Saving Lives… Just by Turning up

To mark the 10th anniversary of Charity Week, we’ll be sharing inspirational stories from across the years. These are the kind of hidden stories that go behind the numbers and the efforts. They are the kind of stories that open our eyes to the beautiful people who made this all possible.

We like to think that the work we do can help orphans and poor children. It may even be that we may be able to raise enough to save their lives by preventing them from starvation or abuse. Yet, in the case of one brother, the life saving began before he had even raised a single penny. As part of Charity Week, one day is set aside for raising money at train and underground stations across London. It is a beautiful sight with dozens of stations across the city having young Muslim men and women raising money for orphans and needy children.

The plan that day was for the brother to meet up with his friends in one of the underground train stations. They agreed to meet very early in the morning so as to catch the lucrative rush hour commuter traffic.

Unfortunately, waking up early is not in the job description of your average student. When he got to the station bright and early, he found that he was all alone. All his friends had slept in. Disappointed, he thought about going back home since he didn’t want to collect alone. “Well, now that I’m here, I might as well stay and see if I can raise some money on my own” he thought to himself.

He proceeded through the winding corridors to the station managers office to sign his name in the visitors log book and collect his badge. In the office he wordlessly put his details down in the log book being used to station managers not wanting to make small talk with charity collecting students. But then he looked at the station manager and realised something was wrong.

The station manager was clutching his chest and gasping for breath. “Are you ok?” he asked. When the station manager couldn’t bring himself to reply, the Charity Week volunteer understood what was happening. He picked up the telephone and called an emergency ambulance. “I’m a medical student. I’m in the station managers office. He’s having a heart attack.” He then proceeded to provide first aid till help arrived.

“Whoever saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.”  [Qur’an 5: 32]

There’s little doubt that if this brother didn’t bother to fundraise for orphans, if he didn’t ensure he got up early that morning, if he didn’t decide to persevere despite none of his friends turning up – that station manager might not be alive today.

When you step out in the path of Allah, He will open doors and opportunities for you that you couldn’t imagine. He may help you save a life without even raising a single penny. All you need to do is to have the desire to step out in the first place.

If you are interested in becoming part of the Charity Week team or starting the project in your school, college, University or city – get in touch. info@onecharityweek.com