Saddam, a father from the remote Al Zuhrah district in Al Hudaydah, Yemen, faced an unimaginable challenge when his son was born with severe health complications.
“His body was so weak,” Saddam recalls. “He was always sick, crying, his skin stuck to his bones.”
Despite his wife’s efforts to breastfeed their child, the boy’s condition continued to deteriorate. Living in a village where employment is unstable and access to healthcare is limited, Saddam struggled to find answers—or help.
“I don’t have a stable job. I work wherever I can, whenever the opportunity arises,” he explains.
The nearest health centre is 10 kilometres away, serving over 20 villages. The burden on this facility is immense. In turn, for many families like Saddam’s, reaching it is a challenge in itself.
A ray of hope for families like Saddam’s
Yet when Islamic Relief began supporting malnutrition interventions in the area, a ray of hope appeared.
Saddam’s son was referred by Islamic Relief to a hospital in Abs. There, he was admitted into intensive care for close observation. Thanks to continuous follow-up, regular checkups, and the provision of proper medication and nutrition, his son’s condition began to improve.
“We now have weekly appointments. They give him the right vitamins and nutrition every time we go,” Saddam says. “He’s doing much better than before. Alhamdulillah.”
Though he admits he doesn’t fully understand the leading reasons behind malnutrition, Saddam speaks with clarity about its root causes: poverty, lack of employment, and the inability of parents to provide basic needs. “When fathers can’t find jobs, they can’t take care of their families. That’s what leads to illnesses like this.”
Despite these hardships, Saddam’s gratitude is powerful and deeply felt. “I just want to say thank you to Islamic Relief for taking care of our children and listening to their suffering.”
His story is a testament to the importance of accessible healthcare and nutrition support in crisis-affected communities. To the resilience of parents fighting to save their children, one small victory at a time.
Give Families in Yemen Hope
Help Islamic Relief continue to deliver life-saving nutrition and vital support to families during times of crisis.
In just the first half of 2025, your generosity changed millions of lives. Because you’ve helped Islamic Relief respond effectively to eight major emergencies across the globe.
From deadly floods and earthquakes to conflict and forced displacement, your kindness ensured that vulnerable communities received urgent assistance when they needed it most.
Thanks to our Emergency Fund and the commitment of donors like you, we were able to act without delay, delivering life-saving aid to families facing some of the harshest conditions on earth.
8 Emergencies. 8 Countries. One Global Response.
Between January and June 2025, Islamic Relief responded to critical humanitarian crises in:
Mali – Floods
Nigeria – Conflict
Democratic Republic of Congo – Floods
Ethiopia – Earthquake
Afghanistan – Forced Repatriations
Pakistan – Conflict
Myanmar – Earthquake
Indonesia – Floods
Photo: Emergency support (tents) in Mali after the floods.
These emergencies spanned multiple regions, but they all shared one thing in common: communities in urgent need of help. With your support, we were able to reach them swiftly and with care.
What Your Donations Helped Deliver
Your contributions made it possible for Islamic Relief teams and partners to provide:
Life-saving medical supplies
Emergency food assistance
Shelter and protection for displaced families
Support to maintain dignity and safety for the most vulnerable
Photo: Islamic Relief provides shelters for displaced returnees in Afghanistan
Whether we were distributing hygiene kits in Myanmar, food packs in Afghanistan, or emergency tents in Ethiopia, your donations were at the heart of every action we took.
A Coordinated, Timely Emergency Response
Islamic Relief’s global emergency system ensures that when disaster strikes, we’re ready. In the first six months of 2025:
75% of emergency panel meetings were held within one day of receiving the alert.
37.5% of emergency alerts were raised within just 72 hours of the crisis occurring.
£575,000 (approx. $1.1 million AUD) was allocated to these eight emergency responses.
78.3% of these funds were used in countries where Islamic Relief already operates, enabling rapid mobilisation.
21.7% supported efforts in countries without an existing IR presence through trusted, local partners.
Photo: Islamic Relief working with local partners in Indonesia to distribute emergency aid.
This coordination is only possible because of the Emergency Fund. It allows us to act immediately, without waiting for donations to be raised after the disaster has already happened.
A Closer Look: Impact in the Field
In Afghanistan, thousands of families faced forced repatriation. There, we provided essential aid, including food parcels, hygiene kits, and warm clothing for children.
In Myanmar and Ethiopia, earthquakes destroyed homes and infrastructure. Our teams moved quickly to deliver temporary shelters, clean water, and medical supplies to those affected.
In Mali, DRC, and Indonesia, destructive floods displaced entire communities. Your support enabled us to distribute vital food, clean water, and emergency kits to help families survive and recover.
