With Hardship will be Ease: Zunaira’s Story

Refugee claimant. Single Mother. Fighting Cancer.

It’s hard enough for anyone to face these hardships, but to face them all at once is heartbreaking.

Just like many immigrant parents who come to Canada in search of a better life for their children, Zunaira worked hard to ensure that her children had a roof over their heads, food to eat, and a quality education so they could make a good life for themselves. However, as a refugee claimant and single mother of three children, two of which have health problems, her life was anything but easy.

Not only was she working hard to provide a good life for her children, but she was also fighting for her life - diagnosed with cancer, Zunaira struggled with her own health issues. Alone and with her children relying on her, Zunaira continued to look for work despite being at such high-risk.

As a refugee claimant, Zunaira was prevented from receiving complete assistance from the government, and so she used whatever little she received to pay off her rent and essential bills. Despite that, she continued to be faced with a monthly shortfall of $1,000. The lack of funds forced her into relying on the food-bank to feed her family, where the selection for a Muslim diet was sparce.

With costs piling up, debt started to accumulate and it became a constant struggle to choose between essentials, medications, or to keep a roof over their heads. With no income besides the government assistance that she received, Zunaira felt herself sinking into hopelessness.

But as Allah SWT says in the Quran: For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease (94:5). And indeed, the window of hope opened when she found out about National Zakat Foundation from a friend of hers.

She was very timid when she applied for Zakat support, but when we told her that we would be able to help her with groceries and overdue bills, she burst out into tears of happiness and profusely made dua’a for all who were involved in assisting her.

Even after that, her expenses were many, especially with Zunaira and two of her children facing health issues, but the support she received through your Zakat helped relieve some of her stress. Determined to become self-sufficient and provide for her family, Zunaira continues to actively look for work and is fighting to win her battle with cancer inshaAllah.

This is the power of your Zakat - it helps ease the hardships of those struggling to survive, and provides hope, just when all hope seems lost.