Author: Maldivian Community Foundation

The Maldivian Community Foundation (MCF) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation registered at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment of the Maldives (reg. no. CR/158/2019), and registered as a tax exempt organisation at the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority. Its mission is to enable individuals, communities and partners to sustainably administer their charitable and philanthropic aspirations. It does this through the management of donated funds and disbursement of grants, scholarships and financial aid. We aim to follow the well-established community foundation model, tweaking it to the Maldivian context, and thereby positioning ourselves as the premier fundraising and grant making organisation in the country. We plan to provide tools and instruments for the Maldivian community to partake in perpetual charity (sadagah jariyah) and philanthropy, and support the non-governmental sector by providing grants and technical assistance. We would also be working closely with the government and national development partners to strengthen the governance and accountability of the non-profit sector.

MOU signed with IAC for water-well projects

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed today with the NGO International Aid Campaign (IAC) for collaboration on water projects. IAC has a history of experience working in vulnerable communities in countries such as Bangladesh, Syria, Palestine and Yemen. One of their most impactful activities is the construction of water wells in water scarce areas. At the same time, a key focus area identified by MCF’s donors is the building of mosques and provision of water resources for those in need.

On the authority of Sa‘d bin ’Ubadah (ra) that he said,
‘O Messenger of Allah! Umm (mother of) Sa‘d has died, so which charity is best?’
He (ﷺ) replied,
“Water (is best).”
He said, ‘So he [ra] dug a well and said, “This (well) is for Umm Sa‘d”’.
(Abu Dawud)

Construction of water wells is an ideal activity as it would in Sha Allah continue to benefit the community for years to come. As part of the MOU, IAC will construct the wells and continue to monitor them and facilitate MCF to do routine maintenance. This is inline with MCF’s focus on enabling our donors to invest their charity in a sustainable manner.

While each individual may find it difficult to invest in a water well, MCF enables the pooled resources of our donors to multiply the impact, and in Sha Allah, the rewards as well.

2021 – the beginning of something new – lessons from the Quran

The lunar new year. It is celebrated globally although none of us actually contribute anything to it’s occurrence. We look beyond it with hope no matter how bleak the past year had been. In fact the new year is a sign for those who contemplate.

We made the day and night as two signs. So We made the sign of the night devoid of light, and We made the sign of the day ˹perfectly˺ bright, so that you may seek the bounty of your Lord and know the number of years and calculation ˹of time˺. And We have explained everything in detail. (Quran 17:12)

He is the One Who has made the night for you to rest in and the day bright. Surely in this are signs for people who listen. (Quran 10:67)

So as we are on the verge of the long-awaited 2021, let’s have a look at some of the verses on the Quran pertaining to the day and night, and what it can mean for us. Full disclosure; I am not a religious scholar. But I long to derive lessons from the Quran according to my understanding, and perhaps you may understand a verse differently. May Allah guide us to better understand our religion.

That is because Allah causes the night to merge into the day, and the day into the night. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (Quran 22:61)

He merges the night into day and the day into night. And He knows best what is ˹hidden˺ in the heart. (Quran 57:6)

To Him belongs whatever exists in the day and night. And He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Quran 6:13)

These verses point to the fact that Allah knows all our thoughts, deeds, actions, plans, aspirations. We may make plans for the next year, but Allah knows better what is going to happen. So always remember this and try to make everything that happens or you bring into your life in the next year are things that would be pleasing to Allah.

And He is the One Who causes the day and the night to alternate, ˹as a sign˺ for whoever desires to be mindful or to be grateful. (Quran 25:62)

The passage of time is a sign for us to be grateful for what Allah has given us in the past. It should inspire us to count our blessings. It should motivate us to make more zikr. It should be a call for us to make a determination to show our gratitude in our actions, buy adhering to the religion more closely and doing more good deeds.

