Alḥamdulillāh, all praise and thanks belong to Allah ﷻ, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We praise Him, we thank Him, and we seek His help and forgiveness. We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah ﷻ alone, and that Muḥammad ﷺ is His servant and final messenger.
Alḥamdulillāh, I recently had the honor of joining a humanitarian trip to Kenya organized by Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD) alongside some remarkable scholars and leaders — Shaykh Nomaan Baig, Dr. Jihad Safir, Imam Fateen, Shaykh Gyasie, Ḥafiẓ Shaheer from YM (Young Muslims), and Shaykh Yūsuf Bakeer. It was a trip that profoundly touched our hearts, opened our eyes, and renewed our sense of gratitude, compassion, and responsibility as believers.
Allah ﷻ says in the Quran: “Have they not traveled through the land so that they may have hearts by which they reason, or ears by which they hear?” (Sūrah al-Ḥajj, 22:46) Although this verse is addressed to the non-believers of Makkah, the moral and lesson apply to us as believers as well. Traveling for the sake of Allah ﷻ — to witness the condition of His servants, to serve, to bring relief, to learn — is not a vacation; it is an act of worship. It is an opportunity to see the world through a lens of gratitude and to let that vision transform our hearts.
Over the course of just a few days, we witnessed scenes that will stay with us for a lifetime — scenes of hardship, resilience, faith, and hope.
Our first day took us to Garsen, a rural area near Malindi. We joined a free medical camp where HHRD provided essential healthcare to more than 500 people in a single day. We met patients who had walked for miles under the scorching African sun to see a doctor — something we often take for granted. We met families carrying children in their arms, waiting patiently for hours, just to receive basic care and medicine. We spoke with local doctors and nurses — committed men and women who work tirelessly with limited resources, driven by a sense of mission and compassion. Every patient had a story — a story of endurance, faith, and dignity.
As we moved through the tents, greeting patients, observing the consultations, and meeting volunteers, I couldn’t help but think of the Prophet ﷺ, who said: “Whoever relieves a believer from one of the hardships of this world, Allah will relieve him from one of the hardships of the Day of Judgment.” (Muslim) The visit was not just about distributing medicine; it was about distributing mercy. It reminded us how blessed we are — to have healthcare, clean water, food security, and safety. Yet these blessings often go unnoticed until we see those who live without them.
Later that day, we joined the water-trucking program serving internally displaced families and nearby communities. Many residents walk long distances every day under the relentless sun just to fetch a few gallons of water. We helped distribute clean water, and we listened to people share their stories — stories of drought, displacement, and perseverance. At one site, we saw families filling their containers from an HHRD-donated collapsible tank, grateful for a resource most of us rarely think about when we turn on the tap.
It was a moment of deep humility. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best charity is giving water to drink.” (Aḥmad) Water — the source of life — becomes a symbol of divine mercy. Every drop we distributed was a drop of hope.
Day two was even more transformative. It showed us how compassion, dignity, and opportunity — when combined — can transform lives.
We began the morning at the Children With Disabilities Centre, where a rehabilitation session was already in progress. The center was filled with warmth and life — children engaging in therapy, learning to walk, smile, and play. We participated in sensory stimulation activities, spoke with caregivers, and listened to parents describe how their children’s lives had changed. One mother told us, “Before this center, my child could not move or speak. Now, alḥamdulillāh, she can sit, smile, and call me Mama.” That single word — Mama — carried more emotion and meaning than volumes of books. It was a testament to human perseverance and divine mercy.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to others.” (Ṭabarānī) And we saw that benefit manifest before our eyes — through trained therapists, specialized care, and the compassion of those who give for the sake of Allah.
We then had the honor of distributing specialized wheelchairs for children with cerebral palsy and other similar conditions. I will never forget the sight of a child sitting in a simple wheelchair — smiling, laughing, and waving — while their parents’ eyes filled with tears. It was a simple wheelchair, yet it represented freedom, independence, and dignity. For these families, it was not a piece of equipment — it was hope.
