News
2nd January 2026
Practical Winter Giving: How to Help Those in Need
Today marks the blessed night of Al-Isra wa’l-Miraj, when our beloved Prophet ﷺ was miraculously taken from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa, ascended through the heavens, and returned with the gift of the five daily prayers, all in a single night.
Falling on the final Jumu’ah of Rajab, it is a beautiful reminder that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) elevates those who turn to Him with sincerity, and that even the smallest acts, when done with intention, can be raised beyond what we imagine.
Rajab was never meant to end in spectacle. It was meant to prepare, to cleanse intention, steady the heart, and ready the believer for the nearness of Sha ‘ban and the promise of Ramadan. And on this final Friday, we are reminded that Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) greatest invitations are often the most subtle- felt not in what we are commanded to do, but in what we are gently called to become
Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) reminds us:
“Indeed, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” (Surah Ar-Ra‘d 13:28)
And Rajab is precisely that- a month of remembrance. A sacred pause. A divine mercy placed gently in the calendar, so that hearts may awaken before the weight and beauty of Ramadan arrives.
The scholars of the early generations would say: Rajab is the month of planting, Sha‘ban the month of watering, and Ramadan the month of harvest.
Charity as a Bridge Between Months
One of the most powerful ways to prepare for Ramadan is giving before being asked.
The scholars note that charity softens the heart and a softened heart receives Ramadan differently.
At Penny Appeal, this philosophy is woven into every campaign: small, consistent giving that creates lasting impact.
Just as Rajab prepares us for Sha‘ban, and Sha‘ban prepares us for Ramadan, giving now prepares the soul to receive mercy later.
From Rajab to Ramadan: Walk, Don’t Rush
On this blessed day of Al Isra Wa’l Miraj or Shab -e- Meraj as it’s known in the Indian subcontinent, it is not about doing more.
It is about becoming more aware.
- Aware of time.
- Aware of intention.
- Aware that Ramadan is not something we chase, it is something we are invited into.
And invitations are best answered slowly, with humility, with preparation.
A Final Reflection
Before the sun sets on this last Friday of Rajab, ask yourself:
- What will I carry into Sha‘ban?
- What will I leave behind?
- And when Ramadan arrives… will my heart recognise it as familiar?
So, on this final Jumu ‘ah of Rajab, the question is not what must be done, but what must be planted.
- A sincere intention.
- A habit returned to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
- A charity given quietly.
- A heart softened before it is filled.
And from here, the journey to Ramadan truly begins.
A Gentle Invitation
As we prepare our hearts for what lies ahead, one quiet act of sadaqah this Jumu‘ah can bring relief to families in Gaza, where hardship continues and winter still bites.
Your generosity today can help provide food, warmth, and urgent aid , turning reflection into mercy, and intention into hope.
Give Sadaqah for Gaza This Jumu‘ah
