The blessed month of Rabi Ul Awal is just around the corner. The great month brings joy, hope and aspirations for all Muslims. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was an orphan. He (P.B.U.H) was the epitome of kindness especially towards orphans. The month of Rabi Ul Awal invites us to emulate the great character of our beloved Prophet (P.B.U.H). The month of Rabi Ul Awal also beckons us to identify helpless orphan children around our surroundings—within our relatives, neighborhood, or circle of acquaintances. The next time you come across an orphan child shivering from bitter cold, glancing hopelessly towards school-going and privileged children, or working petty jobs, you must feel responsible to assist him/her. Under such considerations, some NGOs working for the welfare of orphan children in Pakistan have decided to devote the month of Rabi Ul Awal to orphan care. Thus 9th Rabi Ul Awal,11th of January 2014 will be collectively celebrated as “Orphan Rights Day” . The Prophet (PBUH) said: “I and the custodian of an orphan are like this (together) in Paradise”, and he joined his forefinger and middle finger together.” According to a UNICEF survey, Pakistan is home to approximately, 4.2 Million orphan children. Moreover, a major percentage of these orphan children are deprived of adequate nutrition, education, health facilities and other basic facilities. The number of orphans (hundreds and thousands) makes the task of assisting them very daunting. Dozens of NGOs are relentlessly working for the welfare of orphan children in Pakistan. Some of these NGOs provide assistance to orphans on their doorsteps while others have created dedicated orphanages. Some of the mentionable NGOs devoted to the cause of orphan care in Pakistan are Al-Khidmat Foundation, Helping Hand, SOS Village, Read Foundation, Ghazali Education Trust, Tameer-e-Millat school, Foundation of the Faithful Pakistan, Edhi Homes, Muslim Aid and so many other NGOs. Public sector is also playing an important role in providing assistance to orphan children: Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal’s ‘sweet home’ and Anjuman Himayat-i-Islam’s ‘Dar-ul-Shafqat’ projects are commendable. There however is another aspect of the problem which must be addressed. Remember that today’s children will take over the reins of tomorrow. Our future will largely depend on how we treat these 4.2 Million orphans. It is our responsibility as Muslims and Pakistanis to treat orphan children with kindness and love. 9th Rabi Ul Awal is an invitation to all of us to rekindle our sensitiveness as virtuous Muslims and Pakistanis. It is also an invitation for great rewards in after-life. Let’s prove to the world that orphan children of our country are as important to us as our own children. Assistance to orphans … key of paradise … companionship of Prophet (P.B.U.H).
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