And in Pakistan and Nigeria, where conflict continues to uproot lives, your donations helped provide safety, protection, and dignity to those caught in crisis.
Why the Emergency Fund Matters
Emergencies strike without warning. When they do, every hour matters.
Our Emergency Fund is what makes rapid response possible. Rather than waiting to raise funds after a disaster hits, we’re able to respond immediately, getting aid to where it’s needed within days, not weeks.
Your support of this fund means that families impacted by floods, earthquakes, or conflict don’t have to wait for food, shelter, or medical care. It means relief can reach them immediately when they need it most.
Looking Ahead: A Call for Continued Support
The first six months of 2025 were a stark reminder of how quickly lives can be turned upside down. But it was also a testament to what we can achieve together.
Thanks to you, we were able to help thousands of people in their darkest moments. But the need hasn’t ended. New emergencies continue to emerge, and Islamic Relief must be ready.
By donating to our Emergency Fund today, you ensure we can respond rapidly to the next crisis, whenever and wherever it occurs.
Give Families Hope and Relief
Help Islamic Relief continue to deliver life-saving emergency responses and hope to families during times of crisis.
In Islam, words hold great power. Whether it’s greeting one another, expressing gratitude, or making Du’a (supplication), the Islamic phrases we use every day reflect our faith and connection to Allah (SWT).
The Qur’an and Sunnah encourage us to embody kindness and compassion to others. To use our words and deeds to spread goodness.
“Do you not see how Allah compares a good word to a good tree? Its root is firm and its branches reach the sky, ˹always˺ yielding its fruit in every season by the Will of its Lord. This is how Allah sets forth parables for the people, so perhaps they will be mindful.”
Likewise, Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should not hurt his neighbor and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should speak what is good or keep silent.”
Here, you’ll find a guide to common Islamic phrases and when to say them.
Whether you’re looking to deepen your understanding or simply incorporate them into daily life, this resource will help guide you through the key phrases we say often.
List of Key Islamic Phrases and Their Meanings
ISLAMIC PHRASE
ARABIC
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
WHEN TO SAY IT
La ilaha illa Allah (muhammadur rasool allah)
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱلله (مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱلله)
There is none worthy of worship except Allah (and Muhammad (ﷺ) is the messenger of God).
Part of the Shahada, the fundamental declaration of faith in Islam. This phrase is often recited to affirm faith and during Dhikr (remembrance).
As-salamu alaykum
اَلسَلامُ عَلَيْكُم
Peace be upon you.
Muslims use this phrase as a greeting when first seeing one another. It is a way of offering peace and blessings upon someone. We also use a longer variation of this phrase to end our five daily Salahs.
Wa-ʿalaykumu salam
وَعَلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَام
And peace be upon you.
This is the response to “Assalamu Alaikum”, returning the greeting and peace. It is a form of respect and kindness.
Insha’Allah
إِنْ شَاءَ الله
If Allah wills it.
We use this phrase when speaking about future events or plans, acknowledging that everything happens according to Allah’s will.
Alhamdulillah
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِله
All praise is due to Allah.
Muslims say this to express gratitude, contentment, or relief. It can be used in response to good news or after completing something successfully. It also serves as a form of Dhikr.
Masha’Allah
مَا شَاءَ الله
What Allah has willed has happened.
This phrase is used to express admiration or appreciation for something good while acknowledging that it is by Allah’s will. It also serves as a way to prevent envy.
Allahumma Barik
اللّهُـمَّ بارِكْ
Oh Allah bless him/her.
A supplication asking Allah to bless something or someone. Often said when complimenting others to avoid envy.
On 11 July 1995, Bosnian Serb soldiers captured the town of Srebrenica in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over the next few days, soldiers systematically murdered more than 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys.
It was the largest massacre carried out on European soil since World War II. One of dozens of similar massacres committed by Bosnian Serb forces as they carried out a campaign of ethnic cleansing during the Bosnian War.
The Bosnian War (1992-1995) engulfed the entire country. It killed more than 100,000 people and forced over 2 million from their homes.
The list of atrocities committed during the conflict is long. But the horrors perpetrated at Srebrenica stand alone in their scale. 30 years later, mass graves are still being uncovered, and bodies are still being identified.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide, Islamic Relief is honouring the memory of victims and paying tribute to the strength of those who survived.
Decades of support for survivorsofSrebrenica
Throughout the decades since the Srebrenica Genocide, Islamic Relief has continued to stand by the side of survivors.
