Sharing love, not coronavirus: Ramadan in Pakistan

May 4, 2020 Pakistan -

Writing from Pakistan, Islamic Relief’s Hiba Siddiqui reflects on a holy month that is changed, but not quelled, by the outbreak of coronavirus.

Ramadan and I have been friends since childhood! From a young age, my ama (mother) would always let me stay up well into the night to fold samosas and make kheer (rice pudding) for the next day.

For me, Ramadan means sleepy eyes, happy smiles, and a month of eating with my family and praying tarawih with friends. More than anything, Ramadan means coming home – back to my people, back to my ama’s kitchen, and back to the One who sustains me.

In Pakistan we celebrate Ramadan as a festival and special arrangements are made not just for the prayers but also for the two special meals of the day, iftar and sehri. Moon sighting is always an occasion of joy. As soon as the moon has been sighted, we make dua and share best wishes with our loved ones. The phone starts beeping and our inboxes and Whatsapp chats are flooded with messages of Ramadan Mubarak!

Qur’an and cooking

Every morning, wholesome and filling food is cooked for sehri. Popular entrees include paratha, milk tea, halwa puri, puri channay (chickpeas) and yogurt. Several roadside cafés and restaurants remain open for sehri.

My family and I aim to finish reciting the Qur’an once this month. From the first day we begin reciting Qur’an as the only way to complete it within this month is total commitment and discipline!

In Pakistan our TV screens are taken over by multiple Ramadan transmissions airing religious discussions, question/answers pertaining to religious teachings, recitation of a naat or a dua, and cooking shows that have us Pakistanis glued to our screens.

Hiba Sidiqui with some of the children we are helping in Balochistan.

Sharing food and joy

While walking around the city during the day you can smell samosas and pakoras frying, one can see long queues at the bakeries where people are lining up to buy delicious iftar items. Sharing food is a big ritual in my country; in the residential areas you can spot trays filled with delicious iftar items being carried to neighbours.

But perhaps the most beautiful sight is of our roadside iftar that feeds thousands during Ramadan!
As the sun begins to fade, one can see volunteers fixing traditional delicacies and drinks on tables at different points. Large plastic mats are rolled out on uneven footpaths and filled with food.

Drivers pull over swiftly and join people of all ages already gathered around the tables or occupying the plastic mats. As the call for maghrib (sunset) prayer echoes from mosques, they break their fast.

Some groups of volunteers hand out cups of red sharbat (drink), to-go iftar items and water bottles to passers-by in their vehicles.

Every Ramadan, countless stalls are set up at the corners of city roads by local residents, serving free food and drinks for the entire month to homeless people, vendors, rickshaw and taxi drivers, labourers, beggars and even those who do not fast.

This tradition over the years has been adopted by different cities, where roadside iftar stalls feed thousands of people.

Even the country’s small Sikh community has been hosting a traditional dastarkhwan (spread) for Muslims in Peshawar city for many years.

Drawing closer to Allah

And then come the last 10 nights. These are the most physically exhausting days of Ramadan but we are emotionally charged up, looking forward to Eid but also melancholic about Ramadan ending, not having done everything we had hoped for. At least that’s how I feel!

During these nights people have different ways of connecting with Allah; for some its prayer – they love saying the nawafil prayers at the mosque. For some it’s reading the Qur’an, reciting particular surahs and listening to qirats.

For some like me it’s dua, sitting on the prayer mat with my list of duas, hands raised in supplication. I find the most comfort in saying my duas, while gazing at the pictures of the Kaabah on my prayer mat and tracing them. Dua is when I feel most worshipful and closest to the sense of spirituality; it makes me feel heart tremblingly closest to my Lord.

Apart from the usual acts of worship, the most important to me is service to humanity. Being in the humanitarian sector, I feel a sense of pride at being in a position to work for those less fortunate.

Spreading love, not the virus

This Ramadan will be different. With the outbreak of coronavirus we are still in lockdown, and the most vulnerable people are dealing with loss of employment and lack of food. It will be challenging for people in Pakistan especially for the underprivileged.

Ramadan will also be different for us at Islamic Relief too. We will not be able to directly interact with our communities and we will be providing them with aid in a different way.