As we handed over each wheelchair, I thought of how the Prophet ﷺ would personally serve and uplift those in need — carrying things for widows, comforting the poor, and showing love to children. True leadership, he taught us, is service.
Next, we toured the Basic Health Unit with Br. Abubakar and Dr. Ayman, who explained how the facility operates. It serves over 1,000 patients every month — people who would otherwise have no access to healthcare. We met patients in waiting areas, nurses in small but well-organized wards, and a dedicated team that provides essential services with minimal resources. It made me reflect on how barakah multiplies when sincerity is present. Even limited means, when used sincerely for Allah, can accomplish so much.
We then visited the Skills Development and Livelihood Centre — a space buzzing with energy and purpose. Students were learning trades — tailoring, IT, cosmetology, electrical work — skills that empower them to earn a dignified livelihood. Later, we met graduates in the local market: a young man who opened an electronics shop, another who started a book and photocopy business, and a young woman proudly running a henna and beauty studio. Each one told us, “Because of the skills I learned, I can now support my family. I don’t need to rely on anyone else.”
It reminded us of the Prophet’s ﷺ words: “The upper hand is better than the lower hand.” (Bukhārī, Muslim) Self-sufficiency, dignity, and productivity are not just economic goals — they are spiritual virtues. Empowering others is one of the highest forms of sadaqah.
We also met a young Education Support Program student — a bright, confident girl who had just completed her 12th grade and was preparing to pursue a nursing diploma. She said, “My dream is to serve my community the way HHRD helped me.” That single sentence captures the true spirit of sadaqah jāriyah — charity that keeps giving, transforming one life after another, generation after generation.
This trip taught us countless lessons — lessons that echo the Quran and Sunnah, but now engraved in our hearts through experience.
1. Gratitude (Shukr) - We often complain about what we don’t have, while others thank Allah ﷻ for far less. Seeing families smile despite poverty teaches us that true wealth is contentment. “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you.” (Sūrah Ibrāhīm, 14:7) Gratitude turns scarcity into sufficiency and blessings into barakah.
2. Compassion (Raḥmah) - The Prophet ﷺ was described as “a mercy to the worlds.” This trip reminded us that compassion is not sentiment — it’s action. It’s seeing a need and responding to it. Every medical camp, every wheelchair, every drop of water — that is mercy in motion.
3. Dignity (Karāmah) - Helping others is not about pity — it’s about restoring dignity. The programs we witnessed — health, education, livelihood — all centered around empowering people, not creating dependency. That is the Prophetic model of charity.
4. Responsibility (Mas’ūliyyah) - When Allah ﷻ blesses us, it comes with responsibility. Our comfort, our resources, our education — they are trusts (amānāt) that we will be asked about. “And then you will surely be asked that Day about the blessings you enjoyed.” (Sūrah al-Takāthur, 102:8) To see suffering and remain indifferent is to forget our purpose as the Ummah of mercy.
5. Hope (Rajāʾ) - Despite immense challenges — poverty, drought, disability — the people of Kenya radiated hope. Their faith was unwavering. Their smiles sincere. They reminded us that hope is not the absence of hardship; it’s the presence of īmān.
Traveling with Helping Hand for Relief and Development was not just a trip — it was a spiritual journey. It reminded us what it means to serve humanity for the sake of Allah ﷻ, to live with empathy, and to give with sincerity.
We returned home with hearts heavier yet softer — filled with appreciation, humility, and resolve. And we remembered the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that bring happiness to others.” (Ṭabarānī)
May Allah ﷻ allow us to be among those who bring joy, relief, and hope to His servants. May He make us instruments of His mercy on earth. And may He accept this trip from everyone involved as an act of sincere worship.
Āmīn, ya Rabb al-ʿĀlamīn.
Wa-ṣallallāhu ʿalā nabiyyinā Muḥammad wa ʿalā ālihi wa ṣaḥbihi ajmaʿīn.