We have supported returnees and survivors of the war through numerous emergency and development programs. This includes agricultural and livestock assistance, orphan sponsorship, and support for those impacted by gender-based violence. In the past, we have also provided scholarships for children from vulnerable families.
Every year, we distribute Ramadan food packs and qurban meat packages to people in need. In winter, we provide blankets, clothing and heating materials to help families cope during the bitterly cold months.
Islamic Relief began working in Bosnia in 1992, just 1 month after the outbreak of war. At the time, we were one of the only international organisations operating on the ground to provide life-saving aid to people suffering under the horrifying weight of war.
And now, 30 years later, we are sharing the experiences of survivors as they reflect on the difficulties of the war and challenges of piecing their lives back together in the decades since.
‘Never again’
In the wake of the Srebrenica Genocide, the world declared ‘Never again’.
On this solemn anniversary, we urge the international community to remember the lessons of the past.
International governments owe it to Srebrenica’s victims and survivors to prevent genocide from ever happening again.
Umija was just a teenager when the Bosnian War broke out. Her childhood before then, like those of so many living in the rural areas around Srebrenica, was shaped by the gruelling routines of working the land.
“I didn’t know what childhood was. I spent all my time working, digging, planting. [Then] I only finished 4 grades of primary school [before] I had to go to work… girls weren’t really meant to get an education, just work and nothing else… that was my childhood.”
The start of the Bosnian War
When the war started in 1992, Umija was living with her father, stepmother and 3 stepsiblings. One cold February night, while her father was in the hills searching for food, neighbours warned the family that their town would soon fall.
The following morning, Umija, her stepmother and stepsiblings fled. But during their journey, the group was spotted. Shots fired in their direction.
“They wounded my stepmother. She was carrying my brother Adem with her. She put Adem down on the ground then lay down, covering her leg.”
With her infant sister, Mejra, on her back, Umija began travelling home along the river so as not to be spotted. On the way, the girls became separated from their other brother, Saban.
“Grenades were falling all around us, like candy or beans falling [from the sky]. My sister was wounded.”
After arriving back to her village, Umija got some men to help retrieve her stepmother’s body, later reuniting with Saban and Adem.
“I found the children – a woman had taken them in and given them food. We gathered the kids and in the evening we headed home. When we got home that night, we brought my stepmother’s body into the house. At midnight, we were digging the grave to bury her – not even up at the cemetery, but just down from the house. We wrapped her in a blanket and dug the grave to lay her to rest. My father came back and asked where we had been.”
‘Step by step, we lived on’
Umija’s life had changed in an instant. Soon, her father remarried. And she was left to care for her younger stepsiblings amid the struggles of wartime.
“Imagine, you’re 19 with 3 children, going out in the world. People thought those were my children.
“You just think about how to survive. Nothing ever changed for me, not once – it’s always been a struggle to survive,” Umija remembers. “Every day someone dies, and you run, not knowing when a bullet might hit you – hit me or the children – you never know when.
“[During the war if] there was shooting, you’d run, but you still went to work. You had to. You still needed to eat and drink.
“I worked while caring for the children, no time for fun. I worked, cared for the children, and struggled. There was no pension, no income, nothing… Relatives were telling me to send the children out to beg. I said no, put the hoe on my shoulder and went to work in the fields digging for beans, potatoes, for whatever I could [get].”
Life in Srebrenica during war
Eventually, after a year, the toll of caring for her stepsiblings became too much. Umija’s father was among the thousands of men and boys killed at Srebrenica. Without him, her future looked more uncertain than ever.
“When the war ended, I put the children in an orphanage. I felt sorry, my heart still hurt for the children…
“Then I came to Srebrenik and got married. It was a different world here, not like my own. So, step by step, we lived on.”
Umija’s husband worked as a day labourer and, with the income made from a cow owned by her mother-in-law, Umija was able to make ends meet.
The family expanded, with Umija having a daughter and then a son. The hardship when her mother-in-law and her husband passed away was tempered by the joy of her daughter’s marriage and the births of 2 grandchildren.
Her stepsiblings, now adults too, were later given land by the state. They married and had families of their own, reconnecting with Umija later in life.
“Mashallah, we get along and they visit me.”
Rewinding the tape
The war had been over for more than a decade when Umija received the news that the partial remains of her uncle and father had been found.
“They were… found in 3 mass graves – not in 1 – they were tossed around into this grave, then this one and they were very far apart, the graves. That’s why their remains weren’t completely found,” she says.
In the aftermath of the war, the bodies of Srebrenica victims were moved to other graves – and sometimes again and again – in a bid to hide evidence of the mass murder. Today, 94 mass graves have been discovered around Srebrenica, with painstaking efforts still ongoing to identify the remains and return them to their loved ones.
