The Sunset That Changed Everything
As the golden sun dips behind the mountains of Neelum Valley, 9-year-old Mariam waits quietly beside a small oil lamp. Her mother, Rukhsana, has set out two plates on the floor: one with a single date and another with a cup of water. The faint sound of the Maghrib adhan echoes through the valley.
This is iftar — the breaking of the fast — but for Mariam’s family, it is more symbolic than nourishing. There is no cooked meal tonight. The family’s last bag of flour ran out two days ago, and Rukhsana, a widow, has no income to replace it.
“I tell my daughter that Allah is testing us,” she says softly. “We are fasting even when there is nothing to break our fast with.”
Stories like this are far too common across Azad Jammu and Kashmir. According to verified 2024 government statistics, over 67% of the region’s 4.46 million people live in rural areas where access to basic services is limited. With one doctor for every 3,886 residents and widespread food insecurity, even the smallest act of generosity can change a family’s destiny.
And that’s what Ramadan is truly about — mercy, giving, and hope.
💷 Gift Aid adds 25% extra at no cost to you.
The Spirit of Ramadan
Ramadan is not only the holiest month of the Islamic calendar but also a divine opportunity to reset one’s faith and reconnect with compassion. It’s a month when hearts soften, prayers deepen, and believers are reminded that every blessing we have is a trust from Allah.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Charity given during Ramadan is like charity given to someone in need — and then multiplied many times over.”
For UK Muslims, giving during Ramadan is both an act of worship and a bridge back to their roots. When you donate to Kashmir Welfare Foundation, you are not just sending aid; you are sending love, solidarity, and relief to people who share your faith and your heritage.
Zakat – Fulfilling Your Religious Duty
Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a sacred obligation that purifies your wealth and supports the most vulnerable members of society. Muslims who meet the Nisab threshold must give 2.5% of their accumulated wealth annually to eligible recipients.
Paying your Zakat in Ramadan multiplies your reward, for every good deed in this month carries immense barakah. Your Zakat can:
- Feed fasting families like Rukhsana’s for an entire month.
- Provide clean water in villages where children walk hours each day to fill a single container.
- Sponsor orphans, ensuring they receive education, food, and clothing.
“We saw hope return to a mother’s eyes when she received her Zakat package,” says Abdul Basit, Trustee of Kashmir Welfare Foundation. “It wasn’t just food; it was dignity.”
If you’re unsure how much Zakat you owe, use our Zakat Calculator to make it simple and accurate.
Sadaqah – Acts of Ongoing Reward
Sadaqah is a voluntary act of charity that can be given at any time and in any amount. It is the purest form of compassion — a gift from the heart that expects nothing in return except Allah’s pleasure.
Whether you fund a child’s education, contribute to a water well, or provide medical care, your Sadaqah becomes Sadaqah Jariya — a charity that continues to benefit people long after you are gone.
In Kashmir, where rural poverty and limited job opportunities persist, your Sadaqah supports life-changing initiatives like:
- Income generation projects that empower widows and people with disabilities.
- Water projects bringing clean, safe drinking water to remote villages.
- Medical camps providing treatment where hospitals are hours away.
Give Sadaqah – Each act of giving is a ripple of mercy that travels further than you imagine.
Fidya – When You Cannot Fast
Some believers are physically unable to fast due to chronic illness, pregnancy, or old age. Islam, in its mercy, provides an alternative — Fidya.
Fidya involves feeding a person in need for each day of fasting missed. It allows those who cannot fast to still share in the blessings of Ramadan by ensuring that the poor are fed.
In Azad Kashmir, where food insecurity affects thousands of families, your Fidya directly provides meals to people like Mariam and Rukhsana. Each meal restores dignity and strengthens community bonds.
“Even when our bodies are weak,” says Rukhsana, “our faith feels stronger because someone, somewhere, remembered us.”
Kaffarah – Making Amends Through Charity
When someone deliberately breaks a fast without a valid reason, Islam requires a serious act of atonement — Kaffarah.
