Orphan and Ramadan: A Great Combination
By Saghir A. Aslam
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
(The following information is provided solely to educate the Muslim community about investing and financial planning. It is hoped that the Ummah will benefit from this effort through greater financial empowerment, enabling the community to live in security and dignity and fulfill their religious and moral obligations towards charitable activities)
Ramadan is the month of the revelation of the Qur’an, a month of fasting. It’s the month of getting closer to Allah (SWT) and doing more than usual to add more good deeds to our account in the hereafter. It’s also the month of charity, anything you give in Ramadan will get double, triple or many more times’ reward.
There are several charitable actions that Allah (SWT) has mentioned in the Qur’an and has encouraged us to do. One of them is helping and honoring the orphans. This has been mentioned at various points in the Qur’an which clearly means this is one of the most important actions for a Muslim to perform in his/her life, particularly those who have the means to support orphans. An orphan child needs in-kind support, i.e. food, clothes, etc. which are important, but he/she also needs love, compassion, consoling and mentoring. The orphans need opportunities for success in life. Every child has a dream and so do those who have lost parents and have been orphaned. It’s about fulfilling their dreams.
Due to the loss of one or both parents, the trauma that is caused to an orphan child is immense and it doesn’t go away in a short span of time, in fact in some cases it doesn’t go away for the rest of their lives. To help them overcome the trauma, one has to offer more than just bread and shelter. One has to develop an effective plan to help the orphan child to be successful in life. Create a family-oriented, secure and friendly environment for the child to live and grow in, offer him/her the best available educational opportunities. Which is why, in SURAH (AL-FAJR) Allah (SWT) has mentioned:
- (No! But you don’t not honor the orphan)
So it’s not just about giving an orphan the barest minimum food, cloth, etc. but it’s about honoring them by treating them like our very own children. Providing them with the best support that we can give and treating them with dignity and respect. One of the ways to support them in this manner is by giving your Fitra to the orphans. Make the best use of it and give it as soon as possible. Do not wait till the last minute on Eid day, as most of us usually do. The earlier you give, the better it is especially as an organization like Saba Homes can get the orphans something in time for Eid. There are many orphan-support programs run by various organizations that you can chose from. A unique and one of its kind orphan-development program is Saba Homes where orphan girls are treated like daughters and not counted as mere numbers. They get the best care to secure a better future for themselves and emerge as responsible, civilized and useful citizens. You can donate to this noble cause online by visiting: www.sabatrust.org or email: info@saba.org .
- (Saghir A. Aslam only explains strategies and formulas that he has been using. He is merely providing information, and NO ADVICE is given. Mr Aslam does not endorse or recommend any broker, brokerage firm, or any investment at all, nor does he suggest that anyone will earn a profit when or if they purchase stocks, bonds or any other investments. All stocks or investment vehicles mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. Mr Aslam is not an attorney, accountant, real estate broker, stockbroker, investment advisor, or certified financial planner. Mr Aslam does not have anything for sale.)
