“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth…” (Surah An-Nur 24:35)
Maryam noticed the lantern first.
It hung near the living room bay window, its soft glow catching her young son Ibrahim’s attention before hers. He tugged at her sleeve, eyes bright. “Mama, look… Ramadan lights.”
Weeks earlier, they had arrived at one of Sakeenah Canada’s homes carrying far more than suitcases — uncertainty, fatigue, and questions about what would come next. Ramadan was approaching, and she had wondered how it would feel this year. Would her heart feel settled? Would she be able to focus on Allah as she longed to?
Instead, it felt warm.
As Ramadan approached, the house slowly transformed. Lanterns appeared, soft lights were hung, a runner was placed on the dining table, and children proudly displayed their artwork. Ibrahim insisted on adjusting the lantern each day so it would shine “just right.”
Those small details mattered more than she expected. They signaled care, stability, and a space where her heart could begin to regain sakīnah.
Then came the first ifṭār.
The aroma of food arrived before the dishes did. Local restaurants and volunteers began sending warm meals and groceries. The diversity of dishes reflected the beauty of the ummah, including rice dishes, stews, breads, sweets, and often thoughtful treats for the children.
For Maryam, not having to worry daily about preparing ifṭār brought relief she hadn’t anticipated. It gave her the space she craved for worship, sincere duʿā’, Qur’an, reflection on her īmān, and precious time with Ibrahim. He especially loved guessing dinner: “Maybe kibbeh today?”
Those simple moments quietly restored joy to their routine.
Evenings developed a gentle rhythm and anticipation of Maghrib, quiet duʿā’ before breaking the fast, shared meals, then calm as women prayed or read Qur’an. The home felt alive yet peaceful, helping the heart turn back toward Allah after difficult seasons.
The lanterns began to symbolize something deeper to her. A lantern doesn’t produce light; it protects it and allows it to shine steadily. That was what this home had become — a place safeguarding her ability to nurture īmān again, move forward with dignity, and focus on what truly matters.
She saw that light reflected in Ibrahim, too. He seemed more settled, excited about fasting “when I’m big,” about Eid clothes, about giving charity from his toys. Children often mirror their environment, and he was experiencing the calm that comes when both practical needs and the heart’s connection to Allah are supported.
As Eid approached, another layer of care appeared. Community members sent clothing, toys, sweets, and thoughtfully wrapped gifts. Ibrahim’s excitement filled the room, but when Maryam received her own gift, it touched her differently. It reassured her that someone cared and that she and her son were remembered beyond those walls.
That realization brought quiet comfort. She was not alone. The ummah was present, through meals, generosity, duʿā’, and compassion, reminding her that Allah often sends support through people.
The home shifted again from Ramadan calm to Eid anticipation. Decorations brightened, laughter came more easily, and hope felt tangible.
Looking back, Maryam realized the warmth of Ramadan there wasn’t only décor, meals, or gifts, though each mattered. It was collective mercy. Staff, volunteers, donors, restaurants, and community members each contributed pieces of light that together created an environment where hearts could rest, rebuild, and grow.
Allah describes Himself as Light. And when people come together in sincere service for His sake, the effects of that light become visible in hearts regaining stability, īmān strengthening, and the sakīnah Allah places over a home.
As lanterns continue to glow within Sakeenah Canada’s homes, they remind us that light grows when it is shared. Through community support, women and children like Maryam and Ibrahim find not only shelter, but tranquility, belonging, and renewed direction toward Allah.
May Allah allow these homes to remain places of sakīnah, increase the īmān of all who pass through them, and make every act of generosity a source of light in this life and the next.
– In-Home Sakeenah Caseworker
Sakeenah Canada, a national charitable organization, was founded in 2018 in response to a gap in culturally and religiously sensitive services available for women and children facing domestic violence and homelessness. Since then, our services have expanded to include mental health therapy and counseling. Sakeenah has also started The People’s Market, a food program that helps combat food insecurity, and has become the first licensed foster care agency for Muslim children in all of North America. We currently operate 8 transitional homes across Canada: Toronto, Brampton, Milton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Regina, in addition to the first long-term housing program for Muslim women and children in Canada, in Windsor.
Every night, thousands of women and children in Canada face homelessness, poverty, and trauma. We are on a mission to change that.
While Sakeenah functions at a national level, our head office and The People’s Market operate out of land that is part of the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations.
Sakeenah believes that while a land acknowledgement is the first step, we also understand that land acknowledgements alone are not sufficient to redress the harm caused by centuries of land theft, forced displacement and ongoing acts of settler colonialism. We recognize that this work is ongoing and complex, and we are dedicated to doing our part to create a better future for all.
© 2026 · Charitable Registration Number: 776013310RR0001