We find many people on our travels whilst carrying out the listening campaigns for MCC. However, we simply had to share how one Muslim sister moved us so deeply that we had to write about her.
We do not have permission to publish her details, suffice it to say that she is a happily married mother of 3 adults, whom have all now married and flown the nest. We met her whilst carrying out a listening campaign at Noor Ul Trust in Leyton. We shall call her Sister K :)
Sister K had lots of poigniant questions which she raised on the care of the elderly, none moreso than the point that we do not wish to create a culture where our future generations think it is ok to dump their parents in a carehome. In Islam, it is the duty of children to look after their elderly parents. At MCC, we wholeheartedly agree.
It was whilst Sister K was filling out MCC's care questionnaire that we learnt of 3 Muslim Sisters whom were in a carehome locally. Sister K said she would regularly go and visit these elderly sisters. We jumped with delight when she said, I'm heading there now. "Would you like to join me?" Without hesitation we leapt and prepared ourselves. She insisted that we hurry as she did not want to keep them waiting - we later realised why. She would be feeding 2 of the sisters, food which she had cooked earlier that morning at home because they did not like the food at the home.
The stench of stale urine hit us as soon as we entered the premises. Slightly taken aback, we continued. The staff were all friendly and helpful, the place looked clean with every resident's picture on the door of their room. We had understood that all 3 of the sisters were in the carehome as they had suffered a stroke and were unable to look after themselves.
Sister K, introduced us to the first sister. A Muslim sister in her 80's lying on the bed. She could not move, as she was paralysed on one side of her body. She spoke very little, her eyes fixated in one direction which was where the television was. Sister K left us to speak to her after making our introduction. Sister K was warming up the food. This sister informed us that she had been in the home since 2010. She had no family. Her husband died 13 years ago. She had 4 miscarriages but was unable to have any children of her own. Her late husband had 7 children from his first marriage, but none of them acknowledged her. Her only source of company or visits were from Sister K and some of the other ladies from Noor Ul Trust.
It took Sister K 45 minutes to feed the elderly sister. Every mouthful was chewed slowly and with great difficulty in swallowing as she had partial paralysis of her face. Speaking was also difficult. We spent another 45 minutes speaking and keeping the elderly sister company, before moving to the next sister. Sister K explained that ordinarily she would have stayed with each sister longer, but she was keen for us to meet them.
This sister was also in her 80's, never married, had no children except a brother who was also in the same carehome. We understood that no one came to visit her either. Her paralysis was far greater.
The third sister was married and her husband and family would come to visit her often. We actually sat with her husband. Her paralysis and stay in the home had been for 2 months and was less severe than the others.
We had agreed to come back and visit the sisters again, but would spend more time with them. Moreover, if they felt comfortable, we would share their stories further.
Sister K said every Wednesday she would come to see these sisters and bring them food. She had been doing this for the past few years. This pure act of kindness of spending a few hours a week had given these elderly and beloved sisters of ours hope! These are the actions which are the best Dawah and which reminded us that helping others is Sadaqah (meaning voluntary charity).
MCC is now working alongside Sister K in seeking volunteers who also wish to become care buddies and attend various carehomes/hospices to visit our Muslim brother's and sisters. If this is something your interested in, please get in touch.
Let the basic act of kindness from one human being to another pave the way for a better future for all of us.
We do not have permission to publish her details, suffice it to say that she is a happily married mother of 3 adults, whom have all now married and flown the nest. We met her whilst carrying out a listening campaign at Noor Ul Trust in Leyton. We shall call her Sister K :)
Sister K had lots of poigniant questions which she raised on the care of the elderly, none moreso than the point that we do not wish to create a culture where our future generations think it is ok to dump their parents in a carehome. In Islam, it is the duty of children to look after their elderly parents. At MCC, we wholeheartedly agree.
It was whilst Sister K was filling out MCC's care questionnaire that we learnt of 3 Muslim Sisters whom were in a carehome locally. Sister K said she would regularly go and visit these elderly sisters. We jumped with delight when she said, I'm heading there now. "Would you like to join me?" Without hesitation we leapt and prepared ourselves. She insisted that we hurry as she did not want to keep them waiting - we later realised why. She would be feeding 2 of the sisters, food which she had cooked earlier that morning at home because they did not like the food at the home.
The stench of stale urine hit us as soon as we entered the premises. Slightly taken aback, we continued. The staff were all friendly and helpful, the place looked clean with every resident's picture on the door of their room. We had understood that all 3 of the sisters were in the carehome as they had suffered a stroke and were unable to look after themselves.
Sister K, introduced us to the first sister. A Muslim sister in her 80's lying on the bed. She could not move, as she was paralysed on one side of her body. She spoke very little, her eyes fixated in one direction which was where the television was. Sister K left us to speak to her after making our introduction. Sister K was warming up the food. This sister informed us that she had been in the home since 2010. She had no family. Her husband died 13 years ago. She had 4 miscarriages but was unable to have any children of her own. Her late husband had 7 children from his first marriage, but none of them acknowledged her. Her only source of company or visits were from Sister K and some of the other ladies from Noor Ul Trust.
It took Sister K 45 minutes to feed the elderly sister. Every mouthful was chewed slowly and with great difficulty in swallowing as she had partial paralysis of her face. Speaking was also difficult. We spent another 45 minutes speaking and keeping the elderly sister company, before moving to the next sister. Sister K explained that ordinarily she would have stayed with each sister longer, but she was keen for us to meet them.
This sister was also in her 80's, never married, had no children except a brother who was also in the same carehome. We understood that no one came to visit her either. Her paralysis was far greater.
The third sister was married and her husband and family would come to visit her often. We actually sat with her husband. Her paralysis and stay in the home had been for 2 months and was less severe than the others.
We had agreed to come back and visit the sisters again, but would spend more time with them. Moreover, if they felt comfortable, we would share their stories further.
Sister K said every Wednesday she would come to see these sisters and bring them food. She had been doing this for the past few years. This pure act of kindness of spending a few hours a week had given these elderly and beloved sisters of ours hope! These are the actions which are the best Dawah and which reminded us that helping others is Sadaqah (meaning voluntary charity).
MCC is now working alongside Sister K in seeking volunteers who also wish to become care buddies and attend various carehomes/hospices to visit our Muslim brother's and sisters. If this is something your interested in, please get in touch.
Let the basic act of kindness from one human being to another pave the way for a better future for all of us.