world sees isn’t always a true reflection with how they actually feel about themselves. He was vulnerable. He was so pure hearted. His soul couldn’t bear any injustice. In fact, I would often see him tear up about it. 

This is why these sorts of people are the most giving from the depths of their hearts. They don’t want anybody else to feel unloved or unappreciated.

One of my cousins told me ‘Your Dad was the sunshine on our dullest days,’ and I couldn’t have felt prouder. 

May Allah swt accept our efforts for him as Sadaqa Jaariyah (ongoing charity) for his soul. Ameen. 

I pray for my Dad’s soul to be purified of sin just like a white robe is purified of filth. May Allah swt enter him into his beautiful evergreen gardens surrounded by sparkling blue rivers and may he be reunited with his baby son in Jannat ul Firdaus. Ameen. 

Thank you so much for visiting my page and all your donations. It really means a lot.

So with zakat we are doing 2 things: 

1 giving out food directly to families ( this is what most people have asked for )
2 cash zakat directly to the poor and needy

Sadaqa Jaariyah- Water borehole for my dad

Holy Quran distribution at madrassah

Helping orphans

Daily iftar feeds

Ps. Please specify if you wish to donate your Zakat by writing ‘Zakat’ next to your donation. Thankyou 

Mercy Relief aims to have presence in cities where human crisis everywhere in Yemen. Working together, we share one vision of a just, caring society and sustainable country free of poverty. Mercy Relief was founded in the year 2008 in Birmingham. Founders were actively involved in community work among the British- Yemeni community and other Communities in Birmingham. Since the inception of our beloved Mercy Relief Charity, the focus of our work was around sponsorship of Orphans in Yemen and participating actively in Relief programmes.