Help in Any Way You Can!

Ahmad is 7 years old. He always says to himself that he is not strong enough to help anyone, so he felt guilty when he saw hundreds of homeless people on his way to school. That always made his face a frown. He wanted to give them his lunch money, but he knew his money was for him to buy lunch, so he just left them, begging for money. When he went home, he looked away from the needy people and ignored them. He couldn't stand guiltiness and sadness. He just walked away and didn’t say a word. 

As he went in the front door, he greeted,“Assalamualaikum!”. “Waalaikumussalam!”, Ummi called from the kitchen, washing the dishes. “How’s your day at school?”. Ahmad sat down on a kitchen  stool and replied gloomy, “Not really well.”. Ummi looked puzzled, “But I thought you had a great time at school. Didn’t you enjoyed your favourite subject, English?”. Ahmad sighed loudly. “Of course I enjoyed it, only I didn’t enjoyed walking to school and walk back home. There were lots of beggar people in the streets, and it made me feel bad about me having shelter, good food and toys. I don’t like it.”. “ Then if you want to put an end to this you should help them.”, said Ummi calmly. Ahmad asked eagerly, “What should I do?”. Ummi explained, “ Why! There are lots of things you can do! Like doing a fundraiser, or collect money for them by hardworking, give them zakah, charity and lots more!”. Ahmad couldn’t believe his ears. All this time he have thought that he was weak to help anyone, and now Ummi has said it that he couldn’t believe it was all so simple. He made up his mind to came up with an idea to collect money for then homeless children.

When Ahmad woke up from the morning sunshine, he got ready to school, ran downstairs and greeted his parents cheerfully “Assalamualaikum Ummi! Assalamualaikum Abi!”. His parents said with a smile.“Waalaikumussalam.”. Ahmad ate his breakfast, which is pancakes, and picked up his schoolbag and said goodbye to Ummi and Abi. He walked out of the door, walked to school. Then he saw a woman on a hard stone floor with a child in her hands. The child was crying loudly, and the woman was looking at the child sadly. Then Ahmad looked at them and went into the nearest grocery shop. He bought some bread and mineral water and went to the woman and spoke gently “Here you go. You must be starving. I just bought them for you.” The woman stared at the food in astonishment and then stared at Ahmad. She was speechless, until then she cried, “Oh my dear boy, you are much too kind. Thank you so much!” She thanked him over and over again until Ahmad blushed so much you would think he is a tomato.

When he arrived school, he began to feel very nervous. He never came up to the whole class and speak to them as if he was the teacher. When the teacher called Ahmad for attendance, he put his hand up. “Yes Ahmad?” asked Mrs Sara. Ahmad took up the courage and he said, “Can we do a fundraiser today? I know we have loads of classes but I can’t help it to see lots of needy people suffering from hunger. I want to help them. Let’s sell each something old but still perfect to use. Then we can give the money for charity.” Then there was a silence in the class. Ahmad gulped. He was afraid that this will make the teacher think that he was trying to cancel all the lessons for the day and just do something fun instead. But suddenly, Mrs Sara cried, making everyone jump, “That’s a very marvellous idea! Splendid! You know, I’ve always hated seeing people suffering for their lives. And I can’t think of anyway to help them. But thanks to you Ahmad, they don’t need to suffer again!” Everyone agreed and nodded. Ahmad beamed. He never had done something like that before. Now he could help those poor, suffering children outside there.

The next day, Ahmad had brought something to his school for the fundraiser. He brought his old toy aeroplane, which he stopped playing when he was six. When he entered the classroom, he saw that everyone brought in something. Then Mrs Sara came in and told them to go outside. When they did, they saw that the school already did put out tables for them to sell their things. When they laid everything on the the table, they saw a group of students coming towards them. Ahmad guessed that they were coming to buy something from them. Oh what fun!

When they have finished, there was nothing left on the table! They calculated the amount that they had collected. They saw that they have got a hundred dollars! Well, look at that! They were amazed. “Now we have lots of money to give out to every starving people we can see. How fantastic!” Everyone was pleased of themselves. But they are pleased of Ahmad most of all because he was the one who came up with the idea. And how Ahmad beamed!

After a few days later, a picture of Ahmad’s class doing a fundraiser was posted into the newspaper. Ahmad’s parents was proud him. They rewarded him with a new helicopter toy. He was very pleased. Their parents said to Ahmad, “ If you do a good turn, it will reward you for your kindness.”