Umija’s uncle was finally given a funeral in 2009, and she was able to lay her father to rest the following year. This has brought her some comfort, but the trauma lingers.
“All of that hits hard to this day. When I rewind the tape, everything hits me, and I feel depressed. I pray it doesn’t happen anywhere [else].”
The scale of loss in Umija’s family was enormous, with the deaths of her father, stepmother and uncle leaving 11 children orphaned. Another aunt, who also died during the war, left behind 3 children, including a 4-month-old baby. Along with the children, the adults who survived felt the loss of their loved ones deeply.
“My grandfather survived. He buried all 3 of his children and lived until 2011,” Umija says.
Hard-won stability after War in Srebrenica
Now 52, Umija lives with her son, who, as a child, was supported through Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship Program, and continues to make a living from farming, while receiving her late husband’s small pension. From 4 sheep and a ram provided by Islamic Relief, Umija has grown a flock of 15, selling the males and keeping the females to lamb.
“I’ve already sold 3 qurban [this year], and I’ll sell 3 more,” she says. “That gives me a bit of budget, a better income, so that’s what I do now.”
Islamic Relief also gave Umija a greenhouse, enabling her to grow and sell vegetables, but farming hasn’t been easy.
“As long as I worked, and as long as I could sell peppers and tomatoes, maintain things and earn money, I managed. But last year there was a snow that destroyed everything. So now I am looking for [a workman] to build a new greenhouse… As long as I’m alive, I won’t go without a greenhouse. But now, since we have sheep, that brings even more income to live on.
“I thank Allah and all the people who helped me… I received help from other organisations too… [and] I pray God rewards them threefold. Without all that help, I wouldn’t have managed to get what I have now. I really fought hard for everything [I have].”
For many people living in and around Srebrenica, the horrifying events of 30 years ago remain with them. But Ismet has made the conscious choice to engage with this painful moment.
The 31-year-old works as a technician and driver at the Srebrenica Memorial Centre – a memorial and cemetery set up to honour victims of the 1995 genocide.
Among the men and boys killed was Ismet’s father.
“When we fled our home, my mother went down to a nearby village and my father went through the forest. He was captured and shot.
“In 2009, he was found in a mass grave, and then we buried him at the Memorial Centre.”
Ismet was just months old at the time of the shooting, leaving him with no memories of his father. But, today, their bond endures.
“I go to his grave every day.”
“When you visit every day and you look at those grave markers, you learn more about what happened. Everyone talks about it, you know? New stories come out every day, so you understand more about what happened, even if you didn’t experience it yourself.
“Yes, it’s hard, but I feel deeply that what happened shouldn’t be forgotten. That’s what keeps me connected to this place more than anything.
“Because if we’re not here, [those memories] would die away.”
During the war, Ismet and his family became displaced. He grew up and went to school far from home, only returning after graduating and getting married.
He now lives in a village near Srebrenica where he was born, with his wife and 2 daughters. Like many in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ismet has struggled to find long-term work, but Islamic Relief’s support has helped to ease his burden.
After hearing a public call out, Ismet applied for support and received a greenhouse, which has helped him earn a living from farming in his mountain village.
“It meant a lot.”
“Financially, I couldn’t purchase a greenhouse on my own, so this helped me a lot. It was my wish to have a greenhouse, because whenever we plant seeds outside – tomatoes, peppers – they hardly grow here because of the high altitude.”
Photo: Ismet in his greenhouse near Srebrenica
The family now saves money by growing their own fruit and vegetables, occasionally selling their produce for a bit of extra income.
“Until winter, I’m busy every day,” Ismet says. “There’s raspberries, blackberries and aronia berries to harvest. My wife and I can’t really manage it all, so I sometimes pay someone to help out. I also have red peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and yellow peppers.”
“I thank Islamic Relief because they truly help our people here.”
“There are neighbours here [who have also received support] – some have livestock, cows, others have dryers [to dehydrate fruit and vegetables] and greenhouses. It’s not just one family that’s benefitted; there’s a whole chain of support.”
Ismet hopes to make his position at the Memorial Centre permanent, so he and his family can live comfortably in the village.
A lack of employment opportunities means many young people have already left in search of work.
“God willing, things will get better. A lot of young people are leaving and only the elderly stay behind. Unfortunately, I’m the youngest in this village, along with my family.
“There aren’t really any new people coming in because, as new generations grow up, people move on. When they finish school, they leave, no one stays here.”
Tima is a 70-year-old survivor of the Srebrenica genocide. She is a mother to Nedzad and 3 daughters, Hurija, Amela and Inela. In 1992, her village was attacked, forcing her family to flee.
