Salam Alaykum: My elders, sisters, and brothers in Islam and other faiths.
I’d like to thank on behalf of Lantern of Light, the opportunity to introduce our charity and the work we do.
Lantern of Light was first launched during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was founded by Sister Nasim Walji Pirmohamed who is the face and patron of Lantern of Light who is unfortunately unable to be her today. However, through her dedication, we were able to receive support from prominent members of our community such as our very own Sheikh Nuru and Sister Nikhat Panjwani who is here in the crowd today. Lantern of Lights initial purpose was to provide support and a culture of sisterhood during uncertain times. Over the last three years, it has been a safe and guided space, to take a moment of pause and embark on a journey to discover our most authentic selves.
So, to start off with, what does ‘Lantern of Light’ mean?
Lantern of Light signifies as the Quran describes God in chapter 24, verse 33 as being the ‘Light of the heavens and the earth.’
This verse showcases the divine nature of God and highlights that God is the ultimate source of light, guidance, tranquillity and enlightenment. It conveys the belief that God’s light encompasses all aspects of existence, both the spiritual realm and the earthly realm.
This is what our charity focuses on, providing a platform for individuals to engage in learning to help grow their own faiths and spirituality so we may seek the light of God from within.
We do this through facilitating open dialogues, mentorship programs, coaching and a series of workshops with our team of trained spiritual and mental health professionals to support individuals through their journey of discovery and healing. Our charity also supports with relief projects and women’s empowerment programmes, especially widows and orphans in impoverish countries.
But why is this important?
The Qur’an encourages believers to seek spiritual enlightenment through deep reflection to not only understand life’s purpose, moral values and the nature of God’s guidance; but to also create self-awareness so we may move away from darkness into light of faith and knowledge. As it is mentioned in Surah Al- Baqarah
(2:257): ‘Allah is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into the light.’
Therefore, only when we recognise God’s presence and the importance of faith, we are able to experience his light, which essentially leads to inner fulfilment and discovery.
In the spirit of today’s discussion, when we work on ourselves and learn to embrace God’s light, can we forge empathy and compassion towards others. Doing so encourages us to see all human beings as God’s creation, worthy of respect and understanding. Only then can we truly facilitate reconciliation and forgiveness by fostering a sense of unity amongst each other.
With all of this in mind, what we look forward to doing at Lantern of Light is facilitating a bespoke program where we organise spiritual retreats for the youth, couples and families. Alongside this, we are always looking for new ways to fill gaps through learning, supporting and sharing good practices. Therefore, could I request that you help us be able to provide support to brothers and sisters throughout the world who need light in their lives. Please donate generously towards the services we provide, you can do so by scanning the QR code or visiting our website at www.lanternoflight.co.uk
Your donation will be more than charity, it will be an investment in the well-being of others and a source of immense reward from God. Your contribution today will be a testimony to your faith, kindness and commitment to making a positive impact.
Thank you for your time, I pray that we all have the opportunity to embark on our individual journeys of discovery and are able to embrace God’s light.
Above was a brief introduction to our Lantern of Light charity beautifully spoken by Sis Nahid Roshanali; who is one of Lantern of Light’s volunteers at the recently concluded Interfaith event held on Sunday 12th November 2023 at the KSIMC Al-Abbas Islamic Centre, Birmingham UK.
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