Maryam was only seven when she died of ovarian cancer in 2017.
Before her death, the young soul had asked her father Sahgir Ahmed, a British Muslim from Birmingham, to go and help people in need in Africa.
“Two weeks before Maryam passed, she told me that she wanted to build water wells in Africa for those who are less fortunate, so it was really important to me that I try and do this for my daughter,” Ahmed, assistant operations manager for National Express West Midlands, told BBC.
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Keeping his promise to his daughter, the 37-year-old has now raised £100,000 to support the installation of community water wells and a village mosque.
Ahmed will visit Tanzania in November
Helping Tanzanians
He has also raised £20,000 towards clothes for orphaned Tanzanian children to wear for `Eid celebrations this year, as well as books and meals for hundreds more youngsters.
“None of this would have been possible without the support of my family, friends and my local community. Thanks to everybody’s help I am able to fulfil my daughter’s wishes and I am forever grateful,” he said.
“The people I met in those Tanzanian villages have nothing, so these small changes to us make such a huge difference to them.”
To reach his goal, Ahmed has worked closely with UK-based charity Islamic Help.
“Words alone cannot express the magnitude of Saghir’s achievements or reflect the love, selflessness and dedication that he has shown in honoring his daughter’s memory by helping some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities,” Mohammed Ilyas, from the charity, said.
Hard times could be an inspiration for many Muslims wishing to remember their dear ones, and this could be done with ongoing charity or ‘Sadaqah Jariyah’ in Islam.
To keep her brother’s memory alive, Noushin Raja, a British Muslim woman from Leeds, has supported more 700,000 people across the world over the past decade.
Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
“When a man passes away, his good deeds will also come to an end except for three: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased).” Muslim and others