“I had to leave because they set the house on fire. They killed whoever they could. We never returned. Whoever stayed was killed.
Fleeing from Danger, Trapped by War
I was carrying bags and dragging my children’s clothes [behind us]. I was also carrying my younger children in my arms. It was a battle for survival. The only goal was to stay alive.
When I arrived in Srebrenica, all I wanted was to lay down with my children. I was physically exhausted from carrying my children for 3 months on my back in the snow.
“There was no proper accommodation. The people who were already there did not want to accept us into their own homes, so we had to improvise in the woods by making huts out of plastic and cardboard. The Swedish [NGOs] helped us when they took us into some small houses where the accommodation was much nicer.
“Humanitarian aid started arriving eventually. We received 1kg of flour, and it was supposed to last us the whole month, which is impossible. War is war, and it is extremely difficult to survive. Those who received humanitarian aid had a chance of survival, but the ones who did not had no chance. I hope war here never happens again.”
Tragedy and Bloodshed around Srebrenica
Tima’s husband and son were caught by the Serbian army. Her husband Alija was tragically killed in Kasaba, eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Nedzad was taken to a mass execution site.
All men who were considered to be old enough to fight were taken to the mass execution site. “Nedzad was shot 4 times but, somehow, he survived and managed to make it Tuzla. I remember he was in an extremely poor condition, so bad that he could not even go to the bathroom by himself. I had to help him with everything,” she says.
The 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement ended the Bosnian War, providing people with an opportunity to search for their missing relatives. It was only then that Tima discovered that her husband had died during the fall of Srebrenica in 1995. “I found out when the Red Cross started looking for grave sites after the Dayton Peace Agreement was signed. There was a mass search for missing bodies once the agreement was signed, so that was when they found my husband’s body.”
“Islamic Relief accepted me and 2 of my children, who were small at the time, into the Orphan Sponsorship Program. It was good for me as I took a small loan from Islamic Relief, which helped me educate my children. I am very grateful to Islamic Relief as I would not have been able to get a loan from anywhere else. I simply wish to thank you a lot and to thank the organisation which sponsored my 2 girls.”
Life After Srebrenica
Tima currently splits her time between Tuzla and Srebrenica, where Nedzad lives, though returning there is still hard for her.
“It was not easy for me to return to Srebrenica. When my Nedzad finished his schooling, he was offered a job here. He could not choose the location of the job, which happened to be Srebrenica, so I followed him. I did not want to return.
“It’s nice [and] for now, it is safe. Once you experience something extremely frightening, even small things shake you up afterwards. I would love to take my son away from Srebrenica, but what can I do? Considering Nedzad is employed here, we must stay here.
“For now, everything is good, my children are doing well thanks to God. I am also healthy, even though the years are catching up to me.”
The trauma of Srebrenica is long-lasting, but Hasan and his daughter, Adelina, are rebuilding their lives.
‘I survived the Death March and found myself again’
“My name is Hasan. I am 65,” says the father-of-2, who lives in a mountainous village in Vlasenica, in what is now Republic of Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “I was born here. It was good here when I was young.
“I went to school, then I worked in a mine. In the 1980s, I joined the Yugoslavian army for 16 months. I didn’t know there would be a war after that. I went to work, and people were talking about how war would come soon, but I didn’t believe it.”
War broke out in 1992, and when it reached Hasan’s village, he was totally unprepared.
“I was living with my father and stepmother, and little siblings. Our neighbours attacked us. I was like a rabbit in the woods: I didn’t have any means to defend myself and my family. Everything was destroyed and burned down.”
Terrified, Hasan and his family fled, hoping to find safety in a small town where they had relatives.
“We walked with other families through the forest. I was going to Cerska, to safe territory. I was a member of territorial defence [a reserve force, or civilian home guard]. We held the line [in Cerska] for about a year. As Cerska fell, I fled to Srebrenica.”
The United Nations had declared Srebrenica a ‘safe area’, prompting thousands of refugees expelled from surrounding towns and villages to seek shelter there. Living in Srebrenica, Hasan found some joy amid the miseries of war, but this proved short-lived.
“I got married. My daughter was born on 1 July 1995, so she was about 6 days old when they started shelling Srebrenica,” Hasan says, recalling the start of the genocide that would shock the world.
Fleeing through the forests
As the horror unfolded, Hasan joined around 15,000 men and boys taking to the forests in a bid to escape the Bosnian Serb Army. The column of Bosniaks hoped to reach safety in the free territory of Tuzla, over 60 miles (around 100 kilometres) away. With mountains, rivers, and even minefields to pass, it would be a perilous journey even without being relentlessly hunted by soldiers. Most of the men and boys would be captured and killed, and the others would spend months trapped in the forest.
