Darun-Na'im

Project Maaida was founded by Zulfa Bayat, her stay is as follows.

Project Maaida started in my kitchen feeding 4 families in 2008. Alḥamdulillāh we have since then grown with the overwhelming support from our truly generous contributors to assisting over 600 families in various communities.

I would bake biscuits and cakes for them. This was from 2008 to 2012. In 2013 during our second year of studies, we learned the importance of giving, via ḥadīth. So I was inspired to make luxury hampers for the elderly at Beit-ul-Aman. I sought out the assistance of a few sisters and Alḥamdulillāh  we were able to make 100 luxury hampers. Each year we grew, Alḥamdulillāh. From 2015 however we started with food parcels. One of the ladies suggested to go to Elite and purchase a few things and thereafter distribute it to people in need. I made intention to do better the next year by the permission of Allāh SWT. Our data base grew and we were able to assist 350 families and Alḥamdulillāh,  as of 2020, we are assisting up to 600 families.

Initially we focused on the elderly in our community. It was our hope to bring a smile to the faces of the aged in our communities, who are mostly forgotten by many.

We then realized that there was a need for food parcels, but we specifically focused on the day of Eid.

The food parcels are aimed at making the day of Eid a joyous and happy occasion for everyone. Normally on the day of Eid we have so many luxuries to enjoy Alḥamdulillāh, but what about the less fortunate in our communities?

It was in 2019 when the name "Project Maaida" was born. A sister in Johannesburg was assisting us with a poster and said “The Maaida Project” and it is from this inspiration as well as the Sūrah in the Qur’ān that the name was chosen, Alḥamdulillāh.

So it is with this motivation that we endeavor to provide a table laden with treats for the less fortunate in our communities for themselves and their families to enjoy In Shā Allāh Amīn.