Being a voice to hundreds of voiceless abandoned wives and children By Nadia Fazlulhaq

Yes, Islam does allow a man to marry more than one woman, but this opportunity given by our religion has been misinterpreted leaving hundreds and thousands of women and children being abandoned by their husbands and fathers. This situation becomes a grave problem for women without basic education and too many children to take care of.

I was fortunate to meet a wonderful person who is involved in reaching out and helping women abandoned by their husbands, children abandoned by their fathers.

Though determined to carry this meritorious deed in many areas as possible, lack of resources have made him limit his work to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) villages in Puttlam, North Western province.

I accidently overheard a telephone conversation, as he was explaining his work.

“Why don’t you join me when I’m going to Puttlam.I will show you how a little help can make a big change in their lives. It brings me great joy to see the faces of children who have succeeded in studies, entered university, women becoming small scale entrepreneurs, despite the heartless men who have left them.”

This conversation made me ask him more details about his effort and it was surprising how a single person can do so much.

“I travel by bus, if anyone is interested they can join me or provide transport. It is easy and convenient to invest one’s money in sadaqa if/when one can afford it. However it makes a huge difference when one invests oneself and is personally involved shaping in others lives.The best happiness one can get is to see their faces when you go visit them, talk to them and share their distress and helping them rebuild their lives,” he was telling me.

I decided to write as most of the influential persons in the community will be able to give a great support through community web sites. Apart from personal help it would be also great if any Muslim organization is willing to support Mifthah in this rewarding act and carry on in other areas as well.

Please do contact him via email:  [email protected]