“I knew the local area very well and this helped me a lot during the war. I also helped around 20 people to escape, the group of people that I walked with. They only had some weapons for hunting – it is much easier when you have some weapons, you feel safer. There was a very tall guy who carried a piece of wood. I helped them to get better organised.”
Hasan’s recollection of his time in the forest is as a nightmarish haze of fear and suffering, fragmented by trauma.
“[Our journey] lasted for 3 or 4 nights, more than 100 kilometres. The artillery was beating us, and projectiles were literally smashing people’s bodies. A guy had a hallucination, and suddenly he started shooting.” Hasan remembers – hallucinogenic gas was among the weapons the soldiers used against the fleeing men and boys.
Photo:Hasan’s memories of the gruelling Death March are fragmented by trauma.
Surviving the Death March
Aided by Hasan’s local knowledge, his group were among only around 3,500 of the column of men and boys to made it to Tuzla. Against the odds, they had survived what later became known as the Death March. Hasan reunited with his wife and child, and in time had another daughter, Adelina, who sits patiently by his side as he describes the long-lasting effects of trauma.
“It is like you collect highlights from a movie. Some things you just cannot remember. Even today, I feel the consequences. Sometimes I talk in my sleep. This is all because of the stress I had, sometimes I feel like somebody is chasing me.
“It affected me, of course, but somehow, I found myself again. It is normal, any living being would be affected by that.”
Rebuilding in the aftermath of war
Born after the war, Adelina, 28, has only ever known peace, but she understands very well the enduring legacy of conflict.
“The war affected a lot of people… they have trauma. My dad has a lot of trauma from the war,” she says.
“After the war, we were refugees. We came here in 2004,” Adelina continues, using the Bosnian word, izbjeglice, which is used interchangeably to describe people forced to flee the country, or to elsewhere in Bosnia. She was a young child when the family moved to Vlasenica, where her father lived before the war, and the early years were not easy.
“We didn’t have a house, so we built one from wood. In 2005, we got a donation to build our house,” she says, gesturing to the two-floored brick building she shares with her father.
“At the beginning, it was very difficult. Others look at you very strangely because you are a Muslim, because you have a strange name. I didn’t like my name when I was little, but later on I figured out that my name is so beautiful. Sometimes I was bullied at school because I was Muslim and Bosnian, but later it was better.”
Forging a future with Islamic Relief
“My mother died 3 years ago. I have only one sister – she is married with 3 children and lives in Switzerland. Sometimes my sister would send us money… it was difficult [to make ends meet].”
Growing up, Adelina dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps by serving in the army.
“In 2016, I finished school. I wanted to become a soldier, but I didn’t pass the tests required. Since I was little, I wanted to be a soldier or a police officer, but I became neither of them. How unexpected life is: today I have… become a businesswoman,” she shrugs, smiling, recalling how Islamic Relief helped her start a small enterprise.
Adelina’s business began through an Islamic Relief project that was part of our decades-long program of support for vulnerable people in Bosnia, especially returnees and survivors of the Bosnian War and Srebrenica Genocide. Adelina received livestock and training on agricultural productivity, developing marketable products, and marketing skills.
“[Now] I have quails and I sell their eggs at the market in the city. We also produce vegetables here, and we have sheep, and we sell lambs to make money.”
Photo: Adelina with the quails she received through an Islamic Relief livelihoods project.
Nurturing livelihoods and optimism
As well as growing the household income, Adelina has found that the project has helped in other, unexpected ways.
“Life has changed a lot [since getting involved in the Islamic Relief project]. I am not an outgoing woman, but I met a lot of people and got better at communicating with people,” she explains. Proudly showing the small birds that are helping her and Hasan look forward to the future, she adds, “They are so small and sweet – and scary! I am a beginner – every start is difficult, but I’m optimistic.”
What would you do if your child needed urgent medical care, but the nearest clinic was an exhausting hour-and-a-half’s walk away? Would you risk the journey in the rain, through snow, harsh mountain winds or scorching sun? Would you carry a sick child in your arms in the hopes of getting there safely?
In Lailour Pain village, a remote part of Yakawlang district in Afghanistan’s Bamyan province, these questions were once part of everyday life. For Khadija and many other mothers, accessing healthcare was an uphill battle. But all that is changing now.
Living with uncertainty
Khadija, 45, has spent her entire life in Lailour Pain, a village her family has called home for generations. Together with her husband, Abdullah, she cares for a large family of 14: 3 sons, 4 daughters, 2 daughters-in-law, and 3 grandchildren.
