“The Spirit Of Giving: South Asian Women’s Nostalgic Reflections On Acts Of Charity During Past Ramadans.”

As Mehwish carefully placed a bundle of canned goods and fresh fruit into a donation box, she felt a familiar warmth in her heart—the same warmth she had felt as a child when she watched her mother prepare food for those in need during Ramadan.

Now living in Toronto, thousands of miles away from her childhood home in Lahore, she still held onto the lessons of generosity that had been ingrained in her from a young age. Her husband, Faisal, walked into the kitchen, glancing at the growing pile of donations.

“You’re going all out this year,” he said with a smile.

Mehwish dusted off her hands and nodded. “Ramadan was never just about fasting for us. It was about giving—Ammi made sure of that.”

A Childhood of Giving

Growing up, Mehwish had watched her mother, Shahana, prepare iftar boxes for the neighborhood’s less fortunate families. Each day, as the aroma of freshly fried pakoras filled their home, Ammi would carefully pack meals into neatly arranged containers.

“Why do we always make extra food?” Mehwish had once asked, barely tall enough to peer over the kitchen counter.

“Because,” Ammi had replied gently, “Ramadan is about thinking beyond ourselves. If we are eating, someone else should be eating too.”

Her father and older brother would take the boxes to the local mosque, where people gathered to break their fast. Sometimes, Mehwish and her sister, Hina, would join them, passing out dates and water to strangers who greeted them with warm smiles.

“JazakAllah, beta,” an elderly man once said, placing a gentle hand on her head. That simple moment had stayed with her for years.

The Joy of Zakat and Eid Preparations

As Eid approached, another cherished tradition would begin—sorting clothes and gifts for those in need.

“Pick out your nicest dress that you no longer wear,” Ammi instructed them every year. “Someone else will wear it with joy on Eid.”

Mehwish would hesitate, running her fingers over a beloved old outfit before finally placing it in the donation pile. But when she saw the happiness on another little girl’s face at the community center, she knew it was worth it.

Her family also set aside zakat, ensuring that the widows in their neighborhood had enough to celebrate Eid with dignity.

“Giving should come from the heart, Mehwish,” Ammi always reminded her. “Not just because it’s a duty, but because it brings barakah.”

Keeping the Tradition Alive

Now, years later, Mehwish carried those values with her. Even in a new country, with different customs and faces, the spirit of giving remained unchanged.

“Faisal,” she said, turning to her husband, “I was thinking of volunteering at the mosque this weekend. Maybe we could help with the iftar distribution.”

He smiled, nodding. “I’d love that. And maybe we can sponsor an Eid gift drive, just like your family used to do.”

Mehwish felt a lump in her throat—not of sadness, but of gratitude.

Even in a world so far from where she grew up, Ramadan still felt the same, because the spirit of giving was never bound by place—it was something she carried in her heart, year after year.