Zakat Stories

09 Aug 2026

Tkiyet Um Ali .. More Than Food Parcels A Safe Place to Call Home

"I used to sleep surrounded by mice, scorpions, and damp walls. Today, looking at our renovated home, it feels as though my soul has been brought back to life."

With these heartfelt words, Abu Musa* describes his family’s reality before Tkiyet Um Ali (TUA) stepped in to rehabilitate their home, reflecting on years of severe hardship endured by his seven-member family.

The Abu Musa family is among 20,000 households benefiting from Tkiyet Um Ali’s monthly food assistance program, having received continuous support since last year. Furthermore, strategic partnerships between Tkiyet Um Ali and national corporations enable the rehabilitation of dilapidated homes for These private-sector partnerships extend beyond ensuring food security through monthly sponsorships and packages; they provide families with a safe roof over their heads, turning crumbling walls and deteriorating floors into spaces of security and dignity.

For years, Abu Musa’s family faced struggles that were not merely financial, but a direct threat to their physical safety. Recalling one terrifying night, he shares:

"One evening, I noticed what looked like a small piece of wood next to the mattress. When I picked it up and looked closely, it was a giant scorpion. Panicked, I rushed to grab my daughter before it could sting her. That moment is burned into my memory. We slept in constant fear of scorpions and mice crawling around us, not to mention the dust and unstable walls that felt ready to collapse at any second."

Living in such conditions took a severe toll on the family’s health and well-being. The mother and children lived in perpetual anxiety, while the damp environment and infestation constantly compromised their physical and emotional welfare.

"The moment we stepped back into the house after the renovation, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief... like I could finally breathe again. The kids are over the moon—they finally have a clean, safe place to call home," says Abu Musa*.

*Names have been changed to protect family privacy.

I used to sleep surrounded by mice, scorpions, and damp walls. Today, looking at our renovated home, it feels as though my soul has been brought back to life.