“My husband is 58 and works as a farmer. Our income comes from the crops we grow on our farm. If the crops grow well and there is enough water, we manage. But if there’s a drought, we have nothing. It becomes very difficult to survive.”
The family’s modest 4-room mud house provides shelter but lacks the comfort and warmth of a proper home. They struggle with poor harvests year after year, leaving them with no choice but to purchase food from Yakawlang city, around 20 kilometers away — a journey that is both expensive and physically demanding. Access to clean drinking water remains limited, with the family relying on a shared community well from which they must draw water each day by hand. While Khadija’s daughters are continuing their education at a nearby primary school, access to even the most basic health services has always been out of reach for the family.
Photo: With improved access to medical services, Khadija’s family is now receiving treatment and care under Islamic Relief’s HeLP project
A new beginning for the community
In September 2024, with support from the Health and Livelihoods Promotion (HeLP) project, Islamic Relief built a clinic in Khadija’s village. Every day, the facility serves around 100 patients, not only from Lailour Pain but also from several neighbouring villages who previously had no access to nearby healthcare.
For family’s like Khadija’s, the new clinic has been life-changing.
“My eldest daughter, who is 25, has kidney problems and needs regular medical attention. Before, it was a long journey to get her help,” Khadjia says.
“We had to walk for an hour and a half to reach the nearest health centre. It was very tiring. I have back pain myself, and making that journey was hard.”
Many villagers, especially mothers and elderly people, were unable to make the long trip. Even when they did, there was no guarantee that the clinic would have the medicine they needed. Illnesses, particularly among children, went untreated. Health education was non-existent.
“There were times we had to cut back on food just to afford a trip to the city for medical treatment. It was painful, especially in winter,” Khadija recalls.
The new clinic offers a wide range of services. It includes outpatient consultations, antenatal and postnatal care, psychosocial support, and nutrition programs. Children who need specialised care are referred for treatment, and families receive counselling on hygiene and wellbeing.
For months, Khadija lived with chronic back pain. Even simple chores such as cleaning and cooking became a struggle for her. After visiting the clinic, she received pain relief medication and advice on how to manage her condition at home.
“It changed our lives,” Khadija says quietly. “Now, when we’re sick, we go to the clinic nearby. We receive medicine, guidance, and care. I feel better, and I can do my daily chores without pain.”
Women in the village, who once hesitated to seek care, now feel safe and confident visiting the clinic. Health awareness has also improved, and with it, the overall quality of life has improved.
Khadija emphasises the importance of expanding the services. “We need delivery care. Complications during childbirth are common, and these services would save lives.”
Photo: Khadija sitting at the clinic established by the Islamic Relief in her village. Like many women in the area, she now has access to healthcare thanks to Islamic Relief’s clinic
A mother’s wish
For Khadija, the clinic is more than a health centre—it’s a promise of a brighter future.
“I want my children to be healthy. I want them to study, grow, and have better lives than we had. This clinic gives me hope that it’s possible.”
She sits quietly, her dark green and black shawl wrapped tightly around her shoulders, her voice soft but steady. “We are thankful to Islamic Relief. What you’ve done here has changed our lives.”
Across Afghanistan, countless families like Khadija’s continue to face major challenges in accessing basic healthcare. Long distances, poverty, and a lack of local services put lives at risk, especially for women and children. With your support, Islamic Relief is working to change that by building clinics, training staff, and delivering life-saving care to some of the most remote communities.
Give Families Hope and Relief
Help Islamic Relief continue to deliver life-saving health services and hope to families like Khadija’s in Afghanistan.
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It marks the start of the Islamic New Year.
Beyond being the start of another Hijri year, Muharram is also a sacred month. One with great opportunities to increase our rewards. So how do we make the most of it?
What is Muharram?
In Arabic, “Muharram” means “forbidden”. This refers to it being one of the four sacred months in which warfare is forbidden. In Surah At-Tawbah, it says:
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him].”
The four months are mentioned by name in this hadith, where the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“…The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in subsequent Dhul Qadah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumada Al-Thani and Sha’ban.”
As such, in these months, Muslims are encouraged to engage in increased worship, for the rewards for good deeds are multiplied.
When is Muharram 2025?
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar. Based on a lunar cycle, the sighting of a new moon determines the start of a new Islamic month.
Last year, Muharram 2024 began on Sunday, 7th July 2024. In 2025, the first Islamic month begins on the evening of Thursday, 26th June 2025, depending on the sighting of the moon.
Key dates in Muharram
There are 12 months in the Islamic calendar, but we tend to know more about some months than we do about others.