We distribute food packs among the less fortunate every year; however, this year our distributions will be taking place in limited areas, among families of the orphans we sponsor. We have recently launched our Ramadan campaign, ‘Distant but not Disconnected’, which aims to motivate people to spread generosity. The campaign shares our journey of reaching hard to reach families this Ramadan and highlights how collective efforts and sharing can reduce the impact of tough times ahead.

This Ramadan will have a far reaching impact on our people, and one way to fight corona during the holy month is through spreading generosity instead of the virus.

Please support our Ramadan Appeal. Your generosity will help us come together as one community and save lives together.

new director

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Nadeem Azhar

General Counsel

Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.

He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.

Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.

Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.

Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.

Adnan Hafiz

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Board of Directors
Javed Akhtar

Director of Finance

Javed Akhtar has more than a decade of experience at Islamic Relief, having worked in a similar role between 2003-2014. In that role he strove to implement wide-ranging financial and accounting processes which aided in the transparent nature in which Islamic Relief now operates.

Javed also has diverse experience across the private sector, having worked at American chemicals and pharmaceutical giant DuPont, shipping firm FedEX and technology consultancy company Accenture. In all his roles, he prioritises using the latest technologies to improve monitoring and reporting at every level. Javed’s commitment to embracing digital end-to-end technology, enhancing accountability to our stakeholders and promoting financial transparency is ensuring that we remain at the forefront of financial developments in the sector.

By training, Javed is a chartered accountant with a Master’s degree in NGO Management with Charity Accounting and Financial Management from Cass Business School.
Board of Directors
Affan Cheema  

Director of International Programmes

Affan Cheema is an experienced leader who has spent 25 years working in the international aid sector on poverty eradication in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has worked in fast onset emergencies, protracted crisis and development environments whilst working for Islamic Relief Worldwide and Care International. He is also a trustee of South West International Development Network (SWIDN).

Through his career Affan has held numerous roles including institutional fundraising, programme and grant management, and programme quality assurance.  Affan’s leadership has helped Islamic Relief Worldwide secure the highly coveted Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), seen as the sector’s premier benchmark for operational excellence.

Affan completed his BA in Economics and Geography from University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and his MSc in Development Administration and Planning from the University of Bristol. He is PRINCE2 qualified, is a keen sportsman and recently co-edited a book entitled -Islam and International Development: Insights for working with Muslim Communities-.
Board of Directors
Dr Hossam Said

Managing Director, Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)

For nearly three decades Dr Hossam has provided the strategic vision to manage, lead and develop a range of international humanitarian interventions around the world.

At the start of his career, Dr Hossam served on the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, before moving to Islamic Relief Worldwide to manage the core global business activities as International Programmes Director.

During this time the organisation increased its global reach, gaining both domestic and international repute and credibility. Dr Hossam has also served on the Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of Management and Executive Committee for the past 15 years; sharing responsibility for strategic organisational development and the change management process, whilst forging strong relationships with many other charities.

Dr Hossam gained an MBA from Aston Business School in 2004 and graduated as a Medical Doctor from Cairo University in 1981.
Board of Directors
Martin Cottingham  

Director of External Relations and Advocacy

Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.

Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.

Tufail Hussain

Director of Islamic Relief UK

Tufail Hussain has 17 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development sector, leading on marketing and fundraising campaigns for several organisations before joining Islamic Relief UK in 2016 as Deputy Director. Tufail was appointed Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2019 and in 2021 provided valuable leadership as interim CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Tufail is driven by a passion for empowering disadvantaged youth and mentors a number of young people. He also works to strengthen engagement between British Muslims and wider society. Under his leadership, Islamic Relief UK has significantly increased its income and developed successful partnerships with communities across the country. He has travelled around the world to raise awareness of major emergencies such as the Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan crises and the floods in Pakistan and Sudan.

A father to 5 daughters and a son, Tufail is also a sports enthusiast and passionate Liverpool FC supporter. Tufail has run the London Marathon twice, raising over £35,000 for humanitarian causes.

Before joining Islamic Relief he was CEO of Orphans in Need, where he oversaw a new strategy that increased income from £2 million to £9 million in 3 years and opened up new UK and international offices. Tufail is also a trustee of the Muslim Charities Forum and a Director of TIC International (Islamic Relief Worldwide’s clothes recycling and trading arm).
Waseem Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer

Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.

With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.