The period of my student life passed with such an organization, which not only enlightened my heart with the love of Allah and His Messenger but also ignited our personal capabilities.
This is a long story, details of which can be shared at another time, but whenever we friends got together at the platform of Anjuman-e-Talba-e-Islam, we used to ponder about our future and questioned each other if we too also would only be engaged with jobs and employment after graduating from colleges and universities? Despite having Islamic and spiritual thinking, we were far from the thoughts of traditional Mullahs and Peers. We used to think that instead of these things, serving the creations of Allah and promoting humanity should be the real principle of “Fear of Allah and Love for the Messenger.” When practical life began, everyone got caught up in the cycle of earning their livelihood.
Each person was contributing to service and welfare in their own way, but there are still some in the caravan of love who are truly fulfilling the right of service and welfare. Abdul Razzaq Sajid, the chairman of Al-Mustafa Welfare Trust, is one such person who truly fulfills the right of service. I also like my old companion Nawaz Kharral because he is associated with Al-Mustafa. During the last days of Ramadan, I had the honour of attending an iftar at Al-Mustafa’s Dastarkhawan with prominent poet Nasir Bashir. Nasir Bashir’s devotional poetry of the Prophet (peace be upon him) rejuvenated my soul and after hearing the details of Al-Mustafa Trust’s services from Nawaz Kharral, my love turned into respect for my brother Abdul Razzaq Sajid No one could have imagined that this journey toward the light would become a mission for him. In 2006, he established an organization called “Al-Mustafa Welfare Trust” in the UK to spread the light of vision in the darkness. No one knew that this journey, which started with the zeal of kindness, service, and devotion, would become the reason for distributing happiness in the beloved country and 22 countries around the world after only 17 years, by spreading the light of knowledge, disseminating the Quran and Hadith, and helping the distressed humanity.
While many philanthropists and social organizations are busy with this good cause, the effective network and dynamic team of “Al-Mustafa” go beyond the boundaries of race, caste, religion, and sect, and are actively engaged in serving helpless, sick and destitute people, with the passion of “service at all times and timely service,” believing that access to the Creator is impossible without doing good to His creation. Perhaps a thick book could not do justice to the services of Al-Mustafa for serving humanity. I am sharing some details with you. Under the supervision of Al-Mustafa Welfare Trust International, the campaign “Light for All” has been ongoing for many years, which aims to establish “Free Eye Camps” in various poor areas and countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Gambia, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Syria, Indonesia, Malawi, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Burma, with a series of continuity and success. Through these free eye camps, more than 1.73 million free eye operations have been performed so far. Before the operation, patients are tested for blood pressure, sugar, hepatitis, and AIDS, and patients are also provided with free glasses, lenses, medicine, and food by “Al-Mustafa.” In 2020, a complete hospital is also operational on Mozang Road in Lahore. State-of-the-art hospital facilities are being provided free of charge from prescription to surgery at the Hospital. During just two years, “Al-Mustafa Eye Hospital” and the camps set up in and around Lahore by its department OPD and hospital were used by one hundred and fifteen thousand patients. Under the hospital’s expansion project, the construction of two additional floors has been completed. In the future, a plan has been arranged to start corneal transplant surgery at Al-Mustafa Eye Hospital.
The “Al-Mustafa Dastarkhwan” is also running successfully alongside the hospital in a remote location for many years. Deserving patients, their attendants, the poor, labourers, and needy students who come to Al-Mustafa Hospital are provided with a standard lunch and dinner for free, with respect and dignity. About 500 people eat lunch and dinner daily at the Dastarkhwan, while in the blessed month of Ramadan, a free Iftar dinner is arranged every day in which more than 700 people participate. Another beautiful tradition from “Al-Mustafa” is the distribution of food packets to needy and deserving families. During 2020, 61,217 food bags were distributed, not only in Pakistan but also in countries such as Bangladesh, Rohingya refugees, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Gaza Palestine, Jerusalem, Lebanon, and Syrian refugees. During the winter season, deserving individuals and poor families are provided with warm clothes, jerseys, and warm blankets. “Al-Mustafa” also provides monthly stipends to fortunate male and female students who memorize the Quran under the Hifz Project in different countries, including Pakistan. In addition to that, Al-Mustafa Welfare Trust International is also working on various projects, such as the provision of clean water in Cholistan, organizing social sacrifices during Eid-ul-Adha in different cities and villages of various countries, and sponsoring 4263 orphaned children. The organization is responsible for providing these children with education, food, shelter, clothing, and all other basic necessities of life.
Moreover, during emergencies and disasters in different countries, the organization has helped approximately 1.6 million people. It has also distributed 64,370 food bags to poor households and 801,249 eyeglasses to people suffering from eye diseases. All these efforts demonstrate the organization’s dedication to serving humanity and providing assistance to those in need. 192 ambulances are working in the Al-Mustafa Network. Under the Neighbour First project, 22,700 food bags have been distributed. Fifty thousand plants have been planted as part of the project.
To free the brick kiln workers from the slavery of the owners, a campaign has been launched to repay their debts, and 64 families of brick kiln workers have been freed. Every year during the holy month of Rabi-ul-Awwal, social weddings are organized in Faisalabad and many other cities on the Al-Mustafa platform, and poor girls are sent off with essential household items including dowry. Food is also served to the wedding guests. Al-Mustafa’s dedicated efforts have so far resulted in the marriages of thousands of orphans and poor girls. May Allah give them strength for more service and effort.
