Entrepreneur and Good Samaritan Mohammed Faizal donates Books to Needy Kids

Entrepreneur and Good Samaritan Mohammed Faizal donates Books to Needy Kids

Mangaluru: As the say “Like Dad, Like Son”, here is a story of a young man who has followed in the footsteps of his father, who has contributed towards the needy children in various projects. As quoted in the Bible ‘Giving To The Needy’ – “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed”; “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God”; “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”; “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”.

So here we have a young entrepreneur who has opened his heart in giving part of his wealth to the needy, especially the children who are going to school, by providing them books and other stationary items. Meet 30-year-old Mohammed Faizal, who is fondly called as “Faiz”, had started a social media portal few days ago, where he requested needy students who are in need of free books to send in a copy of the book list, through Whatsapp. The deadline to send in their requests was 22 May, and the response was tremendous, that Faizal had to screen down the list, and select only those who were genuine and really needed help.

Faizal has already started an NGO called “Heal India Foundation”-Making Difference in Lives, which is yet to be registered- and on the poster of the Foundation carries the message of Saint Mother Teresa ” Charity Isn’t About Pity, It Is About Love”- and with three of his volunteers namely Ahmed Sinan, Mohammed Shabab and Mohammed Shimal, Faizal wants to reach out to as many needy people in the society. Faizal wants more people to join his NGO, with a message from him stating, ” Help Us to Help Others. Join with Us to make Difference in People’s lives”.

Prior of him becoming a successful entrepreneur, also carrying forward his dad’s construction business, Mohammed Faizal worked as a guest lecturer where he taught students entrepreneurial skills in city schools. When asked what made him to help the needy and also start the NGO, he replied, ” My interest in serving the needy children in their academics went forward when my brother was admitted in a hospital in Bengaluru for heart treatment. There I saw children who were in desperate need of help towards health care, which made me step forward and extend my help. Within couple of months, I decided to help needy students in Dakshina Kannada in their academic expenses, as much as I could within my reach”.

He further said, “I wanted to carry forward the good work my father, {B A Nazeer from Katiplla} where he used to generously contribute towards children development projects, and also other needy people in the society. Now that I have started this NGO named ‘Heal India Foundation”, which will be registered soon, where I want to continue the good work my father did in a much larger scale. And I humbly request anyone who wants to join our NGO to come forward, so that we all can make a difference in the society and in the lives of the needy people”.

80 students, irrespective of Caste, Creed and Religion, who were short listed from the names sent through whatsapp, were offered free books/stationary items today, 26 May by Mohammed Faizal, along with his NGO volunteers. Faizal’s kind gesture did bring miles of smiles on the faces of these children and their parents who had accompanied them, thereby making a difference in their lives. In conclusion, Charity is an act of giving out to the people in need and society at large. Charity can be in form of money, goods, food or even simple act of spending time with those who need your assistance in any form. Life doesn’t offer equal opportunities for everyone; through charity we can share our blessings with those less fortunate and thus try to bring balance in the society. And while Islam, being the religion of Peace, which strongly advocates Charity, and while the Ramadan spirit is still in the air, I end this column with quotes of Charity from the Quran :

“Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it. They ask you, [O Muhammad], what they should spend. Say, “Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it. You who believe, do not cancel out your charitable deeds with reminders and hurtful words. Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity. And establish prayer and give zakah, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves – you will find it with Allah. Indeed, Allah of what you do, is Seeing. The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.”