In commemoration of World Humanitarian Day, we asked our Global Ehsan Relief Singapore (GERSG) staff more about their purpose of being in this line of work! What changed in them since working in a humanitarian organisation? We posed this question to our GERSG ladies and here are their inspiring answers!
“Ibn Umar reported: The Prophet S.A.W. said, “The most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to people. The most beloved deed to Allah is to make a Muslim happy, or remove one of his troubles, or forgive his debt, or feed his hunger….”
Sahih al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ lil-Ṭabarānī
When my days are spent in service to others, they become more blessed and hence bear fruits for me in my life outside of work. For example, as I assist in relieving the hardships of others, God relieves mine. My life has also felt “fuller”. It is critical for me that my lifestyle aligns with my sense of purpose. It is clear that through humanitarian work, I am benefitting others. This helps me feel a constant sense of fulfilment – an assurance that “I am spending my time and energy well.”
Whether we are conscious of it or not, we are all helping one another. A smile, a kind gesture, a gift, a good word. There is no reason for helping others except that it is a natural way of life; an intrinsic inclination.
Since working here, I smile and laugh more after meeting all of our beneficiaries. Their faces and stories always inspire me to be more grateful. Spreading kindness, laughter and smiles isn’t hard anyways. There’s no specific reason to help others. If you don’t help them, then who will?
My late mother used to remind me everyday to take good care of people’s heart, and Allah S.W.T. will in turn take care of ours.
“Indeed the men and women who practice charity, and [they who] have loaned Allāh a goodly (sincere) loan – it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.”
Al-Qur’an (57:18)
I have definitely gained valuable insight on the amount of unseen planning, hard work and sacrifices that makes a successful humanitarian outreach. Personally, I’ve grown more understanding and empathetic to other charity organisations who are surely, also doing their best within their limited resources and manpower to help disburse our contributions to the ones who need them most.
I believe in Allah SWT’s Divine Promise that good actions performed for His sake, is like a loan that will be returned to us with multifarious ‘interest’. Perhaps through my role here in easing others’ lives, Allah SWT in turn eases my personal affairs.
Do not belittle any act of goodness done in sincere faith.
Working here has really changed how I see things. Sometimes I think my own life isn’t that great, but talking to the people we help makes me think even more. It’s like a big reminder that many people have much bigger problems and don’t have as much help as I do to make things better. I can make changes in my own life with the support and resources that I already have, but they might not always have the chance to do the same.
“Think of giving not as a duty, but as a privilege.”
John D. Rockefeller, Jr
Being still only a few months new in this line of work, there hasn’t really been too drastic of a change. However, I do notice I feel more at peace with what I am doing and where I am offering my services. It feels a bit more rewarding and I come to work everyday with more motivation and ready to get things done.
I wanted to better improve myself as a person as well as spiritually, as it is sunnah in our religion to lend a helping hand. “If a person relieves a Muslim of his trouble, Allah S.W.T. will relieve him of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection”, as mentioned by our Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