Do you not see that Allah causes the night to merge into the day and the day into the night, and has subjected the sun and the moon, each orbiting for an appointed term, and that Allah is All-Aware of what you do? (Quran 31:29)

And He is the One Who gives life and causes death, and to Him belongs the alternation of the day and night. Will you not then understand? (Quran 23:80)

He created the heavens and the earth with truth; He rolls the night around the day, and He rolls the day around the night. And He has subjected the sun and the moon, each running for a stated term. Undoubtedly, He is the Almighty, the Forgiving. (Quran 39:5)

The verses points to the limited nature of time. It alludes to the fact that even the night and day is meant to alternate until a set time. Just as we are on this earth for a set period of time. So whatever you do, do it in the time that is given to you. Tomorrow is not assured.

You cause the night to pass into the day and the day into the night. You bring forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living. And You provide for whoever You will without limit.” (Quran 3:27)

He is the One Who has made the night for you to rest in and the day bright. Surely in this are signs for people who listen. (Quran 10:67)

Allah is the owner of all wealth, blessing and barakah. So use the daytime to seek His bounty. Do honest work and earn a respectful living.

and for part of the night prostrate yourself to Him, and highly exalt Him long into the night. (Quran 76:26)

And glorify the praises of your Lord before sunrise and before sunset, and glorify Him in the hours of the night and at both ends of the day,1 so that you may be pleased ˹with the reward˺. (Quran 20:130)

Allah has appointed times in the day for work, rest and prayer. You can only be successful in this world and the next by following this guidance and balance.

˹Beware of˺ the Day the Trumpet will be blown, and We will gather the wicked on that Day blue-faced ˹from horror and thirst˺ (Quran 20:102)

May Allah protect us from the fear, suffering and punishment of that day. May Allah enable us to do deeds that would ensure our success on the only day that matters.

Author: Ahmed Siyah

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legacy funds

how we give aid

The first Legacy Fund established

Alhamdulillah.

Today we signed our first Legacy Fund Agreement. The family has designated part of the fund for the construction of a drinking water well for a needy community. The remaining shall be managed by MCF and in-sha-Allah will generate sadaqah for the Beneficiary in perpetuity.

May Allah bless the Beneficiary for this Sadaqah Jariyah established in her name and may He bless the family who got together to make this possible. Aamen.

Learn more about our Legacy Funds:

Legacy funds

Expecting the unexpected

Death is always unexpected. No one wakes up in the morning expecting it to be their last day. When we hear that someone has passed, we often have similar thoughts; it was so unexpected, he was so young, didn’t even know they were unwell, it was sudden…

Death is something we take for granted that it will happen but very rarely expect it to happen at any given moment. Life is an exam that we keep studying for without knowing the exam date. As with the advise that we give to our children when they are preparing for an exam, the success of the exam of life depends on starting early and being consistent.

There are many instances in the teaching of Islam that emphasizes the importance of not delaying our good deeds.

O you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the Zaalimoon (wrongdoers). ( Quran 2:254)

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,
“Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death.”
Source: Shu’ab al-Imān 9575

Let us not wait until we are settled, got the promotion, built the house or any other milestone to start giving charity. There is never a guarantee that we will achieve it. But there is a guarantee that we will run out of time. Let us start investing our Hereafter today, while we still have time.

A hopeful start to a noble endeavour

The first General Assembly of the Board of Directors of the Maldivian Community Foundation (MCF) was held on 20 February, 2020. During the meeting, the Annual Budget for 2020 was passed and the Directors agreed upon an activity plan.

Are you ready to start a your sustainable, charitable journey? Learn more on how you can engage with us.

The life of this world is only a game, a pastime, but if you believe and are mindful of God, He will recompense you. He does not ask you to give up [all] your possessions– You would be grudging if He were to ask you and press you for them, and He would bring your ill-will to light– Though now you are called upon to give [a little] for the sake of God, some of you are grudging. Whoever is grudging is so only towards himself: God is the source of wealth and you are the needy ones. He will substitute other people for you if you turn away, and they will not be like you.
(Quran 47:36-38)