The world of Noushin Raja, a British Muslim woman from Leeds, crashed after her brother was robbed and murdered at the age of 17.
Turning to faith for support, she tried to honor her brother Amaar, nicknamed โMoonโ, with ongoing charity or โSadaqah Jariyahโ starting the Moonlight Trust.
โFor the first two years it was very small. I went to Leeds every weekend to feed the homeless in memory of my brother,โ she said, Leeds Live reported.
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Ten years on, the charity has supported more 700,000 people across the world and has over 200 volunteers.
โSomething beautiful has grown out of an ugly situation. Like a rose in a desert. Thatโs how I see him,โ Noushin said.
โHe loved white and I have a picture of him with white rose. A rose has grown out of this tragedy, so many amazing people have contributed. It has attracted beauty around the world.โ
Helping Refugees
During this past decade, Noushin has worked with people in need in Afghanistan, Serbia, Greece, France and more. She has also helped refugees in Lesbos, Greece.
โI have worked with refugees for ten years. These are people who have been robbed of their identity, their families, their homes. I see them not for their color but for whatโs happened to them.
โBut people treat refugees differently when they are closer to home. I would see the Ukrainian mother whoโs fleeing war or whose child died because of war, it is exactly the same pain that an Afghan, or Iraqi mother will feel. I think this is an opportunity for Europeans to learn and grow, that now it is happening close to home.โ
Till today, Noushinโs faith is still the driving force behind her work.
โEveryone says it must be so hard and asks me how I do it but I am very grateful. My faith has grown stronger,โ she said.
โI wanted to change the world, to build on values of love and compassion.โ
In Islam, the deceased can continue to accumulate good deeds and rewards even after he has passed away.
Allahโs Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
โWhen 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).โ Muslim and others
