The month of Ramadan came to an end with lots of memories. May Allah (S.W.T) grant us the ability to see more of it while we are all healthy. Aaameeeeen!
Then Eid begins. I’ll admit that, Ma sha Allah this is my first Eid ever with glowing skin. My skin benefited greatly from the consistency I maintained with a few skin care products.
After Eid prayers on the first day, I quickly napped, we fried/cooked, exchanged gifts, and ate to our satisfaction. Visitations and family pictures were done on the second day of Eid. Then the third day began with tons of cooking for the children at the Fatima Ali Sheriff Orphanage Home. Because this plan took shape after I visited the children for a work report during Ramadan, it was really a huge success for me.
Together with a few of my family members who accompanied me, it was an emotional day for us. Meanwhile, We had a satisfying meal and drinks together, followed by some joyful photos.
To complete a story that will be posted to my office website, I also conducted interviews with a number of the children before leaving.
The government is making a lot of effort to meet their needs, but there are still a few issues with their way of life that need to be addressed. For instance, renovating some of the spaces where the orphans reside, enrolling some of the children who were abandoned in both western and religious schools, setting up small recreational spaces for the kids, and teaching those who are interested on entrepreneurship skills.
A reminder: Caring for orphans is a significant part of Islam. Orphans are mentioned 22 times in the Qur’an; their mistreatment is a serious sin, while nurturing and sponsoring them is an immensely valuable good deed.
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him reportedly said: The best household among the Muslims is a household wherein an orphan is treated well. And the worst household among the Muslims is a household wherein an orphan is ill-treated” (Ibn Majah).
This means the families that sponsor orphans with love, kindness and honesty are of the genuine nobles in this faith-community. It is a rank conferred in Islam by neither wealth nor birth or title, but only by acting on the highest commands and most urgent advisements of Allah and His Prophet, on him be peace, to save the vulnerable.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him also said: Call the orphan to you. Pat him tenderly on the head. Then feed him from your food. This will soften your heart and bestow upon you [the blessing] of gaining what you need” (Kharanti, The Noblest Virtues, p. 661).
A soft heart itself a most cherished grace, for it renders the heart responsive to Allah’s guidance and draws one by its cords near to Him and everlastingly to His Paradise.
Sponsoring an orphan can be a dynamic sadaqah jariyah, that is, an ever-flowing, perpetual source of charity, for its giver. That means your orphan sponsorship can keep the good deeds flowing into your Heavenly Balance from multiple charitable wellsprings, even when your earthly actions have ended and you are in your grave. Source: /what-does-islam-say-about-orphan-care
Taking my niece and nephew to an ice cream shop was the next thing I did on that same second day of Eid. My brother drove us to the popular “Cravings” in Maiduguri and i bought everyone a scoop. Using the little I have to make them happy is one of my favorite things to do.