Al-Qalam 
While we are filled with joy at the beginning of this month of blessings, we also begin it in a sombre mood this year, following the extreme devastation experienced in Turkey and Syria, two of the countries in which AMA works during Ramadan and throughout the year.
However, as humanitarians, our work is not only to provide food and water to those in need, but also to provide hope and a human connection; to provide people in the most dire circumstances with the encouragement and care needed to lift them out of the situation and begin to rebuild.
This Ramadan, AMA launches the “Wish” campaign, a campaign which highlights the hopes and dreams of those in need, and which shows us how we can help fulfil those wishes.
We all have something we wish and pray for each Ramadan, from special food for iftaar, to ibadah goals which we set for ourselves, to the amount of time and money we spend in charity.
Iftaar is a special time to come together and enjoy Allah’s abundance, and little children are often enticed to keep fasts with promises of delicious treats for iftaar.
Yet for thousands of families across the world, their wishes are only for a date or piece of bread, for any morsel to allow them to make suhoor and iftaar.
Through the generosity of the zakaat and sadaqah donations we receive, AMA will provide millions of meals and hundreds of waterwells to the fasting across the world.
And when we fulfill seemingly simple wishes, such as those for food or water, we are, in reality, fulfilling much bigger wishes… Wishes for health, for education, for a happy family and a safe childhood.
As we fill our tables and homes with the barakah that Allah has granted us, let us also fulfill the wishes and duas of fasting families in need.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself.”
Which wishes will you fulfill this Ramadan?
Hussain Choonara