While everybody knows that we fast in Ramadan and about the sacrifice of Dhul Hijjah, Muharram is a bit less well-known.
However, its religious and historical significance is extensive, as many important events have occurred in this month.
1st Muharram
The 1st Muharram marks the beginning of the new Islamic Year. This lunar calendar (also called the Hijri calendar) starts from the hijrah (emigration) of the Muslims to Medina and the establishment of the first Islamic state in 622CE.
There are no prescribed acts of worship for Muslims to observe on the 1st of Muharram. However, as the beginning of a sacred month, Muslims may use it as a time to renew their intentions to do good for the year ahead.
It can also be a day to reflect on the journey and struggle of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his Sahabah (companions), and other Prophets throughout history as several significant historical events occurred during this month.
The Day of Ashura
The Day of Ashura falls on the 10th of Muharram. It is one of the most virtuous days of the Islamic year.
One of the reasons for its significance is the many events in Islamic history that take place on this day.
The Battle of Karbala
The battle of Karbala (680CE/61 AH) that occurred on Ashura marks a conflict of many great tragedies.
It was fought between a small army of the supporters and family of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the army of Yazid, the Umayyad Caliph who had a significantly larger army. There, the martyrdom of Husayn (AS) (also referred to as Imam Hussain ibn Ali), one of the Prophet (ﷺ)’s grandsons, took place.
In a hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) once said:
“Husayn is from me, and I am from Husayn. Allah loves anyone who loves al-Hasan and al-Husayn. They are two of my distinguished descendants.”
Many of Prophet (ﷺ)’s family members and companions were also martyred during the battle. In their martyrdom, we reflect on these tragedies and their struggles in striving for the cause of God.
The Prophets (AS) and Ashura
The Day of Ashura also commemorates when Allah (SWT) freed the Prophet Musa (AS) and his people (Bani Isra’il) from the Pharaoh (Fir’aun) and his army.
Some narrations also mention significant events from other Prophets (may peace be upon them all).
On this day, Allah (SWT) returned Prophet Nuh (AS)’s arc to dry land after the flooding stopped.
For Prophet Adam (AS), it was the day he repented and was forgiven by Allah (SWT) after eating the forbidden fruit.
While, for Prophet Yunus (AS), it was the day Allah (SWT) released him from the belly of the whale and forgave his people.
As such, the Day of Ashura is a great day for reflection and increasing in good deeds – and one we should not miss out on!
What should we do in Muharram?
Muslims commemorate Muharram as one of the four sacred months. It also holds the title of ‘the month of Allah’, (shahr Allah al-Muharram شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ) making it one of the most blessed months in the Islamic calendar. (Muslim)
Therefore, it is a good time for Muslims to engage in acts of worship. This includes reflecting, giving Sadaqah, increasing nafl (voluntary) prayers, reciting Qur’an, and fasting.
Fasting during Muharram
Muharram is one of the best Islamic months to fast in. Many ahadith report about the importance of fasting in Muharram, especially on the Day of Ashura.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “…The best fast after the month of Ramadan is fasting in the month of Allah, al-Muharram.”
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I did not see the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as eager to fast a day and preferring it over others except for this Day of Ashura and this month of Ramadan.”
The Prophet also recommended his people to fast on the day before Ashura (9th Muharram). This is due to the Hadith:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and told the people to fast, they said, “O Messenger of Allah, this is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Next year, if Allah wills, we will fast on the ninth day.” But by the time the following year came, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had passed away.
Muslim
Thus, the Prophet (ﷺ) wanted Muslims to also fast on the 9th to differ from the People of the Book. If one misses the 9th, one can fast on the 10th and 11th of Muharram. However, it is also okay to only fast on the 10th, if one is unable to also fast the day after or before it.
Build a Muharram Action Plan
The sacred months offer us the opportunity to seek the mercy and favour of Allah (SWT). Thus, there is an opportunity to gain more rewards every day.
There are many simple virtues we can do to take advantage of the benefits of Muharram. This month, try to…
Fast: Keep a fast on the 9th and 10th Muharram (the Day of Ashura), or on the 10th and 11th Muharram. Fasting expiates sins.
Reflect: If you are unable to fast, reading the Qur’an or doing Dhikr can help you to feel the blessings of Muharram. Remember, any gathering for the sake of Allah SWT will also be filled with barakah and the Angels will join you.
Give: Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year, so it’s the perfect time to make resolutions and establish good habits like giving regular Sadaqah (charity), so that you can gain blessings all year round.
Make the most of Muharram
Give and change the lives of the most needy and vulnerable of our Ummah on one of the most blessed of months.
