Left Grieving and in Debt

Ahmed is a 55-year-old man living alone. Divorced and estranged from his adult children, his life has been marked by hardship, isolation, and deep personal loss.

For many years, Ahmed was the sole carer for his elderly mother. She was unwell, divorced, and entirely dependent on him. He cared for her tirelessly, even while managing his own mental and physical health challenges, including PTSD and the trauma of being incarcerated before ultimately being released without charge.

When his mother passed away earlier this year, Ahmed was devastated. Grieving and alone, he was also unprepared for the financial burden of her funeral. With no savings to rely on, he found himself in a desperate situation. A compassionate member of the Muslim community stepped in, covering $2,000 of the funeral cost so the burial could proceed. But a remaining debt of $9,000 weighed heavily on Ahmed.

Surviving solely on Centrelink payments, and with additional household debts accumulating, Ahmed was referred to NZF for support. After reviewing his situation, it was clear that Ahmed was eligible for Zakat under the 'Debt' category; NZF covering the remaining funeral costs and other household-related debts. He was also connected with a financial counsellor for further support.

Zakat is not just a form of charity, it is a right. And in Ahmed’s case, it gave him the breathing space to focus on healing and moving forward after his mother’s passing.