By, Sahirah Javaid, Muslim Hands
Hope is an intrinsic part of the Islamic faith and our relationship with Allah (swt). When we read the Qur’an, the spirit of hope is a vital message throughout, urging perseverance and reliance on Allah’s plan and His mercy:
‘…and despair not of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.’ [Qur’an, 12:87]
Many of the Prophetic stories in the Qur’an demonstrate this unwavering hope in Allah, such as the story of Hajar (as).
Hope in action
Hajar (as) was taken to a deserted valley by the Prophet Ibrahim (as). As Prophet Ibrahim (as) was walking away, Hajar (as) called out after him, asking why he was leaving them alone. When he didn’t respond, she asked, ‘Has Allah commanded you to do so?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’
Hajar (as) immediately responded, ‘Then He will not neglect us.’ [Al Bukhari]
As the days passed and food became scarce, the Prophet Ismail (as) began to cry from hunger and thirst. Trusting that Allah would provide, Hajar (as) ran between the mountains of Safaa and Marwa seven times in search of water.
On the seventh turn, the Angel Jibraeel (as) appeared and stood at the place of Zam Zam, digging with his heel (or wing) until water flowed from the ground. To this day, the water of Zam Zam continues to flow, quenching the thirst of millions who perform the rites of Umrah and Hajj, in remembrance of Hajar and Ibrahim (as).
What does this story teach us about hope?
These Prophetic stories serve as important lessons. They remind us not only of Allah’s limitless mercy, but also that, through Allah’s guidance, these influential figures were examples and sources of hope for their communities. Similarly, we too can emulate their actions and become a source of hope to those around us and to the wider world, by living God-centred lives, nourishing our relationship with Allah and obeying what He has commanded of us.
This particular story also shows us that hope is not merely a passive feeling, but a practice that requires action. Hajar (as) took action by running in search of water, in the unwavering belief that Allah would help her find it. As Muslims, we are encouraged to embody hope through action – by helping others. Whether it is fighting against injustice or giving of our own wealth through Zakat and Sadaqah, there are many ways that Muslims can actively spread hope.
‘You Are Their Hope’
With this in mind, international NGO Muslim Hands was inspired to remind supporters how they can be a manifestation of hope this Ramadan and beyond, through their Ramadan message, ‘You are their hope.’
We cannot deny the darkness in today’s world. War, climate change and poverty dominate our screens every day, and it is difficult not to feel helpless when witnessing ongoing violence and suffering. We want to remind our supporters that they can still hope, and more importantly, they can turn that hope into positive action.
Yemen: Bread as survival
For over 30 years, Muslim Hands has delivered hope from its donors to the communities it serves worldwide. As a staff member at Muslim Hands, I have had the opportunity to see first-hand how this hope becomes a lifeline for some of the poorest communities. Even emergency aid such as food can give people the strength to survive and hope for a better tomorrow.
Our five bakeries in Yemen continue to provide thousands of loaves daily to families facing acute food insecurity. When I visited our distribution point in Suweydah, home to the second-largest camp for internally displaced people in Yemen, I met Yahya, who lives in the camp with his wife, mother and four sons.
‘When people in the camp heard that a bread factory was coming here, we were all so happy. Without this intervention, we would starve. We can be assured that we have at least one meal a day.’
Mali: Building futures through education
Children are the hope for the future and equipping them with the right tools to excel in life is essential. Therefore, education is a pivotal part of our work at Muslim Hands, and through our orphan sponsorship programme, thousands of children now have a brighter outlook, including Mamadou, now 24-years-old, who was sponsored as a child:
‘I can’t thank my sponsor enough. They sponsored someone all the way in Mali. Someone they didn’t know and that changed my life. Because of the impact they’ve had on me, I too will sponsor an orphan and give back. Sponsorship creates a chain reaction, impacting so many lives, not just the orphan. There is justice in orphan sponsorship because those less fortunate are given opportunities that can change their lives.’
Somalia: Dignity through livelihoods
Like orphan sponsorships, our Hope Shops in Somalia empower the most vulnerable, creating lasting change for entire families and communities. Amino, a 47-year-old widow with five children, told me how the Hope Shop she received transformed her life:
‘I was displaced 11 years ago and moved back and forth to Mogadishu because of conflict and drought. Two years ago, we returned after losing everything, and it became extremely difficult to survive and support my family. When the Muslim Hands team told me I would receive this shop, I cried with happiness. I feel proud to open it every day. It allows me to support three generations of my family, including my mother and grandchildren. I send my duas to the donor. I never realised that such kind and generous people existed in the world.’
How you can be a source of hope this Ramadan and beyond?
Hope is a powerful force, and its impact extends far beyond our expectations. It can manifest as a loaf of bread, a sponsorship, a Hope Shop, or even a dua – giving those who need it most the strength to carry on in their darkest times.
With Ramadan now upon us, we hope our community continues to embody the spirit of our message: ‘You are their hope,’ both individually and as a collective. While we uplift ourselves spiritually in the hope of a better akhirah, we will also be striving to make this world a better place for others.
Your Sadaqah and Zakat has the power to do just that, and we want our supporters to know we are ready to turn your donations into hope for vulnerable communities worldwide, this Ramadan and beyond. Not only can you donate to the projects we’ve mentioned above by visiting our website, but our automated giving platform, 30 Nights of Ramadan, ensures you don’t miss the opportunity to support people like Mamadou, Amino and Yahya every single night of the holy month.
Muslim Hands will be holding live appeals on Islam Channel on Friday 27th February and Monday 9th March from 5pm. Join us live this Ramadan on TV on our app or on YouTube.
