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The Prophet (ﷺ) sent Mu`adh to Yemen and said, "Invite the people to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I am Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), and if they obey you to do so, then teach them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers in every day and night (in twenty-four hours), and if they obey you to do so, then teach them that Allah has made it obligatory for them to pay the Zakat from their property and it is to be taken from the wealthy among them and given to the poor."

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and one of the most sacred periods in Islam. It commemorates the revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammadﷺ by Allahﷻ through the Angel Jibreel. During this blessed month, Muslims worldwide engage in fasting (Sawm), from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food and drink, whilst avoiding any negative actions or sins.  

Beyond the physical actions, Ramadan is a time of profound spiritual reflection, and increased devotion and worship to our Rabb. It is an opportunity for the Ummah to purify our souls, refocus our attention to Allahﷻ, practice self-discipline, and strengthen our connection with the Qur’an. The holy month of Ramadan demands our compassion, generosity, and kindness, reminding believers of those less fortunate and the importance of charity (Zakat and Sadaqah). 

In Islam, the holy month of Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, self-discipline, and devotion to Allahﷻ. Fasting during this month is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a sacred obligation for every able Muslim. However, intentionally breaking a fast without a valid reason is a serious matter that requires atonement. This atonement is known as Kaffarah. This article explores the meaning, significance, and calculation of Kaffarah, providing clarity on how to fulfill this important religious duty.

Winter is more than a season for so many in our Ummah. It’s a relentless, bitter struggle for survival. And right now, our thoughts should turn to those in our global Ummah for whom the cold is not an inconvenience, but a severe trial from Allahﷻ.  
 
This winter, your Zakat and Sadaqah are so much more than donations; they’re lifelines, answers to the Du’as of millions of our brothers and sisters in Gaza, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Bangladesh, and Burma. They’re a fulfilment of our Amanah (trust) towards them, and the millions of families whose lives are threatened by the freezing cold this winter. 

Within their trial, there is a test for us too. What will we do about our Ummah’s suffering? Will we give what we can and share some of our warmth with them?  

These aren't distant tragedies; they should hit close to home. These are our brothers and sisters—families with names, innocent children with dreams, countless sick and elderly who, at the very least, deserve some warmth and comfort. And to truly feel their pain and suffering, we must understand what they go through.  

Here's exactly where your support is going during winter 2025, and why your donation to One Ummah’s Winter Appeal matters now more than ever. 

Winter arrives with a beauty that many of us celebrate—the first snowfall, cosy nights by the fire, hot drinks with loved ones. But for millions of vulnerable families around the world, winter brings something very different: a life-threatening battle for survival. While we adjust our thermostats and add extra blankets to our beds, countless families face an impossible choice: keep warm or feed their children. A choice no family should have to make. 

Understanding why winter is the hardest season for vulnerable families isn't just about acknowledging hardship—it's about recognising our duty as believers, as One Ummah, to respond with both urgency and compassion. It is our duty to share a little of our warmth this winter.  

Winter is here. For many of us, that means warm homes, hot meals, and cosy evenings with our families and friends. But for millions of our dear brothers and sisters throughout the Ummah, winter is not an inconvenience: it’s a fight for survival. But there is another perspective to consider... the perspective of the believer.  

Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (raḥimahullāh) said: “Winter is the best season for the believer. Its nights are long for him to pray in, and its days are short for him to fast in.” 

The first chill of winter air carries with it something more than the promise of cold days and long nights. For the believer, it carries an invitation—a divine opportunity that those who came before us understood and embraced. We are called to see this season through different eyes: the eyes of faith, gratitude, and purpose. 

Zakat is no ordinary donation; it is a fundamental act of worship, a pillar of our Deen that purifies our wealth and our souls. But in a complex modern world, the questions of "How much Zakat do I owe?" or “How to calculate Zakat?” can feel overwhelming. The obligation is clear, but the path to an accurate Zakat calculation can be clouded with uncertainty. 

This is where clarity becomes an act of Ibadah. At One Ummah, we believe fulfilling your duty should be simple, precise, and spiritually uplifting. Our free tool is designed to provide you with accurate Zakat calculation, giving you the confidence that your duty is complete. 

In a world fixated on immediate gratification, Islam teaches us to delay our gratification and invest in the eternal. While a single act of charity can feed a hungry person for a day, there is a charity that feeds your soul for generations after you’re gone. This is the power of Sadaqah Jariyah—a continuous charity that outlives us, and your guide to moving beyond intention and into action.  

This article will explore some of the most powerful Sadaqah Jariyah ideas and Sadaqah Jariyah project examples that, Insha’Allah, will become your source of uninterrupted blessings. 