The individual must either fast for 60 consecutive days or feed 60 people in need for every fast broken. By giving Kaffarah, you not only seek forgiveness from Allah but also nourish dozens of people who would otherwise go hungry.
Your Kaffarah can help fund hot meal distributions and food packs that sustain families throughout Ramadan.
How Kashmir Welfare Foundation Makes Your Charity Work Harder
Every donation to Kashmir Welfare Foundation is channelled into transparent, sustainable programmes designed to uplift lives, not create dependency.
📊 Verified AJK 2024 Data Highlights:
- Total population: 4.46 million
- Rural population: 82.6%
- Literacy rate: 77.5% (female literacy 68.2%)
- Doctors available: 1 for every 3,886 people
- Infant mortality rate: 47–51 per 1,000 births
These numbers tell a story — one of potential hindered by poverty, yet full of faith and resilience. Through your Zakat and Sadaqah, we fund medical camps, build water wells, deliver food packs, and support widows and orphans in every district, from Kotli to Neelum.
“Our goal is not just to relieve hunger,” explains Parveen Kausar, Trustee. “It’s to restore dignity, one family at a time.”
Impact Box
🌙 Ramadan 2024 Impact Snapshot
- 10,000 families received food packs
- 4,000 patients treated through free medical camps
- 75 water wells constructed
- 600 orphans supported through sponsorships
- 120 widows enrolled in income generation programmes
Your generosity fuels these numbers. Your compassion turns statistics into stories.
UK Gift Aid Reminder
If you are a UK taxpayer, you can increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost by ticking the Gift Aid box. It’s a simple way to stretch your mercy further — turning every £1 you give into £1.25 for the people of Kashmir.
A small tick can bring a family clean water, food, and hope. Please remember to Gift Aid your donation.
How Your Donation Helps
When you give through Kashmir Welfare Foundation, your contribution goes directly where it is needed most:
- Food Packs: Sustain a family for a month.
- Water Projects: Provide clean water for generations.
- Medical Aid: Deliver essential healthcare to remote villages.
- Orphan Sponsorship: Educate and empower the next generation.
Each pound donated becomes a seed of hope, planted in the valleys of Kashmir and watered by your faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I give my Zakat during Ramadan?
Yes. Paying Zakat in Ramadan is highly recommended as the rewards are multiplied. It’s also the easiest time to calculate and distribute your annual Zakat.
2. What’s the difference between Zakat and Sadaqah?
Zakat is an obligation for eligible Muslims; Sadaqah is voluntary charity. Both purify wealth and bless the giver, but Sadaqah can be given anytime in any amount.
3. How much is Fidya per day in the UK?
Fidya equals the cost of feeding one person per missed fast. Many Muslims give the equivalent of a modest meal per day through trusted charities like Kashmir Welfare Foundation.
4. Who receives my donations in Kashmir?
Your Zakat, Sadaqah, Fidya, and Kaffarah reach widows, orphans, and struggling families across all 10 districts of Azad Kashmir through verified local distribution networks.
5. Can I Gift Aid my donation if it’s Zakat?
Yes, as long as you are a UK taxpayer and your donation qualifies. Gift Aid allows us to claim an extra 25% from HMRC, increasing your impact without costing you more.
💷 Gift Aid adds 25% extra at no cost to you.
Final Call to Action – Mercy in Motion
Ramadan is fleeting. Each sunset that passes is a chance lost — or a chance seized. Across the valleys of Kashmir, thousands will lift their hands tonight praying for relief. You can be the answer to those prayers.
Give your Zakat, Sadaqah, Fidya, or Kaffarah today and transform hunger into hope.
📲 Donate today and be a part of this life-changing mission!
Sponsor the Mobile Health Unit, urgently needed In Kashmir
Give Sadaqah – Make a World Of Difference to someone in need today
Regular Giving – Your ongoing support helps the poor
