Where is Aisha today? | SoundVision.com

Where is Aisha today?

The Mother of Homeless in Chicago

It was almost 4 p.m. and Aisha knew exactly what she was going to do.

Living and working in downtown Chicago, it was part of her daily ritual: whatever money she had earned at work, every weekday, she would use for food.

Not for herself. But for the homeless.

She would prepare sandwiches, put them in two large grocery bags, then walk around the tall buildings in downtown Chicago giving them out to the poor and homeless who otherwise would be scratching the garbage baskets outside fast-food places, collecting bits of food.

Aisha didn't make just any kind of sandwiches though. She was well aware of the needs of the homeless and needy. She knew what was necessary for their diet, what was good and bad for their digestion, and what kind of food she had to make for them.

Eventually homeless people figured out where her apartment was and they would sometimes also come by. Her apartment building's management was not happy about it. But it was Allah's pleasure Aisha was after.

She was known among the Muslims in Chicago as the mother of the homeless. I did not know how long she had been a Muslim.

The first time I met her was when we were thinking of starting a soup kitchen to be run by Muslims in Chicago.

She came by Sound Vision for a meeting. A well-to-do Muslim engineer who himself had just came out of a homeless shelter, losing everything to his former wife, was also present. We were both pleasantly surprised about Aisha's level of knowledge about the food habits of homeless people.

But it seems, no one was there to make sandwiches for Aisha when she became homeless herself.

From helping the homeless to becoming homeless

How could a person go from helping the homeless to becoming homeless herself?

Masjids go up. Schools get built. World disasters attract donations. But we failed to get that soup kitchen up in Chicago.

Masjids were reluctant to give space for this project and the cost of renting a place in downtown, where the homeless are found, was prohibitive. And very few of us were interested. We lost contact with each other.

The next time I saw Aisha was at an Islamic center in Chicago. I was there to drop off my wife to the Quran class she used to conduct there.

I saw some worried faces in a corner of the busy hallway of the Islamic center. It was a Sunday around noon: the prime time of activities in Islamic centers: very busy, hectic, meetings, kids, phones, cell phones, hugging, kissing, shouts of 'Salam' and loudspeakers with lectures. But these faces in the corner were distinctly alone.

I was wondering about them when I spotted Aisha. "What are you doing here?" It took her a few minutes to recognize me and open up.

These people were waiting for Zakat committee members to see them and process their applications. The committee members were nowhere to be found. Weekend Islam is a difficult business.

To my surprise Aisha was homeless herself and was looking for a loan.

She needed it to pay a one month advance so she could rent an apartment. She had already secured a new job. She wanted to pay back that money to the Islamic center as soon as she earned it.

How Aisha Became Homeless

Here's what happened: Aisha had met a fellow Muslim who expressed an interest in her. They married and he convinced her to stop working. She did.

But her husband later left for Tableegh, never to return, leaving her penniless, and eventually homeless. The dilapidated apartment building which was their home was eventually closed down by the city of Chicago because of a number of violations.

Aisha was left with no money and no shelter. She was alone. She was homeless. She was in need.

How the mosque's Zakat committee failed her

As a Muslim, Aisha turned to the first Muslim institution that is supposed to help people in need: the Masjid.

When she came to the Masjid for help, thankfully, this was one of the mosques that had a Zakat committee in place to help Muslims who were in situations like Aisha's. This is also a Masjid with a net worth of over $4 million, so its administration was definitely in a financial position to help the needy.

But she received no money from the committee. She had filled out the Zakat committee's application form to get some financial assistance. This was her third visit to the Masjid. The committee had difficulty meeting.

I had no reason to not believe Aisha, the Mother of Homeless in Chicago. I knew the Masjid.

Sometimes I give Friday Khutba (sermon) there as well. I started looking for its leaders. I learned that the Zakat Committee people were not there. The poor people would have to come back again. I offered the leadership my personal guarantee. But nothing worked.

Sometimes systems and processes become inhumane without us meaning to make them like this. I felt I should never give Khutba there anymore. I remembered to be patient.

Personal donations helped her out

Aisha did eventually get back on her feet that day, with the help of some personal donations from Muslims who didn't have enough even for themselves, but did have the heart and compassion to help her out immediately. No wonder the lowest income group pays the highest proportion of their income in charity as compared to better off people in society. May Allah reward them with the best and give Barakah (blessing) in their livelihood.

There are at least four lessons we can learn from Aisha's sad and true story.

One: behind the homeless and the hungry person you see in America, the land of abundance and opportunity, is a human being who never had any intention of becoming destitute and needy.

Two: our Islamic institutions have failed to adequately provide for the needs of those who are truly destitute and in dire circumstances. There has to be an organized, discreet and systematic way to run Zakat committees and the distribution of these funds to those who need them. There has to be immediate follow through on each case where someone in need asks for assistance.

Three: Sister Aisha's knowledge of the homeless, experience, talents, and confidence should have given her a place in the leadership of the community so she could guide us in establishing these programs for the poor.

Four: Imams, presidents, or whoever is most available in Masjids should be authorized to disperse some Zakat funds immediately for urgent needs without the committee processes which are subject to erratic volunteerism.

How many others Aishas are out there?

Where is Aisha today?

How can we know? We failed her.

May Allah reward her wherever she is. Allah never fails His servants.

 

"Street Sleeper No 16" by David Shankbone - David Shankbone. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Street_Sleeper_No_16.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Street_Sleeper_No_16.jpg

Comments

Aisha's story realy touched me, i have to say there are not many muslim that have so much faith in allah to do that nowdays but she definitely was a true muslim and i would love to hear the end of her story.

Location

New Zealand

This is a coincidence because I just finished watching the Panther Movie. One of the Beautiful deeds of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense was their breakfast program. feeding young children and also providing food and groceries for the poor. No matter what you may think of the those brothers and sisters, they stood up and did what Muslims are supposed to be doing in the community. Muslims need to take a hint from the Black Panther Party and FEED FOLKS! instead of walking by them on the way to the masjid.

Location

north america

it is people like aisha who have true faith in Allah. not many people are left today with her kind of faith. he will always provdie for us but we must be patient. i would love to hear a follow-up on her story.

Location

connecticut

May Allah reward Aisha wherever she is. We certainly need more Aisha to run organised charity organisations.

Location

Kuala Lumpur

it can't get any better this website has real depth and meaning to it...........it's also amazing the fact how some people are so strong and are able to help others .............it's actually very sad that at her time there was no one there but she was there for others she's one special girl allah will award her for her good doings.allah hafiz

Location

glasgow

This article made me cry for two reasons 1. I have been there homeless with children and in chicago. which was one of the lowest points of my life.2. I did not receive help I was told I was not a part of that community.3. Alhamduillah I am no longer homeless however I do live in poverty with my 3 children alone.

Location

Maine

Islamic organization and Masjid committees are run by elected people who get there just for the name sake or to raise their PRO. Neglecting the importance of other feeling, time and need.This need a great deal of time consuming, God fearing and sincere efforts to get greater reward.Either these people are still in old shape fom where they have come or do not patch up with the progress of the time. May Allah swt help them.

Location

Spring TX 77379

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