Every significant transformation begins with a fundamental choice: to address a critical need with a purposeful action. For our brothers and sisters stuck in the relentless grip of poverty and displacement, the simple provision of clean water and educational support becomes a lifeline for immediate change and long-term empowerment. Such a simple charity represents a decisive humanitarian intervention that can save countless lives. 

Allahﷻ has entrusted us with the responsibility of caring for one another, creating a bond only the Ummah could have. To watch innocent children drinking contaminated water, or be robbed of any chance of a future, should shake the Muslim community to the core. Yet, within that recognition lies our capacity to restore dignity and transform lives. 

This is more than short-term charity. It is about initiating a self-perpetuating cycle of progress. The act of providing sustainable water sources and educational support serves as an essential catalyst for profound change, elevating individuals, strengthening families, and empowering entire communities to move from a state of need to one of opportunity and self-reliance. 

The First Phase: The Gift of Clean Water 

The path to lasting change begins with the most fundamental need. Without clean water, life is a constant state of crisis. A mother’s daily reality is defined by a dangerous walk for water that she knows will make her children sick. Illness from waterborne diseases prevents parents from working. It drains already-dwindling resources, while children are robbed of the strength and opportunity to simply be children as their future is put on hold, day after day. 

Your support changes everything. Providing a sustainable water source—a bore well, a hand pump—is the critical first step that breaks down the barriers that trap people in poverty. The impact of clean water is immediate and multifaceted: 

A Return to Health: The constant threat of waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid is dramatically reduced. Children regain their health, their bodies now able to absorb nutrients and grow strong. 

The Gift of Time: The countless hours once spent on back-breaking journeys for water—a task often falling to women and young girls—are suddenly returned. This time can now be used for education, working or taking care of their families. 

Restored Dignity and Iman: Illness from waterborne diseases prevents parents from working and drains already-meager resources, while children are robbed of the strength and opportunity to simply be children. 

Once access to clean water has been restored, the groundwork for transformative change has been laid. A community is less so in survival mode; they are stabilised, healthier and empowered to rebuild their lives. This newfound stability creates the necessary conditions for the next step in empowering our Ummah: the education of its children. 

Providing books, uniforms, equipment, and safe learning environments unlocks potential and sets out a path to a future defined by opportunity, not circumstance.

The stability afforded by clean water means that the true potential of a community can finally be nurtured. A child who is no longer chronically ill can now consistently attend school. Women and children are freed from the daily burden of fetching contaminated water. But presence alone is not enough; potential requires practical support for our brothers and sisters to truly flourish. 

This is where the provision of educational support builds upon the transformative chance of clean water. Providing books, uniforms, equipment, and safe learning environments unlocks potential and sets out a path to a future defined by opportunity, not circumstance. 

The domino effect continues: 

The Empowerment of the Individual: A child learns to read and write. They gain the tools to understand the world, the Qur'an, and their own potential. They dream of becoming teachers, doctors, or engineers. 

The Elevation of the Family: An educated child becomes a beacon for their family. They can help their parents with essential tasks and break the chain of illiteracy and vulnerability that may have plagued their families for generations. 

The Strengthening of the Community: Educated individuals are empowered to uplift their own communities. They become future nurses and doctors, the teachers who educate the next class of children, and the informed community leaders who can manage resources, like the water wells, sustainably. 

The Beautiful Cycle: How Water and Knowledge Fuel Each Other 

In His infinite wisdom, Allahﷻ has designed the world in patterns of interconnected mercy. Nowhere is this divine wisdom more evident than in the beautiful, self-sustaining cycle that is created when the Ummah is granted both clean water and access to knowledge. These two forms of provision do not exist in isolation; they nourish and sustain one another in a manner that reflects the perfect balance of His creation. 

By answering the call of your brothers and sisters, you are not merely offering temporary relief. You are initiating a legacy of ongoing good. You are providing the means for the Ummah to become self-sufficient, benefitting them in this Dunya and in the Akhirah—a true fulfilment of the concept that whatever good you do, you will find it with Allah, far better and greater in reward. 

Be The Catalyst for Change 

The Quran beautifully illustrates the magnitude of a single good deed: “The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] that sprouts seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills...” [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:261]. 

Your contribution is that single seed. From it grows a harvest of health, knowledge, and empowerment that feeds generations. 

You have the opportunity to be the one who knocks the first domino over. To transform a life of struggle into a journey of hope. To replace the anxiety of a parent with the joyful laughter of a healthy, learning child. 

Answer the call of our Ummah. Provide the catalyst for change. Offer the gift of water and knowledge, and witness how a simple act of compassion can create ripples of transformation that last a lifetime and beyond.